The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-08 00:00:00

THE SIEGE OF PARIS.

It appears that only a considerable portion, and not the
whole, of the Prussian siege train has as yet arrived at
Paris. The remainder may, however, be expected to arrive
at any moment, and then artillery will be used on a
greater scale than has ever before been known. We hear
that six regiments of artillery, each of 72 guns, has left
Germany for Paris. This would give a total of 432 guns,
or three times the number contained in an ordinary
Prussian siege train. It is difficult to believe that
these guns, ammunition in proportion, and miscel-
laneous stores and provisions for the besiegers,
can be transported at the same time. Now, there
seems every likelihood of the Prussian foraging parties
being somewhat restrained in their excursions. The infe-
rence, therefore, is that the commissariat will be
in difficulties, and that it will be necessary to
push on the siege with vigour. Consequently,
it is probable that next week will be fruitful in im-
portant news, copiously diluted with falsehoods. So much
speculation as to the effect of a bombardment has
already taken place that we shall not endeavour to add
to the theories, but wait patiently till the reality shall
occur. We are glad to meet with one wholesome
symptom in Paris. General Trochu is sagacious
enough to perceive that it is sometimes good to
speak the truth, and his account of the action of
the 30th is a very honest seeming document. The
French, it would appear, did at first succeed in driving in
the Prussians, but on the arrival of the reserves of
the latter General Vinoy ordered the retreat
of his corps, it having never been intended to
make more than a reconnaissance. The retreat
was made in good order, and the conduct
of the troops seems to have been good. The
French acknowledge heavy losses in this affair. With
regard to the interior of Paris there is already some ner-
vousness about food. It appears from the correspondent of
the Daily News that though beef and mutton are cheap--
owing to the establishment by Government of a fixed '
price—yet that the supply is not quite equal to the
demand. As to all the luxuries of the table, such as fish,
vegetables, &c., they are becoming very dear. Bread is,
however, cheap, and as long as that is the case there is
no fear of starvation. From all we can gather we ven-
ture to assert that Paris can, as regards food, hold out
till the end of the year without suffering actual famine.
Order is being re-established in Paris, and the
attitude of the troops is satisfactory. Some disgust is,
however, felt at the fact that there is a daily increasing
number of young men who avoid military service by
attaching themselves to some ambulance. Next to the want
of discipline has been the want of proper arms. Matters ap-
pear to be a little better now in this respect than they
were a week or two ago. The Journal Officiel announces
that all the Mobiles have now been provided with Chasse-
pots, and that 280,000 firearms of sorts, chiefly Taba-
tieres, have been served out to the Garde Nationale,
and 20,000 to the Francs-tireurs ; 10,000 being kept
in store. From these figures we may conclude that
the strength of the garrison of Paris is at all events
pot under 400,000 men. Some of the much talked of
barricades have already been constructed and are reported
ro be very strong ; but some individuals, animated by
that most objectionable quality, zeal, have given some
annoyance to the barricade committee by constructing
barricades in places where not only would they be
useless, but even productive of harm. It is said that a
most murderous missile is being prepared at Paris.
It is called the Satan Fus4e, and consists
of a shell filled with petroleum and exploded
with a time fuze. The French authorities look on
this new means of destruction as so fearful that they
have determined not to employ it unless the enemy
make use of similar missiles. The Prussians are
reported to be most busy with the spade. Roads
and streets are barricaded, houses are loop-holed,
and double and sometimes triple rows of rifle pits
are constructed. Nor are the besiegers less active
in collecting provisions. Corn is being brought in and
thrashed, potatoes are being dug up, and grapes
are being gathered. They will soon want all they have
stored. The correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette says
that the French are equally active. He himself saw men
of the Garde Mobile coming out in the direction of Argen-
teuil with wheelbarrows, which were soon laden with
potatoes. The French are also adding to their
earthworks, particularly about Fort Valerien. We
heard a few days ago that a certain German Prince
greatly enjoyed the wine of Champagne, and that
venturing near the outposts while under the influence
of his habitual tonic he had been wounded.
A Lombard telegram now informs us that the
Crown Prince of Wurtemburg, going to visit
the Lanterne de Diogene in the park of St.
Cloud, was fired at by two Franc-bireurs, and ha: his jaw
smashed. It is said that he is in a very dangerous state.
This luckless individual must be the thirsty prince
before alluded to. The same Lombard telegram informs
us that the park of St. Cloud and the forest of Ville
d'Avray swarm with skilful marksmen. who intercept the
communication between St. Cloud and Versailles, in.
flitting considerable injury on the Prussians. The Prus-
sian Guard, we learn, has taken up a position between
the Ourcq Canal and the Northern Railway some-
where about St. Germain. We fancy the intention
of this movement is to afford close support to the
troops in front of St. Denis. St. Germain. at present.
appears to be held almost entirely by the Stsa
'Cavalry division. Some mention has been made
of an American gentleman who entered Paris a few
'days ago as bearer of despatches from his Government,
and returned as soon as his task was accomplished. It
was suggested by one writer that the individual in ques-
tion was Mr. Motley. It now turns out that it was
General Burnside.—Stanclard.

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