The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-10

Their Character and Extent.
The Vulnerable Point.
The Prussian Plan Of Attack.
IMPERILLED PARIS.


The Question between Peace and Siege o
Paris-Tho Prussinu Plan of Attack-The
Fortifcations of the Capital, their character
and Extent.
The air is filed with rumors of movements which
have q tendency TO bring the great struggle In
France TO an early and peaceful solution. But there
Is nothing definite and entirely reliable, and mean
while the Prussians steadily marching on Paris,
the bulk OF their forces being, at the latest advces
within thirty miles of the city, while the cavalry
advance had approached to within ten miles of the
Notifications. Therefore, unless the negotiations
for peace speedily assume decisive character, the
army Of the Crown Prince will be in sight of the
capital in day two, and the siege of Paris will be
formally opened.
II we may place implicit reliance in the spirit
hitherto manifested by the people and authorities of
she capital, there be but result to the under
taking-faiure. Paris is firmly persuaded that she
is impregnabe from assault. Against starvation
however, she is not so well assured as the latest
advices place the amount of provisions on hand as
sufhcient only for two months consumption. If,
however 1t will require 9OOO 900 Prussians fully in
vest the city, claimed yesterday by the Steele,
the alternative OF starvation surrender
VIII not probably be presented. With
all its enormous resources, Germany
could scarcely maintain an army of 200 900 men
around Paris for two full months, and keep the
whole of France in subjection at the same time.
But nobody outside of Paris believes that such an
enormous force will be required TO invest the city,
and the chances Of successful issue to an assault
or siege are about on par with the chances OF
fafiure in either undertaking The fate of Paris is
a problem which time alone can solve.
A siege assault being inevitable to all ap,
pearances, unless peace is speedily proclaimed, the
central objects Of interest at present the for
ncstions Of the French capital. From the elaborate
report of Major Delafeld, a member of the military
commission which was sent from this country to
Isuran duri tha wa I'm lilo
more interesting and accurate description of these
fortihcations than has yet been published.
General Plan Of the Fortidcations
The general pfanof the fortidcatons consists OF a
continuous enceinte protecting the city from Gorm
and surrounding girdle of exterior forts, n 9ded
TO fulfil two important objects: first, to preve. the
bomeardmeRt Of the city; and second, the establish
ment Of great intrenched camp under the guns OF
the place, in which numerous garrison may COM
bas with advantage, even though it may be inferior
In numerical strength to the besieging force,
The Euceinte and It's Supports.
The enceinte of Paris takes the form of large
pentagon, upon the unequal sides Of which traced
ninety -four Fashioned forts, disposed upon right
lines, with five general changes of direction Those
fronts about ITO feet the exterior side are
rvetted with scarp of 80 feet in height, of usry
different rubble ,oork Dithir-these words tali-
cised in the report from which we quote-faced by
soft stone in of eight to ten inches, sup
porting the solid earthen rampant and parapet.
The ditch has width of 81 feet, the counteyscarp
height Of 19 feet, and not rivetted and with a
slope of IS degrees On the outside of the ditch there
is no exterior work, simply glacs, separated by
slight beam FROM the counterscarp which was
rapidly being reduced by time to the common slope
Of the couRterscarp when the report was written.
The glacis covers the masonry Of the scarps but
partially. Behind this enceinte, the peremeter OF
which exceeds 20 miles, runs wide military road
from which ramps ascend to the bastions and cur
fain RafW hio rnad ND 10 los nj fhe
city large spaces have been retained for military
edinces and rendezvous of troops
The interior of the bastions is entirely clear with
the exception OF few, In which it has been found
necessary to construct earthen cavaliers, either fol
the deement OF the adjacent terre plens, OF the
military road to batter and command the hollowE
on the exterior This enceinte, not Rithstandng It's
simplicity, is said to have cost two-thirds OF tht
total value OF the city, Independent Of the nationa
edifces.
The circumstance of presenting many fronts on
right line, rendered necessary by its extension, in
creases considerably its strength protecting most
its faces and curtains from rcochet, and deprlvni
the besieger OF principal advantage, that OF en-
veoping and concentrating all his efforts to centre
The absence, however OF dem-unes greatly impair
this advantageous disposition of fronts on rlgh
line depriving the fronts OF ali cross fires, leayin
them only direct ires which are no stronger beyon
the bitches than fronts composed OF right lines o
sen creatLiere," with the exception OF good Fanki,
defenses OF the bitches, which are all liable {
Ticochet fire and to be overwhelmed by vertical nr
ALSO
The Exterior Forts.
The second line Of the Paris defenses consists
sixteen forts ian additional fort has been built sine
Major Delahelds report was written, SO that ther
are seventeen in all at the present tme).
There are three forts around St. Denis (nearl
north OF the centre OF Pars), forming this pOiL
an independent defensive position, next TO which
the Fort dAubeTvilliers, between the roads leadin
TO the north northeastern frontier. On the right
the latter are four forts surrounding the heights
Montreuil northeast from the centre OF Paris) OF
cupying the summit Of the plateau and resting upo
the river Marne. The ancient castle OF Vincenns
10 the central point and the arsenal OF this centr
position. Thus this eastern side OF Paris is a grel
batte-hel and camp ground, fortified
permanent works, between which are sew
raj permanent redoubts on sites commandin
raVnes and hOll0ws not seen from the forts. tt
value OF this position would be greatly increase
by neld-works constructed under their co-operatin
influence during an impending SIEGE and this battl
ned, occupied in proper force might be victorious
disputed against greatly superior numerical fore
The redoubts OF Faisanderie aud Greville, unite
by an earthen rampant with strong profile, occupy
narrow neck OF land formed by great bend OF q
fvax MarnP 10 the GontheaGf NJ the centre of Pari