The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-28 00:00:00

THE ARMY OF PARIS.

Paws, Monday.
There has been an outbreak in Paris, and blood has
been shed in a civil broil. These are ugly facts, never-
theless the matter, though tragic enough, has pass off for
the time being without any serioual consequences.
After the fashion 'of the Great Revolution, the seizure
of a prison played a prominent part in the outbreak, but
luckily the Aoters did not proceed so far as the destruc-
tion of the modern Bastille. Gustave Flourens
was the hero of the affair, and his release
from durance vile was the first object of the Involution.
ids. The name of Flourens limb came into prominence
last year at the time of the Loehefort, disturbances and the
puling the siege of Paria be
Victor Noir catastrophe.
has distinguished himself afters a very discreditable fashion
by stirring up civil discontent, and opposing the Govern-
ment at every possible opportunity. They may not
have been immaculate in wisdom or vigorous
enough in action, but assuredly their difficulties have been
sufficiently great without having their attention diverted
from feeding Paris and repelling the Prussians to sub-
duing the Reds within the walls. Flourens and his
friends at the clubs have long been clamouring for
the Commune, though what good the Commune could do
in the present state of things it might perhaps puzzle
them to explain. Flourens' performances with respect to
the National Guard, his resignation and unasked
resumption of his post, and the whole ha.
broglio which proceeded the previous disturbance
at the Hotel de Ville will be fresh in every one's recollection,
and there are few of the respectable classes who do not
think that be is much more suitably lodged inside than
outside the walls of Mazas. However, the Reds thought
differently, and on Saturday night an attack was made on
the prison in which the popular Gustave and his friend
Millidre—one of the chief witness at the trial of Prince
Pierre Bonaparte for the murder of Victor Noir—
were incarcerated. The rescue was effected quietly enough
and it was not in the actual process of forcing open the
prison doors that any lives were lost. It was in fact
effected by a kind of stratagem, though it would have been
better had the resistance been a little stronger. The
Governor of Mazes ssems to have been very easily
duped, for he has not been accused of complicity with
the rioters. By some means or another, he was induced
to open the gates to parley with the enemy, and this being
done he was easily convinced that resistance would be
useless, as Flourens' friends were in large numbers. Had
he refused to open the gates it would have been almost
impossible for the assailants to force an entrance, for there
was plenty of force in Paris to repel them, and the moral
effect would have been much greater. As is usually
the case, his weakness spared no lives, for
though there was no actual fighting at the
moment, the release of Flourens gave the mob
a ringleader, and led to the subsequent bloodshed.
Onoe released, the first act of Flourens was to proceed to
the Mairie in triumph, followed by his friends. The
Mairie of the arrondissement, in which Mazes is
situated, includes the turbulent Belleville—word
of terror to rulers—as well as St. Fargeau
Pere la Chaise, and La Charonne. The " Mairie "is
always the great object of attack to Parisian insurgents,
as a preliminary, of course, to the more important
seizure of the Hotel de Ville. The Mairie of the 20th
Arrondissement wrs selected as headquarters, and as a
first exercise of authority, two thousand rations of bread,
ready for next morning's distribution at the Mairie, were
taken possession of. Apparently the rioters did not find
themselves strong enough to keep possession, or
thought it better to reserve their energies for
a more important point, for they very soon
evacuated the Mairie, and agreed to reassemble next day
at the Hotel-de-Ville. Some hours of quiet, therefore,
ensued, during which the inaction of the Government is
almost incredible. Surely, if ever there was an occasion
in which rioters themselves gave warning of their inten-
tions, and then amiably afforded the authorities the oppor-
tunity of frustrating them, it was this ! However, it was
net taken advantage of, though the wildest stories
were flying through Paris during the morning
as to what the mob had done or were inten-
ding to do. Nothing occurred until the afternoon,
and there was no attempt at a demonstration, though a
large crowd was assembled in front of the Hotel de
Ville. They were mostly mere spectators, and
though they discussed the events of the day with
true French animation, they were not disposed to take
part in any affray. By and bye came up the men from
Belleville who had been allowed to send a deputation to
the Hotel de Ville, where no extra precautions had been
taken. The deputation requested that the municipal
elections should be held forthwith, and that the civil
power should take precedence of the military—
a very reasonable request, if only " Messieurs lee
Prussians," could be induced to grant it too I The
delegates were received with courtesy, but their requests
coukl not be granted, and they were bowed out. Here
the mischief began. A second deputation, object un-
known, tried to force its way in, and the officer in charge
resisted. Who fired first is not quite clear, both sides
disputing the precedence, but at any rate shots were ex-
changed. A Breton Regiment of Mobiles had the charge
of the Hotel de Ville, and seeing one of their offioers
fall they fired in good earnest. The Belle-
ville heroes were anything but heroic, and if
their conduct on Sunday is a fair specimen
of their moral and physical courage, we had better keep
our present rulers than accept the ".Commune," if
we want to fight the rrussians: They fled helter skelter,
many of them falling on their faces either out of sheer
terror or to escape the balls. The people meanwhile
who had been waiting pretty quietly outside the Hotel de
Ville, listening to orators whose platform was a lamp-post,
and otherwise beguiling the time, no sooner saw the
stampede of the Belleville assailants than they
shared the panic, and men, women, and children
fled in admired disorder. It was no joking matter
however, for there were several deaths, and a geod num-
ber of wounded. The official statement says five killed
and eighteen wounded, and the exaggerated numbers at
first stated were probably due to the Belleville heroes
flinging themselves prostrate at the sound of the shots. The
Government now interfered with a strong hand, as it
might have done earlier with advantage. Order was
quickly restored, for the interest of the people was not
really engaged in the affair, and the presence of a strong
force of!, soldiers 'as well [as of National Guards and
Mobiles in the place de Motel de Ville was quite
sufficient to dispel any idea of renewing the demonstra-
tion. There was artillery, too, as if the Prussians were
to head the next deputation, and an imposing force of
cavalry and infantry was sent to Belleville, with orders
to sweep the streets at the first sign of disturbance.
Up to a late hour companies of National Guards paraded
the streets, but there was not the smallest inclination for
renewed riot.
These military measures of repression have been
followed up by much needed civil measures of
a decisive nature. The clubs have been closed,
with their ceaseless clamour about the Commune, the two
noisy organs of the demagogues—the Combat and the
I?eveit - have been suppressed, a wiser plan than impri-
soning the editors, as was tried some time since ; and the
number of courts martial have been doubled. These
strong measures have been heartily welcomed by the pub-
lic, a proof that there is no desire to overthrow the Re-
public, or to proceed to wild excesses of any kind
among the people of Paris generally, and that
the powers that be have only to act with
proper firmness and decision to secure support
and respect. General Vinoy is understood to have said
that he would not accept the military command of Paris
unless strong measures were adopted to repress dis-
turbance. It is this resolve on his part which has
produced these measures about the clubs and papers,
and he has thus done good service at the outset, for what-
ever the military necessities of the hour with regard to
capitulation, or the danger of famine, no possible good can
be gained by riot and disorder within the walls.
Paris must not forfeit the heroic character her
citizens have so hardly won. General Vinoy is the
best successor that could probably have been found for
Trochu. His part in the ill-managed sorties has never
been wanting, and he is said to have declared that with
150,000 men and generals of his own choosing he could
get out of Paris. Without . attaching too much
importance to such an assertion, easily made when out of
office, we must remember that he is no untried com-
mander. He was in the Crimean war, and a constant
companion of Lord Clyde. When the British commander
passed through Paris on his way to India, in
the year of the mutiny, he snatched a half hour
to breakfast with his old companion in arms,
though the English Ambassador expected him,
and on his death the name of General Vinoy
was mentioned in his will. Troche, though everywhere
respected, and undoubtedly a man of great ability,
lacked the firmness and vigour which alone can carry
a man successfully through such a crisis. In the
memorable sortie of the 19th there was terrible misma-
nagement. The artillery of the different divisions took
the wrong routes, and blocked the way of the infantry. A
delay of two, some say four, hours, in bringing one of
the principal divisions up to the point of attack
would ruin the best planned buttle, Vinoy, at least, has
the prestige of success, having made no blunders in his

A new Paris paper, the Defense Nationale, gives some de
tails respecting the armed inhabitants of Paris :—" The
total number of men who have been furnished with mili-
tary weapons is computed at 520,000, and they are divided
into three armies. The first is commanded by General
Cl4ment Thomas, the second by General Ducrot, and the
third by General Vinoy. The army of General Thomas,
which is the most numerous, comprises nearly 300,000 men,
and is mainly composed of National Guards, mobilized and
sedentary. By a gradual weeding out of unfit men this
civic force has become an army which is fit to take the
field. The new regiments are commanded by colonels of
recent promotion. The sedentary guards serve on the
ramparts of the enceinte, and they also occupy nurAerous
posts withtn the city. The National Guard has but five '
batteries al artillery, and great efforts are being made to
increase the strength of that arm. It has no longer any
cavalry. The urban guards perform police duty. Their
special uniform consists of blue trousers with red stripe,
and a kepi with a red cockade. The remainder of the cos-
tume is at the discretion or the means of the wearers. The
second army, under the command of General Ducrot, con-
' sists of 150,000 regulars and Gardes Mobiles, with 88 bat-
teries of field artillery, mitrailleuses, and two regiments of
cavalry. It is divided into three corps, of which two are
under the orders of Generals Blanchard and Bellemare.
This army is encamped around Paris, between the Forts
and other defensive works. The third army, under the orders
of General Vinoy, includes 70,000 men, and is composed
of the depot battalionsof the Imperial Guard, now divested
of their gold lace and incorporated with the line, the
marine guards, former sergents-de-ville, gendarmes, and
some provincial Mobiles. General Vinoy's army furnishes
garrisons for the forts, and, when they aro needed, rifle-
nen for 90 bastions of the enceinte."

of the besiegers. Admitting the fact that the Prussians,
in defiance of the old customs of civilised nations, destroy
and burn the towns instead of besieging the fortifications.
What are we too under such circumstances? In the case
of Peronne, did your commandant do well in surrendering
with his garrison, and his means of defence
intact, because the population of the place was
reduced to distress. Humanity may answer in the
affirmative, but the laws which regulate troops in a
campaign will answer in the negative, most decidedly.
The military duty of the Commandant of Peronne called
Upon him to defend himself until a breach was made in the
place, or until he had, at any rate, repulsed an assault.
I believe that the claims of humanity do not authorise
the commandant of a place in acting against the law, and
only the Government of the country can by changing the
law justify him in surrendering a place for the sake of the
population. To be logical and reasonable, it would
be necessary in future to withdraw the can-
nons and military stores from fortified places,
for it is only making so many presents to the enemy if
you offer them up a few days after the bombardment has

begun."
" P.S.—lt is evident that if the towns instead of giving

up, were to sacrifice themselves, and the Prussians were
compelled to carry on a regular siege in order to reduce
the fortifications, they would draw such universal execra-
tion on themselves that they would be obliged to give up
their present practice."

it to fail, and no very good news comes of Bourbaki, poor
Paris, aftei all her gallant struggles and patient, hopeful
waiting, will be forced to surrender. •` Then we shall be
fortunate indeed if we escape more terrible scenes, of
which yesterday's was but the prelude."
. _ .

. .
Speaking of Bourbaki, a correspondent of the Tele-
graph says :—" Bourbaki's prospects in the East are not
so bright as they once were. I have it from excellent
authority that the veteran is sick to death of all the Free-
shooters, Garibaldians, and adventurers of every sort with
whom his movements are very much hampered, and who
obey him or not, just as occasion may offer and
inclination may lead. His army is large, but very
unmanageable. It has fought well, but the old Colonel of
Zouaves says he could do with a fourth fewer than he has
if they were all well under controL Of his commissariat
he complains bitterly; and in this respect the French
army of the Republic is almost worse off than that of the
Empire."
Testimony to the coolness of the Parisians during the
bombardment is abundant. On the Sunday when the dis-
turbances took place the Boulevards were crowded
with well-dressed loungers enjoying their usual Sunday
Promenade as composedly as if their) were no shells or
short-commons tc disturb the ordinary routine of their
life. The ca,f6s were filled with guests, discussing over
absinthe or beer, busily, but with less vehemence than
might have been expected from French politicians at such
a crisis, the downfall of Trochu and the hopes entertained
of the more energetic Vinoy. At the Thatre Francais a
large audience was listening to one of Moliere's master-
pieces, too absorbed to notice the frequent and now fami-
liar explosions which filled up the pauses between the
speeches of the actors.

SHELLS IN AN AMBULANCE,-011e evening
lately in Paris, the ambulance in the Odeon Theatre,
founded by Mdlle Sarah Bernhardt, was struck
by two shells. One of them pierced the roof, and
brought down a shower of bricks and mortar on the beds.
The whole building was still quivering with the shock,
when a second shell struck the side of the theatre. Those
patients who could walk, hastened to seek the cellars ;
while the nurses calling for what help they could get, took
the others in their arms, on their backs, any way they
could carry them, till they got them into the friendly cel-
lars. All the night through, in their subterranean ambu-
lance, they heard the shot and shell falling above.
FRENCH PRISONERS IN GERMANY.—Some of the
French prisoners in Spandau have established an illus-
trated paper called the Prometheus. The programme
says :—" Far from our beautiful France, this journal must
refer to what interests us in a foreign country, and revive
among us that love of satire and that gaiety which
are the characteristics of our nation." The first number
has been published, and contains articles of a humorous
character written by the prisoners. Among the French
at Konigsberg is M. Tremole, first tenor at the Bordeaux
Opera, and many of his companions who fought with him
in the battalion of Gironde riflemen, are among the
richest citizens of Bordeaux. One of them, a merchant,
is an excellent prestidigitateur. The prisoners
of Konigsberg amuse themselves by acting plays
and one of them is an admirable photographer. Twenty-
three thousand French prisoners are to be sent from
Coblentz and Cologne to Eastern Prussia and Schleswig.
It is believed that the men from Alsace and Lorraine will
shortly be sent home on condition that they promise to
take no part in the war. They have already been granted
especial privileges.

ALLEGED FRAUDS BY STEWARDS IN

THE NAVY.

At the adjourned sitting of the Court-martial, of which
Vice-Admiral Wellesley, C. 8., is president, the following
evidence was given :--Mr. J. S. King, of the Accountant-
General's Department of the Navy, produced the Bos-
cawen's leave book, daily book, and victualling list for the
Michaelmas quarter. Had examined the victualling
list for September, and compared it with the leave-
book. Found the leave-book had been kept in a somewhat
irregular manner. The leave given _to each man can only
be ascertained with certainty in two cases. In the victual-
ling list seven or eight days have been omitted from the
check column in several instances, and no leave is checked
for less than four days, except in one case. The total
amount of fresh beef supplied to the Boscawen for
July, August, and September, according to the ship's
certificates, was 50,1531 b., and according to the book
kept by the contractors' foreman is 42,4111 b.
The difference in weight is 7,7421 b., and that
at 50s. per hundred pounds, amounts to £193 11s.
Comparing the quantities of meat shewn onthe certificates
given the contractor from the Boscawen with the quanti-
ties on the book kept by the foreman of the contractor at
Portland, as the actual weight of meat supplied to the
ship, the figures stand as follows :—October I.—Beef
signed for 541 lb.; supplied, according to the contractors'
agents boas, 275 lb.; difference, 266 lb. October
4.—Beef signed for, 945 lb.; supplied, &c., 689 lb.; dif-
ference, 256 lb. October 7.—Beef signed for, 1,530 lb.;
supplied, &c., 1,095 lb.; difference, 435 lb. October 17.—
Beef signed for, 8851 b.; supplied, &c., 6041 b.; difference,
2811 b. October 25.—Beef signed for, 4881 b.; supplied, &c.,
3431 b.; difference. 1391 b. The " difference " represents
the " surplus meat." The receipts shewn generally agree
with the quantity signed for. On the sth of October,
4441 b. are noted as received and issued to the Racer,
while that ship admits only 2441 b., which agrees with
the contractors' foreman's book within 11b. On
the 14th of October the quantity shewn las re-
ceived does not agree with the receipt given,
nor with the contractors' foreman's book. The
issues to the messes does not agree with the number of
men in the messes ; at lib. per boy, the boys' messes are
always much less. Philip Butt, of the Accountant-
General of the Navy's, Department, examined by the
Prosecutor.—Proved the supplies of fresh beef to the Bos-
cawen, as shewn on the certificates for September and
October; the quantity for September being 13,4531 b„ and
for October 12,8281 b. For the month of November the
quantity of fresh beef shewn on the certificates was
14,2261 b., and the quantity paid for by the Admiralty was
12,1581 b. The inquiry was again adjourned.

THE FROME APPEAL.—The hearing of the ap-
peal " Shepherd v. Bennett," which was to have taken
place during the present sittings of the Judicial Cour
mittee, has been unavoidably postponed at the request of
the leading counsel in the case, who is unfortunately
suffering from severe indisposition.
ANOTHER COLLIERY INUNDATION.-- There has
been an inundation of water into another colliery in the
county of Durham. The colliery is Seaham No. 1 pit, near
Sunderland. About 5 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon eight
men and two boys were employed in the south-east part
of the colliery, about two miles and a quarter from the
shaft, with a descent from it of 22 fathoms. A man named
Roseby struck through into some old workings, and water
immediately gushed in. At first the volume of water was
no greater than the thickness of a man's arm, but in a-short
time a large portion of the coal gave way, and a heavy
rush of water ensued. Roseby immediadely shouted out to
his fellow workers to make their escape, which they did,
with the exception of two, a man and a boy. The workers
at once proceeded to the haft, and thus saved their lives,
but not without getting a drenching, for the water fol-
lowed them at a rapid pace for about a quarter of a mile.
The names of the missing persons are William Telford
Candlish, aged 45, and Gorge Charlton, aged 16. gr.
Dakers, resident viewer, Mr. Thompson, under-viewer,
and Mr. Corbett were soon upon the spot, and, accom-
panied by a number of skilled men, at once proceeded to
explore the place where the accident occurred, but from
the quantity of water which had gathered it was feared
that it would be some time before an exploring partY
would be able to work its way into the interior of the
mine. On Thursday morning the rush of water into the
mine had been quite stopped, and the authorities were
pumping the pit out, but they had not reached the bodies
of the man and lad, who, no doubt are drowned.
[ADvErrroniENL]—Holloway's Pills and Ointment.--
Disordered Stomach.—VVliene,rer the stomach fails faith-
fully to perform its functions indigestion is produced, the
issue of which is uncertain. The food, after passing
through the sluggish stomach, irritates the bowels and set°
up diarrham, which probably relieves the sufferer for
time. To rectify the disordered digestion and check Of
first morbid symptoms, nothing previously prescribec!
equals Holloway's digestive pills, which in severe case°
should be assisted by his ointment, rubbed over the
stomach and right side perseveringly for ten minutes twi_l3,
a day. The united action of these remedies over stomach'
liver, and bowels is immediately beneficial and lasting
, they restore order and ease, and simultaneously reraolt°
) the cause and consequence of the

BIRTHS.
On the 25th inst., at 10, Bryanston-square' the wife of S
Charles B. F. Stirling, Bart., of Glorat, of a dau.hter.
f
On the 25th inst., Mrs. John Glynes, of Upton, Essay °
a son. • _

MARRIAGES.
On the 24th inst., at St. George's, Hanover-square, Cble.
meMelissa R.
George.
C., Turner Roo
second daughter of the late Cap late Ca,.„,g'tain 80th lieSl
to
John Powney, RN., K.H.
On the 25th inst., at St. Cuthbert's, Wells, Somers vi
nvit
W. Farrant, of South Penge Park, Anerley,,to 8017
Maria, younger daughter of the late James Garr°
Esq., of Wells, Somerset.

DEATHS.
On the 25th inst., at The Avenue, Sidenham-park!
rtil
Sir Proby Thomas Cautley, K.C.., Bengal Aler. 7
aged 69. t\T
On the 25th inst., at 20, Old Burlington-street, .)
Robert Rutland, aged 63.

C N'
London : Printed by GIDEON ACLA.ND ;t
No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Published by bniie
THE Surr Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of
Savoy, in the County of Nliddleseli.
Saturday, JanuarY 28, I$7X.