The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-05

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need relieving army. For how many days have
we pro isions9 We put this question to The gov
ernment three days ago, and we are induced TO
repeat It today, for that Is tae ms importan.
the period for which our provisions VIII sutlce.
Have we sufficient to enable US to walt for the re.
lieVing army? Or ought we on the contrary, 70
attempt at once o desperate et1or:. which WI. VIII
permit US to fall with honor? Neither
must the government forget the sinister predic.
ton of NJ. de Bismarck, nor. walt for the
LAST hour before declaring thai there are
hopeless position we are describing. No We
are MT yet lost, but we are upon the decllVity
which leads 10 great catastrophes. II we nave
written these lines IL Il to arrive az tnls coIciu'
sion. II the provinces abandon PARA, pariS IS
under no obligation uSelessly TO sacrifice hcrssN,
and may without dishonor seek to treat upon her
own account. Paris Is now erect anu upstanu'
ing. 1t will end by succumblng, should IL not re.
ceive help from without. We have made tnas
clear, but it may yet innct upon the enemy con-
siderable losses; It may yet kill many OF his sol.
dier5. Paris would, therefore, at this momant
for famine until we have searches by armel bodies
among the inhabitants, we shall have Civil war
in word, all the horrors which famine brings Id
It's train. Prussia then, VIII DC IN a pesltlon 10
dictate her laws to US. Let the government, then,
give US Information upon these Two facts: For
how long have we provisions? Does 1t expect
relieving army, and within what space ol Time?
If the reply to these two questions Is satisfactory
ingly; but, in the other event, why should Paris
sacrifice itself for the rest Of France which
would look on at its dying agone5 with folded
arms.
The Defences.
The Berlin correspondent OF the London Times
iptimates that the Germans hesitate to lombard
Paris because they recognize that its de ences are
impregnable. He writes on November 13:
The more the German generals have convinced
themselves oil the strength OF the works opposed
to them, the less desirous are they to open an ar
tiery duel between their trenches and The ene-
my's ramparts. Though the Formidable cannon
kiel and even PUsen and koai2sberg, is held to
be competent 10 reduce the place according to
the rules OF the ART, yet the task Is recognized 10
be tough one, and TO require more time than had
been ut first supposed: This view Of the case has
,bsen strengthened by the ecent additions to the
the. permanent defence OF the place. and the bar
rcades known to have been constructed In the
thcroughlares giving access to the city. The les
sou of Sebastopol, |" appears. has not been
thrown away upon Paris, and General Trochu ls
an intelligent disciple OF the renowned Todtleoen.
The southern forts have been connected by a con-
tinuous line OF earthworSs, extending from
Issy as far as the Seine near Charenton,
and afrordng shelter for good many additional
guns, Of a caiibre which could not fall TO make
an impression on the German redou6ts. To en-
nance the efficiency OF these works, they are
lronted by rlhepits and trenches running IN the
direction OF the besicgers, and approaching them
within rather uncanny vicinity. Inese. arrange
menis most plentiful IN the neignnornooa oil WI,
frown upon the beslcged, are not wanting IN
any O. her part OF the southern side, and have
been imita ell also In some places OF me eastern
d northern fronts. TO conquer such works Is
an undertaking OF unprecedented magnitude In
the annals Of the artilleristic science. IL appears
that not very long ago the different opinions ad:
vOcated In the council or war were superseded
by the resolve to let hunger begin the Work OF re-
ductlon and reserve the artillery for completing
It, Only when the town has begun to feel the
want Of provisions will the German batteries De
manned; and. adding fiery persuasires to those
already supplied by personal needs, succeed, II IS
anticipate,i, In comparatively short time, to
work q result Surrender being expected from
the impression to be produced Oil the inhabitants
at large, the b0mbardment, when II does oegin,
Is likely to include the town as well as the de-
fences. With so eXcitable population as Paris,
premature Gombardment might have engendered
q troublesome herOism, even in the face OF the
manifest impossibility OF successful resistance;
when properly timed, 1t is expected to produce
the opposite consequence.
The French Armies Outside.
The Rouen correspondent OF the London STAN
dard expresses high opinion OF the discipline
and efficiency Of the French forces In the pro.
vinces. He writes, November Is:
The military prospects OF France look brighter
now than they have done ever since the end OF
August. The work OF concentration, Whicn mas
been 100 long neglected, appears TO have been |
In right earnest, aud trust that be- |
fore many days are over 1t will be in my power |
TO send you convincing ana conclusive proof |
that the army OF the Loire Is not the only organ
lied force the French have in the field. might |
send you details OF interest concerning the prepa-
rations that are going on, but the French are NOR
bidIy nervous about the premature disclosure OF
military movements, and In difference TO that |
feeling must con1ne myself 10 the bare
statement or my belief that before many |
DAYS General Bourbaki In the north, and |
Count de keratry In the west, will be III position |
To cooperate efficiently with General d'Aurellcs
de Palladines whose sudden debouching from be- |
hind the Loire so llSagreelbly surprised the Prus-
SLAMS, By giving them practical proofs that the |
army OF the Loire was not the myth that they |
SUPPOSED. From personal observation have no |
hesitation in saying that the discipline among |
the Mobiles and the regulars Is, beyond any COM
parison greater than 1t was In the army which |
left Paris and ChaonS in August last, on that |
fatal march TO Sedan. Even the most undisclp- |
lined OF tile rregulurs, the Francstireurs, exhibit
This Improvement in q marked degree. have |
seen many OF them in Rouen at various times
within the last two months. All will soy Is, that
even month ago, "goOG behavior, sobriety anu |!
attention to command" the three military cardt. |
nal virtues they were utterly destitute Of. Well, |
600 or them arrived here tonight, and their quiet
and orderly behavior, cleanliness, and soldlery |
would have reflected credit on crack !
corps. OF regulars.