New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-10-29
OCCUPATION OF VERSAILLES.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE CROWN PRINCE OF
PRUssIA-THE FRENCH TROOPS DESERT
PRINCE NAPOLEON's CHATEAU-ITs VALUE
AS A MILITARY POsT-DIsCOyERY OF EXPLO-
sIyES-FRENCH PREPARATIONS FOR SALLY
FROM THE FORTS.
TPRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
VERSAILLES Sept. Elf Paris is to be be-
seged the most valuable point this side which the
Germans could hold is the chateau of Prince Napoleon ct
Meudon. Yesterday drove through the interminaDe
Bots de Meudon without meeting any landmarks and
was rather aqeeably asonished at finding In the end
that had actually arrived at the chateau instead Of
wandering into the French lines. The chateau Is d.
recy south Of Bellevue and southwest OF Fort dssy
which divides It's fire between the chateau, about $500
feet distant and the Notifications at Bellevue. The cha
teau Is built elevated point at the edge OF the
forest and directly below in the valley is the village Of
Meudon from which the French outposts keep mp con-
slant chassep6t fire any person coming in view on the
German side. arriving from the west side found the
French had after great labor erected very extensive
earthworks and bitches When however the general al
vance OF the made on the 10Th September
according to tie account OF the castelar, who remained
behind the garrison OF 20 received orders to retire
at o'clock in the evening" but they did SO half an hour
sooner and with such precipitation that they left behind
all their tents and most Of their baggage and ammun
ton. The chateau was without garrison until the
morning Of the 22d September when 1t was discovered
in this condition by the first company Of the Fifth Jger
Battalion and they Immediately took possession and
held until the first battalion Of the 59h Infantry Reg
ment was ordered TO outpost duty at the place, their
right reaching to the Bavarian lines.
The German garrison became aware OF the adj
vantages OF the position, and made use OF the French
works. to make them impregnable against assault
The side is exposed to the French fire from Fort
dIssy but when it armed with heavy artillery it will
commsnd only fort but the city ITSELF and so
long as Forts dIssy and Mont Vaeren not In the
hands of the Germans there is probably no other
point more important to them. Now, the chateau
is so much exposed that at night lights can
not be exhibited the French side without at
tracing the fire Of tho French and frequently during
the daytime, when several persons appear at the win
dows the second floor ian excellent point OF observa
toni the fire of the guards the town Obges them to
retire. / walked over the ramparts, and, screening
myself behind the low wall could easily distinguish the
guards below. who appeared only TO walt until should
show myself more fully before firing. The interior OF
the chateau presents scene Of devastation Prince
Napoleon who does not appear to thirst for military
renown left the place long with no one In charge
but the castelar, and when the French occupied the
Mace they plundered and destroyed everything that
came in their way The costly furniture works OF art
empty and broken bottles were scattered about In con-
fusion. On the second floor the Fifth jaeger Battalion
was quartered and the place presented very incon
eruous aspect On the floor of the saloon eight or ten
beds were placed and here the commanding officer
invited me to partake OF his hospitality Several bottles
OF wine from the Princes cellar still remained, and were
served with the dinner.
MANY curious discoveries made about the place
the most remarkable Of which three large casks OF
powder I'm the vaults ready be gnited Besides in the
woods large quantities of nitro-gycerne sulphur, pitch
and other nfammable materials were found which seem
to prove that 1t was actually intended TO GARY out
famous idea OF burning the woods The place
had been occupied three days before the discovery was
made that the chateau undermined and the castelar,
freely about the place, tDut suise-
uuenty placed in imprisonment; ana all tne explosive
materials including the pitch and sulphur FOUND IN inc
woods were thrown into the pond which was still as
found a telegraphic cable connecting the place WIN
Paris and four electric batteries and two more cables In
the village were discovered. sixty dogs or the nnest
speces were left such famshed condition that when
found by the garrison three Of them had been torn In
neces and devoured by the remainder, which out OF
the soldiers turned loose into the WOODS 10
seek food for Themselves. ,. ..- a.,
tncty the Of the French s0dery In the streets or
Paris and they report that the revery continues the
night long The observations Of to-day and yesterday
disclose the that the French are massng great num-
hers OF troops including cavalry well as infantry In
the neighboood OF Fort dIssy. Carloads OF soldiers
Guence II is cOnectured that they intend to make
sally I'm day twO and preparations are made on TINS
side accordingly II the Germans have such exceilent
points from which they observe the movements OF
The French the latter have adopted quite as good MOI
better means of attaining similar purpose Every day
balloon ascensions all along the line but IN
almost every the officers with whom have con-
yersed regarded with indifference, or "a evil
dence that the French adopted very Wild eApeden's IN
their extremity,