The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-19 00:00:00

NARRATIVE OF A DEFENDER.

In the Revue des Deux Monde:, M. Simonin publishes
an article under the head of Un Alois aux Remparts, in
which he describes his experience as a defender of Paris :
"There is," he says, " everywhere a degree of life and ani-
mation which is cheering. From all the houses near the
ramparts the inhabitants have disappeared. Soldiers,
regular and citizen, have replaced the peaceful bourgeois.
There where, perhaps to-morrow the cannon and
musket may roar, the wealthy owners have de-
serted their villas and their gardens. In con-
sequence of requisitions which are authorised by the
state of siege and military customs, many of these resi-
dences have opened their doors to the defenders of the
country, and more than one elegant mansion, at Passy,
for instance, now affords shelter to groups of officers,
posts of the National Guard, or is devoted to
other services. Here the semaphore signals are
established, there the electric telegraph is at work ;
in other houses we find the officers of the Engineers
or of the Artillery. The Château de la Muette has
received within its walls the headquarters of the 6th Sec-
teur, or Division, of the circumference of the fortifications,
and beneath the princely shades of that splended resi-
dence, through which in turns have passed the Regent,
Louis XV., and Marie Antoinette are now encamped
the soldiers of the Republic. The civil engineers,
acting under the Barricade Commission, have taken
possession of tho Parc de la Muette, levelling banks
and cutting down trees which would impede the de-
fence. The walls are completely fortified with slopes
and ditches cut round. Not far from the Château,
under the trees which belonged to the days of Rane-
lagh, there is a picturesque encampment of Breton
Mobiles, calm, silent, and wearing the national ermine in
their kepis. Those of St. Herault are also there, more viva-
cious, and every night sing in chorus with wonderful pre-
cision. We see also the Mobiles of the Marne, whose bear-
ing is not less martial than that of their comrades of the
South and West. Here and there we see bivouac fires, lines
of tents, tables spread in the open air where all take their
meals. As for canteens, they were to be found everywhere
until the military authorities made stricter regulations
for their distribution. At the headquarters of the see-
teurs the life is more quiet, less eventful, but there, again,
all are upon good terms with each other, and notwith•
standing the diversities of ages, ranks, and professions,
there is no division. Each one lives in cordial understand-
ing with his neighbour ; eaoh has bat one idea—to drive
away the enemy as speedily as possible. Here, as also in
other sec/elms, the marine is strongly represented. The ma-
rine has given all for the defence of Paris- -brave admirals,
officers, and sailors, an admirable system of signals, and
an incomparable artillery. Six of the forts, six of the
secteurs, are commanded by naval officers. All the sema-
phores at Montmartre, Mont Valerien, Passy, Issy, and
the Opera have been instructed to them. These gunners
have become famous for the accuracy of their fire, and
after the siege people will speak of them as after Sebas-
topol and Solferino they spoke of the Zouaves."