New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-09-17
THE DEFENsEs OF PARIS.
MONTMARTRE AND LA vILLETTE-THE PLAIN Oh
ST. DENIs-THE WORK OF DEMOLITION

MoNTMARTRE AND LA vILLETTE-THE PLAIN OF
ST. DENIs-THE WORK OF DEMOLITION.
A resident of Paris sends letter to The
Daily London Eees the LIST inst, describing some OF
the defenses Of Paris lie says: 81 devoted yesterday
afternoon to endeavOr TO form notion of what
chances Paris would have If DC attacked the northern
side. Hrst drove TO MOntmartre On the Hill there was
a formidable battery of artillery, which would throw
balls the Notifications and sweep the plains OF st.
Denis The driver OF my sere told that he lived at La
viette and offered TO drive through that working
mems quarter In ts wide streets there were groups OF
men blOuses, and all the csbarets were full OF them
They all out OF work., said the driver;
they ask for arms 20 defend the city, but the
Government do not dare 10 give them muskets, for
they never would surrender them before they had
driven away not only the Prussians but the Emperor
also At the St. Denis gate, through which passed
everything appeared ready for attack Here, as at
the other gates trench had been cut across the road
loopholed wall about two feet thick had been built and
earthworks, resembling a species OF kh d ponl, had
been thrown up. emerged from them the PLAIN Of
St. Denis where MarmOnt with few troops an d the
Partisan National Guard had held the Allies at bay in
1914 for eight hours lay before To the right was the
Fort dAubervlhers, in front of US st. Denis, and far of
TO the left the fort Of Mont valeen At the villages Of
Aubervers and COurbevOe there were earthworks and
batteries Having heard that there several regi
mens Of the line at st. Denis, and being curious to see
what was going there, proceeded IN that direction
The town has strong rampant IL,
is surrounded by external forts To avoid suspicion
drove to cathedral and put myself under the wing OF
guardian whose business IL TO show the t0mbs Of
the Kings of France This worthy seemed TO
slider quite natural that stranger should choose thus
moment for Fsghseeing Round the outer door of TIE
cathedral was group Of soldiers and they accompanied
the guardian and myself IN our tour inside. The
Guardian did not spare word Of his oft
told tale,' and my soldier trends appeared 70
listen to every syllable that fell from his lips with the
the field of battle will fight like heroes, were - peaceful
and az quie girls school Az we went In and oat OF
and crossed themselves and il by accident Of them
uttered word while were inside, there wac loud
hush from the others Inc eiafulah toid me uist
every day the last week he had shown several hun
red soldiers over the cathedral, and that they had all
without exception, behaved III the same ORDER
" decent manner He SAID that there were ere
the last week regiments passing north had
succeeded each other every second day Along The main
earthwork behind II. The ramparts lined with
non and trees being cut down and houses pulled
down within the zone militare.' Not only the
barracks crowded with troops but In one Of tesquares
a regiment encamped under tents FROM 81 DEEMS
drove through Argenteu and CorbevOie. The country
in this direction is divided into market gardens ana
VINEYARDS In the gardens and the vineyards !
saw neither men nor women In the towns, although
the shops were still open al the houses were shut
i'm vans TO be taken TO Paris. All the villas
deserted. At COurbeyoie there were two regiments
returned TO Paris by Neuiy At the gate Of Neuy the
work of demolition within the military had CON-
menced and, in day or tive, all the condemned houses
round Notifications will he ieyeted. As drove down
the Champs Elyseee, / noted the number OF soldiers
who were lounging and sitting about Az far could
make out there three OF them for every civilian
Having little more spare tine on my hands passed
both sides the road squads OF conscripts In
forms we're being drilled At st. Gaur there large
park Of artillery and several regiments OF the line
camped where q few days ago bad seen the Gsrdes
Mobiles"