The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-16 00:00:00

INSIDE PARIS.

Writing from Paris on December 10, the special corre-
spondent of the Standard thus comments on the late sortie
from Paris and the campaign on the Loire :
The news of the retaking of Orleans and the
defeat of the Army of the Loire, so courteously
communicated to the Governor of Paris in a
note from General Von Moltke, has had a very
different effect on the Parisians to that which might
have been expected in the German camp. The day
previous to the reception of this intelligence news
had been received that General d'Aurelle de Paladines'
headquarters had been advanced to Montgaris ; it could
therefore be but the rear guard, left, probably, to deceive
the enemy, which had sustained this reverse. Many
who think themselves extremely knowing, let it
be understood, were very delighted and in nowise
cast down ; and in fact if the information brought
by a peasant from Corbeil, that the Army of
the Loire had reached that town were true, and
if the report that Bourbaki had reached Meaux
were exact, then, indeed, there would be legitimate
grounds for hope. Since the 2nd the atmosphere has been
laden with all sorts of rumours. Yesterday evening,
amongst other things equally unliliely, it was affirmed
that the Prussians were beating a retreat, that Versailles
had been evacuated and the town burnt to the ground,
and that Paris was only surrounded by a few troops left
to mask the retrograde movement. Some sailors who
are quartered at St. Denis are reported to have con-
fidently stated that by putting their ears to the
ground they could distinctly hear the tread of an
advancing army. Some enthusiasts oven imagine that
in the stillness of the night they have heard the echo of
Bourbaki's cannon ; in fact, the town is in such a state
of hopeful expectancy that the statianory position of the
army, which is officially announced to have gained two
great victories, seems to escape observation. The German

account of these two engagements no doubt differs greatly
from the French, and to all appearance the end proposed
was most decidedly unattained. General Trochu wouldnot
have made such gigantic preparations simply to occupy two
or three villages on the other side, of the Marne. It is only
reasonable to sup Pose that his intentions were to take posses-
sion of the heights beyond; what was really effected
might have been done by a much smaller force, for the
whole of this district is under the fire of the detached
forts. However, the Government proclaimed them to be
victories, and so welcome is the idea that Paris has wil-
lingly allowed herself to be deceived. When the Gover-
nor of Paris left to take the conimand of the army
there was such a fanfaronade and such mutual
felicitations, that one would have imagined that the
army about to measure its strength with the enemy
was invincible. The Government sent a compli-
mentary letter to General Trochu, Ducrot addressed
his soldiers, and every one, figuratively, shook hands.
How, then, would it have been possible to announce
anything but success? When I say that the retreat to
Vincennes has escaped observation, I mean to imply that
it has not been discussed in a serious manner. There
was a clause in the proclamation which preceded the
opening of the campaign whichhas silenced all criticism :
" The Parisians must net be astonished at hearing
of counter-marches and retreats, for the- plan
is intricate, comprising feints, &c." It is
now supposed that these engagements were only
feints, and that perhaps to-morrow a decisive blow will
be dealt in an entirely opposite direction. lam certainly
not in General Troohu's confidence, therefore can neither
deny nor affirm the truth of this supposition, but it may
yet be permitted me to remark that if he proposed doing
nothing more thnn was actually done, he paid dearly for
his enterprise in both officers and men. The Generals
Renault and Ladret de la Charriere and Comman-
dant Franchetti may be counted amongst the
number of the dead. All three seem to have fought with
great bravery, but more especially the first. General
Renault, seeing his men, who were being cut down by a
murderous fire, begin to waver, put himself at their head
and inspired them with a contempt for death by placing
his kepi on the point of his sword, and calling upon them
to follow him. It was shortly after that he was hit
by a bullet in the thigh, of which wound he died on
the 6th. He was honoured by a state funeral, which
took place yesterday at twelve o'clock, but much t) the
disappointment of the thousands who waited for hours in
front of the Invalides, the body was transported there

privately over night, so that the crowd had only the
doubtful satisfaction of staring at the carriages which
arrived one by one with the notabilities who came to assist
at the ceremony.