The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-22
THE PERIL OF PARIS.

The Capital Preparing for Sieke-Its Forth
ficatious and the Efforts TO Strengthen aud
Man them-The Danger iof Disorder Within
the City-Events of the Past Two Weeks.
disorder in Paris would be victory for Prus-
sia, said the new ministry in their pronuncia-
mento but fortnight ago, and from that day to
this just such Prussian victory has been i'm
pending.
Eyeu uts in Paris During the Past Two Weeks.
The embargo placed by the Government upon
the telegraph and mails is so strict that 1t is i'm
possible for us to realize yet how close to the
verge of serious uprising the French capital
has repeatedly and constantly been. The alarm
was fairly taken just after MacMahon's disastrous
defeat at Woerth on the 9th, and on the follow
ing morning the Journal OticieL gave expression
10 it by summing up the forces which could be
collected on short notice for the defense of the
capital against the invader. On the same day
an official circular was issued by the Empress
Regent, signed by the leading members of the
Ministry, announcing that ''in order to facii
tate the execution of military preparations, we
declare the capital in state of siege" On the
9Th, a report of the Minister of War, approved by
the Empress, appeared, stating that ''existing
circumstances oblige us to provide forithe de-
tense of the capital" but assuring the people
that "Paris win not be taken unawares."
Additional works for the defense of the city
were at once inaugurated, thousands of men
being put at the task, while the leading con-
tractors placed all their appliances at the free
disposal of the Government. The undertaking
was scarcely under way, however, before the
neighborhood of the Palais Bourbon, in which
the sittngs of the Corps Legislatif are held, was
the scene of wild disorder on the occasion of the
reopening of the Chamber and the fall of the
olivier Ministry on the 9th. The decisive mea-
sures taken by Marshal paraguay d'Hilliers, at
that time in command of the city, quelled the
distur bance, and until within few days past
at least, sufficient body of troops to oVerawe
the multitude has been kept at hand in this
LEGALITY.
Notwithstanding the show of activity which
was made in preparation for defense, leading
journal, the Opinion NatiOndIe, a week later
Veptured to raise doubt, in response to which
the journal Oficiel on the 14th contained a
manifestoI in which occurred the following
passage
'cMore than six hundred cannon are already
mounted the walls of those forts which likely
to be the first threatened with attack and the work
OF placing other pieces in position continues without
interruption day and night. Yesterday 1900 work
men were engaged In cutting on the streets leading
into Paris. This work has been completed, and
nothing remains but TO close up the openings in the
walls and place drawbridges In position. Thousands
OF laborers occupied outside the walls on earth
works, mnes bitches, ETC., which are TO connect
and complete the network OF fortincations around
the capital These facts and figures we are obliged
20 give in order reply to pertdous and erroneous
insinuations, and TO restore the confidence OF ouI
good citizens. II such question should be re-
newed, their authors VIII nave 10 answer Tor theli
conduct before a council OF war, where they Will Dt
subjected 70 all the consequences OF the law; fol
there are hours, and now more than ever, when
justice cannot be permitted TO Sleep