The New York herald., 1870-09-16
The herman Army Before Paris-AH Ready
Tor the Dcfcncc-Morc Dynnstic Conp,icn-

tlOuSs
The siege Of Paris may be regarded as hav-
ing practically commenced, though no hostile
gun has been fired upon or from her fortliica'
tions. The besiegIng army is calculated at
four hundred thousand men. The defensive
force is variousIy stated at from three hun
dred thousand to FIVE hundred thousand men
of all arms Whatever be its strength an
address of General Trochu's would indicate
that he regards il as sufficient. He feels
assured, he says, that tho defence will be ad
mirably sustained. The bridges over the
Seine, above aud below the city, have been
destroyed by the French, so as to keep the
besicging army on the eastern side OF the city.
The railroads on that side havc been also de-
stroyed; but those leading westward from
Paris are still in operation. They may, how
ever, be broken up at any time by raids OF the
German cavalry. The city is said to be well
provided for siege, and the population Is
represented as resolu.s and determined to
defend it to the last
A despatch from Boullon, 10 Belgium,
dated on The 14th inst, announces that por-
tion Of Bazaine's army, conman ed by Mar-
shal Canrobert, has cut its way oul OF MetT
and is on the march toward Paris and an
apparently later despatch from the same
place makes like statement in regard to the
whole of Bazaines army, which is said to
have reached Carignan, in the neighborhood
of Sedan. We regard the statement, how
ever, as rather apocryphal. From Strasbourg
and the other besieged foriresse5 there is no
late information except the general assertion
that not o French fortress has been yet cap
| tured. The Notifications of Lyo S are reported
| as completed and large lcvies OF men are being
raised, organized and armed iu all the depart
ments not invaded by the Germans. 1t is
| expected that about million of Frenchmen
will soon be in arms for the defence of tho
country. The abortive blockade of the Elbe and
Weser by the French hees has been abandoned.
1t WAS of no real advantage to France, aud the
men and material engaged in it can be of more
service at home.
1t seems that we have not yet heard the
last of NJ. Thiers mission to London. Ycster-
day he was represented as asserting that he
did not know the republican government Of
France. To-day we are assured, on equally
| reliable authority, that he had received fur
| ther instructions from the republican govern
ment, and had not quite abandoned his efforts
at peace negotiations or given up all hopes
Of success. Blu. the most significant intima-
| tions in regard to his mission are the con-
Meeting of it with some scheme fer the restora-
ton Of royalty in the person Of one Of the
Orleans princes. OF course such a scheme
has evidently been ono Of the possibilities Of
the situation, but we had not regarded it
as among the probabilities. N. Theirs, how
ever, is represented as having been the bearer
of an important communication from General
Trochu to the Due d'Aumale, and as having
had long interviews with members of the Or
leans family, recently strengthened by the
arrival from Brazil Of the Count d'Eu, son-in-
law of the Brazilian Emp5rv,, -~a ~r H.
princes of the House of Orleans. The mean
ing of all this is that General Trochu may act the
part of General Lafayette when he placed Louis
Philippe on the throne of France, and Of
General Monk, when he restored the English
monarchy in the person of Charles the Second.
This is one of the directions in which French
affairs may turn.
But evidently the King of Prussia does not
yet contemplate that contingency, or at least
does not throw out any hints of the kind. Tie
programme which is laid out for and at
tributed to him, and which has the air of pro-
bability to supp ort it is that as soon as Paris
is in his hands he will summon back the Re-
gency, the Senate and the Corps Legislatif,
which he regards as the dc jure government
of France, and arrange treaty of peace,
with commissioners to be appointed by
those bodies, and will, after the ratification
of such treaty, restore Napoleon to liberty and
to France and let France then choose her own
government. But one of the conditions of
peace is to be the cession to Germany of the
provinces of Alsace aud Lorraine. Even if
the King were inclined to forego that condi-
ton public opinion in Germany would enforce
it upon him.
The one great obstacle, however, to the car
| rying out of this programme is the resistance
| which Paris will make to the besiegers. II
defended with the bravery, skill and deter
mination which we hope to see displayed in
its defence, and if it's supplies of food, water
and munitions do not fail, the German armies
may see themselves compelled to raise the
/ siege and 10 retreat back across the Rhine,
fortunate if they are able to get back. The
events of the next few days will probably fur
nish indications by which to judge of the result
ofthe siege. May it be suspicious to the republic
and to the principles Of popular government
| THE Position OF GREAT BRIrAfN.-Great
| Britain will not commit herself She will not
| be French. She will not be Prussian
| NJ. Theirs has talked to Earl Granville
in vain. Why is Great Britain so chary