The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-01
CAPTURING PARIS.
How To Go About 1t, AccordIns to n Prussinu


How To 60 About It, AccordIns to n Prussinn
ONCE.
A lieutenant colonel of the Prussian staff says
that three armies are in full march on Paris, by
way of the Mosel,e, of the VOsges, and OF Bel
fort. The Gslman strategist brings these
armies, badly cut up but still very strong, to
our very walls. They mean to find their way in
at all hazards. But Paris is vast intrenchgd
camp: il is not an ordinary strong place, 1t Is
defended by halt million of men and pro-
tected by encente OF twenty-eight
kilometres Q7I5 miles) in circumference
strengthened with ninety-three bastions
and fortified thoroughly. These walls are still
further protected by fifteen detache ed forts pro-
vided with seven great external WORKS, whose
fires cross and form second enciente, whose
guns can crush everything around them. Paris
is further guarded by the Seine, the Marne, and
with an internal circular railway. Such place
cannot be invested in the regular way; 1t must
be assailed at some vulnerable point. Now,
which is the vulnerable point! The eastern
forts, Romainvile, Noesy, Rosny, Nogent, Vim
cennes, are advantageously on plateau covered
by the Marne and they form such strong line
that our Prussan admits it would be imprudeut
TO attack on that side. Then, again, it wouldn't
do to attack by Clarendon for after carrying that
place they must cross the fires OF Nincennes,
Ivry, and the ramparts. On the southwest the
attack would be against Clarendon, lvry, ana
the Bicetre-decidedly unadvisable. Then the
southern forts, Montrouge, Vannes, and lssy, on
the steep heights between Sceaux and YER
sailles are very impracticable Mont Valerien
is the only work on the west; but then Paris is
behind the seine, which makes double curve.
The banks here are hilly and covered with wood,
furnishing abundant shelter to the defenders
The besiegers then, are limited to st. Denis. The
Prussian colonel says:-
The points Of attack are naturally on the north aud
daey are ne 6v wfSs @ o5 e so9th
and west are strong, and their attack might compro-
mse the peseges me Ta wand seye Se oT I
port from the Rhine. Admitting that the Prussian
army must be stronger than the trencn army, ana
that the French in the field, being kept at oistance
cannot annoy the besieging force, st. Denis should
be the first point of attadk He might then advance
on Montmartre without the risk OF nansing fire
from the forts we should attack simultaneously
the three forts OF st. Denis and that of Aubervil-
wouid resemble that of Sebastopol. St. Denis is on
the right bank of the Seine, which leaves tongue OF
hesieSers will then observe the citadel OF Mont va
lerien they will cut railways on the left BANK OF the
Seine, and throw bridge across to communicate
with the troops on the right bank"
To accomplish this the Prussian officers ar
rapgements are to set so 900 men against the
three forts of st. Denis and on tie tongue
of land between st. Denis and Mont Valerlen,
90 GOO on the north of st. Denis, 900 more in
front of Aubervilliers; and all these, covered by
the forest of Bondy and other points OF resist
ance in that direction, could maintain them
selves against any force sent to disodge them.
Thirty thousand at Neuilly could operate against
the Rosny fort, but their main use would be to
secure the lire of retreat. Place before st.
Denis So OOO, north OF 81. Denis SOOUO, IN Jne
forest of Bondy $4,000, at Bouyet 10000, at
Neuilly 30, ,000 between Neuilly and Villeneuve
3OO0O-total, 100000 which would form the
siege. This plan was promu gated some seven
or eight years ago, Prussia with two other
armies, one of 10000 (the army of the Upper
Rhine), and one to enter France via Switzer-
land, 100000 strong, and even then, says its
author
"A defeat of the besiegers might attain the most
disastrous proportions II the population should
take an active part 10 the war; and should join the
garrison in cutting off the conveys of the invading
army"
How the Allies Went About IL In 1SI4.
Paris was entered by the allies in April, 1914. On
the 3Oth OF March, when they were at MeauX King
Joseph issued proclamation to the people of Paris,
IN which he said
"CitiZens:-. Let this vast city become
camp for some moments, and let the enemy find
their disgrace under its walls, which they hope to
break through in triumph"
The following day Paris capitulated, and the
two army corps regular troops-which it con-
taiped agreed to march out of it on the same
day, "commending the capital to the generosity
of the allied powers"
1t was only on the evening previous to this
unconditional surrender that the Duke of Trevi-
so wrote to Prince Schwarzenberg, "Under the
walls of Paris" 'We are determined to defend
nursalves tn the last eXtremity.n