New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-10-14
K1R TOPICS.

We have had many evidences, within the
last few weeks, of the martial spirit of our
editorial confrereS of the Paris press. On the
approach of the German army, no less than
1000 writers for the Paris journals threw
down their pens, shOuldered their Chassep0ts,
and entered the ranks of the National Guard,
in which they have been subjected to severe
drill and discipline during the last five or six
weeks. And now we learn that it was the
journalist Delafarge, formerly a writer on
the Figaro who recently defended ST. Quentin
with such remarkable energy, and repulsed
the enemy. 1t is to be hoped that our Partisan
confreres will take pains to chronicle all the
valorous deeds of each other.
If Gen. Trochu does not quickly make
some great display of generalship, we shall be
compelled to doubt whether he deserves all
the eulogies layisbed upon him for military
genius. According to the official statement of
NJ. Gambetta there is now in Paris an army
numbering 100000 men, and the Notifications
of the city are fully supplied with artillery.
Now We suppose it will be admitted that
100000 troops ought to be sufficient for the de-
Tense of the works of Paris; and, this being
the case, there is an army quarter of a mil
lion strong left for other operations. Would
it not be possible for an army of this immense
numerical strength to break through the block
aiding line of the Germans at some point, and
attack the enemy in the rear, OF fight
pitched battle somewhere outside of Paris If
something of this kind can't be done by Trochu,
who has been rather prematurely credited with
being great soldier, why can't 1T
We notice the several Democratic journals,
which were very strongly in favor of France
as long as the Empire was in existence, not
withstanding all its disasters, have grown
much less fervent in their zeal on the French
side during the last four or five weeks How
is this accounted for by The World, and The
Buffalo Courier, and The Chicago Times and
The Cincinnati Enquirer, and The Mobile
RegiSterP
The horrors of Winter campaigning have
been deeply experienced in the great wars of
Europe. The greater proportion of the hOr-
rors was always due to difficulty of transport
alton and marching on account of roads and
weather. Terrible obstacles were encountered
IN the forwarding of QuartermaSters' and COM
mlssary supplies, as well as of military mate
rial. Troops suffered so severely in these
Winter campaigns that commanders were al
ways apprehensive of great disasters during
their progress. If the German armies are COM
PEELED to carry on military operations in France
during the next three or four months, they
VIII be saved from some, at least, of the ira
dltlonal horrors associated with Winter cam
palgnlng by means of the railroads which
connect them with their base of supplies in
Germany, and which facilitate, in such a won
der1ul way, the transportation of supplies,
material, and reGnforcements.
There are in France, outside of Paris, more
than four millions of men capable of bearing
arms BY levy en- masSe, there should have
been at least million of them organized
mllltarily since Sedan. The population of
rance is compact, the territorial extent is not
great, and the military machinery is, or ought
always to be, III working order throughout the
whoie country. We know there was q scarcity
OF arms Tor time but England has sent over
several hundred thousand rifles since the war
oegah' ana this country has done it's share in
the same business. 1t looks as though France
were weak IN more respects than one.
1T is not likely that the French will ever
agaih, I'D any OF their future wars make use
ol Algerlne savages or Turcos as soldiers.
Neally the whole of these military savages, of
al designations, in the French service were
Drought INTO action in the first battles of tho
war, ana 1t was supposed that we should hear
OF their performing prodigics of slaughter and
Outrage as they swept through Germany. There !