The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-06
THE SIEGE OF PARIS.

From the n. Y. Times.
1t is a fortnight ago since the siege of
Paris was formally entered upon. McMahon's
army capitulated on the I'd of September.
Sixteen days later the troops which had
fought around Sedan found the passage of
the Marne, within a few leagues of Paris, dis.
puted by General Vinoy. By the Goth Sep
tember they had gained possession of the
woods of Meudon and Clamart, southwest of
the Notifications; and their terrible artillery
was being brought to bear from the opposite
heights upon the outer line of the southern
defenses of Paris. Thus far the siege has
been an irregular series of artillery duels,
varied by an occasional sortie from the be-
sieged, and one or two successful attacks by
the besiegers, upon points advantageously
situated for purposes Of bombardment or
assault. On the whole, however, the Prus-
slams have shown, up to this point, more
anxiety to make the blockade complete than
to attempt any decided breach in the enemy's
works. 1t was doubtless calculated that
Paris, completely isolated from the rest of
the world, and compelled to face alone all
the horror of her impending doom, would
forget her tone of defiance, and bow to any
terms rather than brave the full measure of
the power of her assailants. But Paris, gay,
frivolous and self-indulgent, has calmly faced
the hour of her darkest trouble, and has de-
veloped that latent heroism which her long
masquerade of folly has been unable to stife.
Her worst enemies were thought to be within
her walls. Save the panic of regiment of
Zouaves, there has been no evidence of
pusiilanimity; save some unsupported rumors,
there has been no. record of disposition,
even among the lowest ranks of the populace,
either to riot or pillage.
For fourteen days the city has been in
closed by four concentric rings. First, the
inner wall of decentralization, bristling with
cannon, and manned by thousands of watch
full troops; next, at distances varying from
one to three miles, circle of some fifteen
forts, with heavy armament and we'll secured
connection with the inner wall; next, belt
of country four or five miles wide, and at
least thirty miles circumference, where
buildings have been razed and trees burned,
and where, except during an occasional
sortie, there is absolute solitude, and except
when the opposing guns are exchanging
shots there is absolute silence; and, last of
all, broken and irregular circle, whose
segments are German encampments, and
hastily entrenched positions. The outer
circle has now begun to contract like the
heavy folds of q boa constructor, around its
victim. The solitude and silence of the one
within it is straightway to be broken by the
kissing progress of the fatal SHE'LL Paris has
come triumphantly out of the first ordeal of a
blockade; she is now to be submitted to the
terrible trial of bombardment. The Prus-
sian ordnance on the heights of Sceaux may
reduce the Luxembourg to ruins. The Inva-
lides, the Arc de Triomphe, and perhaps
even the Louvre may be reached by the
fire of batteries advantageously posted
at St. Cloud. The whole civilized
world will hear with regret the news
which echoes the discharge of the first
mortar upon the treasures of art and culture,
and upon all the helpless thousands of non
combatants that are crowded behind the
walls of Paris. And still the question arises,
to what good does all this tend? Will the
Fix millions of adult Frenchmen that remain
after Paris has become heap of ruins be
any less disposed to fight than they were be-
fore she fell A? Is the war to become war of
determination, and the name of France to be
blotted from the map of Europe? We can
not regard, without disbelief in the boasted
advance of humanitys the prolongation of a
struggle which has ceased to have any moral
purpose, or to possess any but the 'saddest
kind of interest for all lovers of liberty