The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-28 00:00:00

BOMBARDMENT PREPARATIONS.

The correspondent of the Telegraph, writing from Ver-
sailles on the 21st inst., says :—The batteries for the siege
guns are now in a very advanced stage of construction,
and one great subject of discussion at present is, whether.
it is possible to shell the city from the positions in which
the guns are placed, or whether it will be necessary first
to obtain possession of two or more forts, in order to erect
batteries nearer to the walls of Paris. The question
turns mainly upon the weight of metal that can be
used. A slight study of the map will enable a
tolerably correct guess to be made of the distance
from the forts at which batteries must be erected. It is,
of course, impossible to build them without shelter, unless
regular approaches are opened ; and I do not think that
the hills and woods approach the forts at any point
nearer than 2,000 or 2,500 paces. Measure the distance
from the centre of Paris to the nearest fort
on the southern side—add the 2,000 yards or 2,500
yards— and it must be admitted that the heart
of the city is beyond the range of ordinary siege
guns. To obtain possession of one fort only would not be
sufficient, for it would be laid under an intolreable fire by
those on either side. It would be absolutely necessary
to take two, if not three ; and, before they could be
approached, silenced, and captured, I believe the
time will have arrived when scarcity of food will force
Paris to treat. Should the fire be directed principally
or entirely against the forts, the chief attack will most
probably be made from this side, in the direction of Forts
Issy, Vanves, Montrouge, and Bicetre. Fort Iss y would
appear to be especially vulnerable, overlooked as it is at
no great distance by the wooded heights of
Meudon. . My impression is that nothing will
be done for the next ten days; but about the 28th or
30th I expect that everything will be ready to
commence offensive operations. A large quantity of
planking to be used in the construction of platforms for
the batteries passed through Versailles on Wednesday
afternoon. I am. told that most of the batteries are now
quite ready to receive their guns. One hundred and
thirty pieces of siege artillery arrived on Wednesday.
Enormous battering trains, containing siege guns
and mortars of the heaviest metal, are fast ap-
proaching from the rear. The great guns from
Eastatt, Mayence, and other German fortresses, besides
all the siege train employed at Strasburg, are being
brought forward as rapidly as the heavy nature of the work
will permit, and in a few days over 2,000 siege guns
will be all ready to be put in position. As yet, I believe,
none of them have been brought to the frout. Bat-
teries of field • artillery have been erected, to repel
sorties and so on ; .but until all the batteries arc finished
and prepared, and all the siege guns areyeady to be' run
into them, I do not think a single gun will be mounted. It
is probable that one night will suffice to arm all the bat-
teries ; very
zcaulodse,witoththtehepownsitoiunonst
destined
tfhoergtuhusemcwianthboeutdawi
being seen,

"My General,—l have the honour to return to you the
letter which you had the extreme kindness to communi-
cate to me. I deem it my duty to offer to you the thanks
of the whole population for the noble language with which
you have expressed the patriotic feelings which animate
it.—Receive, General, &c.,
(Signed) " The Mayor, BENorr,"

An inhabitant of the neighbourhood of Verdun gives
the following details on the bombardment of that town :

" The bombardment of Verdun commenced in the
evening of Wednesday, and continued, night and day till
Saturday at noon. The fire then ceased, in consequence
of a Prussian flag of truce being sent into the town. An
average of thirty to forty shots were fired every minute.
A Prussian powder cart blew up with a tremendous ex-
plosion above the hill of St. Michel.
" Verdun defends itself heroically. It has been stated
that Verdun has only 10,000 inhabitants, and 4,000
soldiers. This is an error : Verdun numbers 14,000 in-
habitants, agd at least 7,000 men of all arms.

" The town is resolved to defend itself to the last ex-
tremity. The fire from the town has been vigorous. The
enemy has made a requisition of 411 the horses and car-
riages in the neighbourhood to carry his wounded. On
Saturday the enemy removed his batteries some distance
farther from the place.",