The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-30
TIE ARMY OF TIE L0iRE.
Three-CRarters OF a Million OF
Frenchnen in Arms.
The New Lavies Their Appearance = Resc,u-
tion--spirit : The Nation Awake at Last
The Military RsvictuaIling of Paria--
Eourbaki to Make the Attenlpt-Hsw
It 10 TO be Accomplished.

TOURS Dec g. 1870.
Sixty thousand men have gone through this city
within the three days past. They move from here to
Orleans and thence sent forward to reinforce the
Army of the Loire IN Its operations against Prince
Frederick Charles, the Grand Duke of MecKlenburg
and General Won der Tam. Ordinary travel Is en-.
trely suspended In every direction from this CENTRE
in order that the government may devote to the
transportation OF troops all the resources OF the diff
ferent lines. From the west and south there is for
the moment no travel into Tours out Of it because
OF the coming this way Of the soldiers. and to the
north and east quite az little because Of the urgent
hurrying forward to the scene OF active operations
OF the men that so many arriving trains accumulate
here.
RE1NFoRcEyENTs.
The soldiers thus constantly coming and going are
brought from the different camps Of instruction. In
which, during the past few months, they have been
exercised In daily drill and instructed IN the ord
nary military manGuvres They present the general
aspect of similar regiments the world over--an ap-
pearance made familiar to the American people by
the marching regiments Of 1851, '62 and 49, AS q
rule the men here rather under the size OF the
men seen IN the American regiments, but they are
large enough, and have
TIE PRACTICAL LOOK OF SOLDIERS
who got past the gold lace and gilt gingerbread
| stage OF military existence. They are all well uni
sacks and shelter tents, and with either Chassep6ts
| or Remington rines Remington rides seem to pre-.
dominate. AS the weather Is quite cold here it
| would have been comfortable sight to have seen
every Of these good fellows In stout overcoat.
Some had sort OF loose blanket cloak, with a
hood-a garment Offering less protection and giving
moro embarrassment. Many were without even
WINTER NIGHTS
In the lines are dreaduily severe. But they face
hp
colder for me, said Of them, .tnan 1t Is for the
Prusslans; besides, am at home and they are not"
Certainly the men, as q rule, are less robust than
tue German soldiers have seem This Is doubtless
due TO the levy en- ndsse, which, as It takes every
| the surgeons IN ordinary times. But The French
WILL perhaps, than make up for this difference
bers. The winter campaign may Kill more OF these
young fellows than II Will OF the already hardened
this difference Her soil swarns with soldiers, and
she can afford to give TWO OF even three for one II
there Is no less eStravagant way OF crushing the
bitter, semlsayage hate That she Is ready for this
sacrifice.
| In the presence OF such spirit, and possessing
the visible evidence OF the large numbers OF that
are actually under arms, and that are even already
to resist the conviction which has taken firm hold
| OF all minds here. that the republic will save the
country and push the enemy beyond the Rhlne IL
is plainly enough admitted, OF course that Paris s
the great dnicnty in the case and that because Of
/
| Guilty no one could doubt OF eventual French tri-
| umph.
! THREEQUARTERs OF A MILLION OF MEN.
For instance, the government here has now on
hand and less Ut for service, not less than
three-quarters Of million Of men; and It has In
General De Paladines man thoroughly competent to
| train them TO make them into splendid army and
| to command that army But, III order to make these
troops tit 10 meet the Prussians they must be still
| more maturely formed by the discipline that has
already done 50 much in moulding them Alright The
situation on the Loire, therefore, seems to require
| that this army should not be Drecipit0tey thrust
| against the well-tried enemy; but the situation at
Paris requires that relief should come soon
| THE sU6Esr COURSE TO PURSUE,
II the Army Of the Loire, now practically In In.
| trenched camp, should forthwith take tho neli
against the troops which won the battles Of Woerth,
| Gravelstte and Sedan 1t might be seriously broken
In one more great defeats, ana THIS would destroy
the last hope OF the nation. But If 1t stays on the
Loire till Paris Is compelled to surrender this ter
rible encouragement would be, perhaps, an equally
| disastrous blow.
| TIE CRISIS.
such is the dilemma that people here contemplate
| at this moment The solution the government APP
pears to propose has certainly promise OF success.
BY means Of the balloon post ana the pigeon post
| the government Is IN complete correspondence
! with Paris, and thus movements OF troops may be
concerted; and well executed concerted move.
ment, even though 1t might not actually compel the
Germans to raise the SIEGE might cut the investing
line and make It possible to send In 1000 or 5000
| wagons and $4,000 cattle before the anaconda
| gathered his coils again around the victim.
| BOURBAKI's COMMAND AND ITS AIM
the time this letter reaches you. General Bourbak
has been put IN command OF force tha; Is forming
independently OF the Army OF the Loire, charged :
pecialiy with the duty Of reyictuaiing Paris. AL.
ready On immense accumulation OF cattle and other
stores have been made and put In places ready for
the Army OF the Loire and the Army Of Paris VIII
push with the greatest energy toward one another
at a designated point, and II they succeed IN
doubling up any portion Of the Prussian lines BOur-
bakI VIII run In his supplies. Shonld the Prussians
squently retke their position the supplies
win give time FOR operations that may accomplish
l more.