The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-10

of the railway from Paris to Strasburg, 10
miles east of the former. 1t has population
at present of about $4,000, and is one of the
strongest fortresses on the continent. Work on
its defenses has not ceased since it passed under
French dominion, in 1852, and so elaborate and
formidable have they been rendered that an
army of at least 100000 with an extraordinary
amount of war material, would be needed to
undertake its siege. OF the forti-
fications of the sixteenth century
there remain only the intrenchments of Guise,
the Serpenoise tower, the gate of the Germans,
and the tower D'EnTer. The gate of the Ger
mans seems to have been preserved to give an
idea of all those which formerly existed, and
which have been demolished as useless since
the adoption of the new system of Notifications.
They we're but strong castles with four towers
surmounted with batteries, and having each a
CASTELAR,. There are noticeable on the walls of
the tower DEnfer traces of Spanish cannon
balls, and there is shown therein the dungeon
where, during six months, the monks were shut
up who plotted to deliver the place to the I'm
perial troops The approaches to the town are
defended by two forts, six lunettes, and one
earth-work. These two forts were built by
Cormontaigne, that of Belle-CroiX, with the
lunette of Cheneau, presents development of
galleries of mines of about 10000 metres,
can leap into the city. The mines are con-
nected with the arsenal, SO that they can be
blown up in case the fort falls into the hands
of an enemy. The other, called Fort
Mosele, or the ''Double Crown"
is situated toward the north. Its
works, consisting of bitches and flanking forti-
cations, render it very difficult of attack by the
cannon of an enemy. The bitches are very
deep, and are filed up with bayonets, swords,
shells, grenades, ETC., which are covered with
the ground so carefully that the most practiced
eye is scarcely able to detect them. All the
buildings outside the place are wooden frame
work, SO that they can be destroyed at mo-
ment's warning. Built in 1877, the redoubt,
called the "Redoubt of Pate" occupies the posi-
ton of the ancient Naumachie, and forms, when
they raise the waters of the Seille, an island,
which one approaches by a subterranean gal
lery. In case of a siege, the waters of the Mo-
selle and the Seille can be raised sufficiently to
inundate the low ground to the south and south
west of the town. The outworks once in the
possession of an enemy, a formidable wall,
pierced by nine gates furnished with draw
bridges, and surrounded by numerous bastions,
would be encountered. Metz prides itself upon
never having opened its gates to enemy, and
the Prussians will be the first to enter it only
after desperate struggle
The Passes of the Vosges.
despatch from Metz, dated August s, even
ing, states that the army was then concen-
tratng to march to the Vosges Mountains for the
! defense of its passages. This purpose has
doubtless been changed by the appearance of a
Prussan army in front of the city. The Vosges
Mountains run parallel with the Rhine, form
ing an additional barrier for the French from
tier. They extend from the Jura Mountains
on the south, and, penetrating Belgium connect
on the northwest with the Ardennes. Their
average height is 1000 feet, and general width
twenty-five miles, the SUBMITS being
covered with vast forests. Like the
mountains of the Black Forest across
the Rhine, they are highest and broadest
in their southern part All the practicable passes
have been fortified according to their import
ance. The most northern road is commanded
by the fortress at Bitche, which in 1893 and
1916 withstood several spirited attempts on the
part of the Prussians to capture it. Reports of
the capture of this place by the Prussians have
been received, but they are too indefinite to be
| reliable. AS the Russians hold both Sarregue-
| mines and Forbach, few miles on either side,
| it is not likely that it can be retained by the
| French, even if it has not already been aban-
| doned.
| The great central passage through the Vosges
| is by way of Saverne twenty miles northwest
| of Strasburg, where Marshal MacMahon has
| concentrated the army put to rout by the Crown
Prince on the 7th at Woerth. Pfalzburg, a third
| class fortifcaton, about five miles north
west of Saverne, guards this passage. 1t was
built by Vauban, and, although not very strong
at present, successfully resisted all the assaults
made upon it in the tremendous strugges against
| the Allies in 1Sl4-15.
Between Saverne and Belfort are only two
| practicable passes-by way of st. DE- and by
way of Remiremont-and these are strongly
guarded by the fortresses in the plain, and by
Belfort. The latter stands in the middle of the
| opening between the Jura and Vosges Noun
tains, and is an important junction for all kinds
of land communications, being in the direct
| road between Basle and Paris. 1t has been
modernized and strengthened and is probably
| quite equal to the demand upon it. considering
that the pass is so far SOUTH and that Belfort is
supported by several other forts along the
| Doubs. Belfort is about one hundred miles 8.
s. w. of Strasburg, and almost directly west of
Basle.
The Peril of Paris.
The situation in the capital has been rem
deTed even more perilous by the excited scene
in the Corps Legisatif yesterday, which culmi-
mated in the resignation of the whole Olivier
Ministry. The most strenuous exertions are
being made to place the city in a position to
resist the assaults of the' enemy, if they should
break past the line of Metz and Nancy.
The Notifications are being strengthened by
$4,000 workmen, assisted by 900 sailors from
the feet. The entire work is in charge of In
spector- General Alpland, at whose disposal, If
we may believe the Paris kilograms, the most