The New York herald., 1870-10-05
Tho Threatened D0mbardment Of Paris.

Tho Threatened D0mbardment OF Paris.
The fate Of Strasbourg warns us that the
Prussian enemy encircling Paris will not hesi-
tate to lombard even the historic capital Of
France. The siege train has already partly
arrived, and heavy guns, some of them un-
doub.edly of calibre equal to the Swamp
Angel at Charleston, are being mounted in
strong redoubts on the north, south and west
of the city. On the heights at Villejuif guns
of the immense calibre with which we have
right to accredit tho siege train. Of the Prus-
slams can send solid shot and shell into the city
as far as the famous Quarter Latin, one OF
the most populous districts In the city, while
the little villages Of Montrouge, Ivry and
Charenton can be demolished almost at the
first fire. The battery on the north now being
erected at Gennevilliers will command the vii
lagos of Colombes, ST. Ouen, St. Denis and
Garenne, and will be able to hurl its
iron destruction to within few blocks
of the Champs Elysees. Within easy range Of
1t are the Montmartre Cemetery and the Parc
Monceaux. The battery on the west, at St.
Cloud, or rather on the rising ground to the
west of it, will command the villages of st.
Cloud, Sevres and Billancourt and the race
course at Long Champs, and will probably be
enabled to reach so far into the city as the
Military School and the Champs de
Mars. Thus is will be seen that some of
the handsomest quarters and suburbs of Paris
may be subject to the FIRST effects of the bonn
bardment. In these are some of the hand
buildings aud places which are eagerly sought
out by the tourist for their historic interest
or their personal beauty. At st. Cloud Is one
of the summer palaces of the Emperor and two
exquisite parks. At ST. Denis is the old
abbey church where the monarchs Of France,
from Dagobert to Marie Antoinette, are buried.
At Sevres is the great Sevres ware manufac-
tory, with the museum attached; and besides
these there are numerous buildings, monu-
ments and parks on the edges of the city
proper which may, as the bombardment pro-
crosses, be also subject to the destructive
fire.
Thus we may see at glance the effect
which the barbar0us project Of the Prussians
may have upon the gorgeous capital of the
world of fine arts, science, literature, beauty
and fashion. The Parisians themselves are
awaiting the bombardment in apparent help
lessness. 1t is said they have buried the
books Of their rare libraries under
ground, and stationed lookouts on Notre
Dame to warn the populace of the exist
ence of fires. That the Prussians have stern
vandalism enough TO carry out the lombard
ment is eyinced by recent events at Stras-
bourg, city equal in historic valus almost to
Paris itself The French, by vigilance and
daring on the part of trained and skilfui
sharpshooters, may silence the huge batteries
planted for the demolition of the city, as
Grants sharpshooters silenced almost COM
pletely the batteries at Vicksburg, by ap-
preaching close enough to pick off the arti.-
lerymen through the embrasures; but the
Prussians are more experienced in the arts of
war and are apt to circumvent finally any
such attempt. It remains for the great
Powers of Europe to save the city, and if it
is actually subjected to so CALLING rain of
shot and shell as befell Strasbourg, the selfish
policy Of England, the Indifference Of Austria,
the criminal tardiness of Russia, the vandal-
ism Of Germany and the innate hatred of re-
publicanism in all combined must be held
responsible for the gloomiest tragedy in the
history of the war.
tsDyr kya APE DANCEpoua y and aN ara tho