The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-14 00:00:00

DELAY IN THE ATTACK UPON PARIS.

The Standard remarks that Paris has been invested
three weeks, but the attack has not begun—because, so
the tale runs, the siege artillery has not arrived. The
reason is a good one ; but when will siege artillery
sufficient for the bombardment first of the forts and then
of the city arrive ? We would say somewhere
about the Greek Kalends, if one could feel sure
that the inhabitants of Paris would display for six weeks
longer the same resolution—a time sufficient under such
experiences to turn the garrison into an army fit to take
field. But that is more than we can fairly assume, and,
unable to assume, we look forward to the surrender
of Paris sometime in November or December,
if only the German armies now investing
it can hold their position. That is a ques-
tion, however, as to which we have considerable doubts.
We do not expect armies formed in the south and
west to relieve the capital by beating the besiegers
under its walls. We hardly expect, good as was
the fight made by the French raw levies at Or-
leans, that they will be able to resist any
strong division of regular German troops despatched
against them ; but it certainly does seem that
what with these armies and the rougher depart-
mental levies the Prussians may be compelled to
keep within a radius around Paris which has
been already wasted ; that their communications
with Germany may be fearfully interrupted, if
not entirely broken off ; and that, instead of,
or at the same time, with the starvation of
hundreds of thousands of Parisians, will occur the death
from starvation or decease of thebulk of the German army.
Disease has broken out already mildly before Paris, terribly
before Metz. With every day the influences in favour
of disease grow stronger, and with every day, too,
the disposition to make peace grows smaller. We will
not suppose that the German armies will have to beat a
retreat from Paris through a country they have rendered
desolate, although that, if Paris can hold out for six weeks,
is possible enough.

THE SIEGE OF PARIS.
The Manchester Courier deplores the attitude as-
sumed by Prussia regarding Paris, and asks how
long the civilised world, knowing what is the
awful and hideous anguish which this detestable war is
entailing upon two great nations, is to submit in silence to
the degrading spectacle, and fold its hands in cruel
apathy. The Courier further says, "We are
in possession of certain facts which enable us
positively to assert that Austria and Russia
have signified to Lord Granville their opinion that the
European Powers, if they suffer this bloody game to be
played out further, will be accomplices in the crime, co-
partners in the guilt. We are also able distinctly to
state that Earl Granville has discouraged and actually
opposed these suggestions and representations on the part
of the Austrian and Russian Ministers.
THE DEFEAT AT ORLEANS.
The Manchester Examtner, referring to the capture of
Orleans, observes that even after the terrible disaster at
Sedan, patriotic Frenchmen believed the army of the
Loire would prove the salvation of their country.
It would be more than cruel to taunt them with misplaced
confidence, but facts arc inexorable, and we now
know the truth, that this fresh attempt to achieve a suc-
cess has failed as signally as all previous efforts have done.
It is impossible to tell what effect the events of the last
few days may have on Frenchmen themselves, but to
those who are simply spectators they will be generally
accepted as demonstrating the apparent futility of pro-
longing the unequal struggle.

'TIE SIEGE OF PARIS. Messrs. Merry weather and
Sons, the fire-engine makers, yesterday received the
following letter, dated Paris, September 22th, "Par
ballcon Monte" from one of their engineers, who accom-
panied five of their steam fire-engines to Paris on
September 14th ; the letter refers to the arrange-
ments made to extinguish fire in tne Louvre
and Tuileries by storming a large quantity of
water in a reservoir of great height.—" Paris, September
29, 1870. Gentlemen,— We had a large petrolenm fire on
the 27th. I have filled tanks 180 feet high with a double
cylinder steam fire engine, supplied by a single cylinder
engine. There is no news and everything is very quiet."