New-York tribune., 1870-10-13
pdRTSATROCHU,

Whether Paris shall capitulate in despair at
the prospect Of a struggle, or sucCumb before
starvation, or surrender after a successful
bombardment and assault, depends more upon
Cen Trochu than upon the Provisional Gov
eminent. AS Governor of Paris and Com
mander of the Army of Defense, he is possessed
of supreme power at the capital. Jules Favre
is the only member of the Government now
there beside himself and it is possible that he
stays merely because unwilling to leave the
city in a balloon, after the fashion of his col
league, NJ. Gambetta. He has no power of
himself to carry on negotiations; but perhaps
he thinks that, if King William should force
his way into Paris, he might be seryiceable as
representative Of the Government and Minister
of Foreign Affairs. In such an event, how
ever, the King would probably prefer to deal
with Gen. Trochu, who, though acting under
the authority of the Provisional Government
was appointed to the place he holds by the
rescript of the ex-Emperor.
1t is presumed that, in regard to the defense
of Paris. Trochu will be governed almost
wholly by military considerations. He is fully
aware OF all the circumstances. He knows his
own strength and resources and those of the
enemy. He cOmprehends the Notifications of
Paris, and is aware of the plans and means
by which the Germans can attack them. He
knows the elements of weakness in the city,
to what extent it is provsioned, and has an
idea when it must! succumb under the block
ade. 1t will be in consideration of these things
that his policy viii be established. He has no
reason to rely upon any assistance from other
parts of France. His situation and pros
poets would be very different from what
they now are, if he could seriously expect
ana III raising the siege from either of the
" three armies announced as forming in the
Southern and Western provinces of France
But since the fall of Strasbourg and Toul, the
Germans have such a large force around Paris
that they can at any time detach body suf-
hciently large to march out and give battle to
any army of French recruits that might at
tempt to come to the relief of the city. Gen.
lTochu is conscious OF this, without doubt;
and, therefore, he is aware that he must de-
pend upon his own resources for such defense
us he may be determined upon making.
IL Gen. Irochu possessed military genius, we
might expect to be surprised" at any moment
10y the inauguration OF execution of some mag
nlhcent operation, some master-stroke of scien
llhc warfare. 1t is not hard to believe that
great soldier, beleaguered in Paris as Trochu
now is, with 100000 troops under his command,
might project and ca1y out an audacous
movement against the enemy that would at
least give promise of successful results, and
womb, IN any event, give him different kind
OF glory from that won by the Generals who
have lately been surrendering their armies by
wholesale. But we have never yet had any
reason to believe that Troehu belongs to the
higher order of commanders, or that he is any
thing more than good military theorizer and
organizer. He has during his career had but
little experience II actual MA. aud no eYpericnce