The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-11


Of Peaoe-what IL 20 DO tho RESULT
The latest kilograms from London, Paril
and Berlin shed little additional light on the
situation. The Prussian army, intended fol
active operations in the siege Of Paris, has
had the various positions assigned to the
respective corps. which are all ordered to be
in the occupation Of those positions on
Wednesday next. It Is said to consist Of five
corps, two Of which have not yet been In the
smoke Of battle during the war. The
defenders are represented to be In condition
to make an obstinate and protracted defence.
The armed force within Is constantly receiving
accessions to its strength. Iron-clad gum
boats are to patrol the river Seine, in and
near the city. The houses and trees within
the range of the guns of the Notifications
have been levelled. Barbados have been
raised with the object of contesting the occu-
patton of the city, street by street, II the
Prussians should happen to force the walls.
The moat around the enclosure has been
filed with water, and all who cannot aid In
the defence are invited to stand not upon the
order of their going, but to 60 at once.
Prudential measures have also been taken by
the Bank of France in removing its treasures,
the provisional government in removing the
crown jewels, and the great watch and
jewelry houses and others in sending away
their valuables, lest the Prussians might 60 in
for general 'loot."
Such is the condition Of affairs In and around
Paris. The curtain will rise and the terrible
drama commence by Wednesday or Thursday
next.
In regard to Metz there Is an intimation-
perhaps not entitled to any faith-that the
progress of the Prussian march on Paris has
been stopped or delayed by the necessities OF
the situation at Metz requiring large force to
be detached to the aid of General Steinmetz
there 1t is also reported at Paris that Mar
shall Bazaine has at last succeeded in cutting
his way out Of Metz and that he Is now on his
march to Paris. Good news for France, if it
were only true. The progress Of the Prussians
with by raiding parties Of the Garde Mobile,
capturing small squads, telling trees along the
route, blowing up bridges and railroad tunnels
and interpreting other distractions. But all
these will not, we presume, hinder the various
Prussian corps being in the several positions
assigned to them in the siege operations by
the time fixed.
Strasbourg still holds out against the be-
sieging army, and is now said to be in much
better condition for defence than had been
generally supposed. The fortress of Laon
has been blown up.
AS to negotiations for peace, it is impos-
sible to decide whether any practical move
has been made in any quarter. Jules Favre,
the chief of the provisional government. is
said to have solicited Lord Lyons, the British
Minister, to use the influence of his govern
ment to induce King William to offer terms of
peace that might be acceptable; and Lord
Lyons is said to have declined the proposition.
Austria, Russia and Italy are represented as
being inclined to interpose their mediation !;
but England stands silent and unsympathetic,
and is consequently not regarded with favor
by the provisional government or the people
of France. That disposes of the story which
we had yesterday about the joint note Of the
Russian and English governments, and Of that
womanly and affectionate letter of Queen
Victoria to Queen Augusta. Nevertheless,
the provisional government is represented as
still making every effort to secure the inter-
vention of the foreign Powers in order to
obtain an armistice preparatory to agreeing
upon treaty Of peace; and it is even
announced from Paris that Austria, supported
by Russia, has actually opened such negotia-
tons. 1t is not safe, however, to pin much
faith to any Of these announcements and the
last mentioned story is rather weakened by
another statement that at Vienna diplomatic
action is regarded as impracticable.
And now comes in the great difficulty in the
situation. Not only does King William warn
of all outside parties, but he has also an
nounced his determination to ignore altogether
the existence of the republican government of
France, and to regard Napoleon Bonaparte as
the only executive authority of the nation
with which any treaty can be made. He is
represented as taking the ground that the re-
publican governm ent has not even the shadow
Of authority, and as declaring that, in the
event of his troops occupying Paris, he will
treat for present peace and the future re-
lations of the two countries with none but
the recognized Emperor of the French, Ma
poleon LII.
1t will be at once perceived how such posi-
ton, entirely antagonistic as it is to King
Williams declaration in the opening of hos
tilities, that he warred not against France but
against Napoleonism, interposes insuperable
difficulties in the way of peace. There can be
no arrangement between the republican gov
eminent and Napoleon, for the Committee Of
National Defence has stigmatized him as