The New York herald., 1870-10-07
THE BESIEGING ARMY.
TllfGRApHlc LETTER 10 THE NEW YORK HERALD.

quarters OF the German army
VERSAILLES, Oct I, 1s7o
A few days ago the headquarters OF the King OF
Prussia were removed to Versailles. An order mas
been Issued that none but the officers and men on
duty shall enter the palace but King whelm's pass
cept Immediately around Paris, where the Germans
are !ortifying.
HISTORICAL "REMINISCENCES.
This visit Of King " Hllam to the palace Of ver-
sailles has proved quite interesting On entering
the ground floor that grinnng, sharp old monkey.
votaire, halls the enemies of France seeming to
remind them OF his literary victories the great
Frederick. A step further and q host OF Prussian
military officers are seen peering into chambers
filed with the most interesting and thrilling Of his
torical paintings in existence Here are representa-
tions OF the campaigns Of Napoleon the First. How
can we compare them with the campaigns Of the
other Napoleon we have personally seen9 We have
seen Sedan. but look yonder at Uim and its glories
Here, too, we see the great conqueror towering
the Prussian queen and over Berlin itself. The
Prussian oicers were tickled when they saw paint.
ings representing Solferno and the MalaKofr and
the taking oil Mexico There were the new coors
and gaudy frames toterng and Gathering over The
prim but now faded glOries OF the second empire.
WILD RUMORs
The widest rumors were prevalent at Versailles
two days ago. l was assured by the French peas.
ants that great battle In progress between the
forces OF Prince Frederick Charles and those OF Ba-
zaine On the same authority ! learned that an
army OF 100. 600 from the south OF France were
advancing rapidly upon Versailles. The truth is
that no movement OF an aggressive character has
been attempted by the French, or viii be for some
time to come. II ever.
PRUssIAN PREPARATIONS.
Meantime the German army is quietly and indus
trousy inrenching ana fortfying the positions
occupied by them, apparently with view to long
stay. Their earthworks are intended to resist sor.
ties rather than to be used in active attack upon
Paris STILL rumOrs are current in the camp and
are, doubtless true tnat heavy siege guns To be
brought mp and mounted on the heights OF Meudon
and Camart In order to silence Fort d'Issy, which
threatens to give trouble Reuller it Is said makes
the assault that quarter; but 1t is less easy to
take the fort than to attack IL.
FALSE ALARM.
Continual alarms occur along the lines Of the be
siegtng army. which, however, are natural enough
officers galloped up to the house where spent tine
night bringing to the division general the startling
intelligence that an advance upon their lines was
being made by the French Within ten minutes
crowds OF Prussian soldiers, their helmets and
bayonets glttering in the hight. were march
ing in the direction Indicated, followed by an
artillery train and the baggage, ambulance and
munition wagons. The staff soon after got up and,
with their trappings, made an imposing force. The
Prussian division was soon under way and ready
for action; but there was n6 enemy to fight ana 1t
returned to camp much like the nremen OF New York
after false alarm.
NEWS FROM PARIS
The absence or any war news renders everything
dull. The only occasional enlivenment Is caused by
the receipt OF papers the bringing in Of refugees
and deserters bold enough to escape from Paris
One, who came In to-day, purports to
be q workman desirous OF reaching Bossy, which
is his place OF residence. He said that Paris was
calm and tranquil Occasionally there were outrages
perpetrated by the mob, principally upon unoccu-
pied dwellings and warehouses in the absence OF the
s0ldlery. The Parisans are awaiting an attack.
They resolved to resist to the bitter end but are
dying of e'anML Great excitement attends the de-
parture OF the balloons Drilling Is constant ana the
National Guards are praised for the great rapdty
with which they are acquiring proficiency. The reR-
Lars are reported to be terribly demoralizcd More
than one thousand Of them are in the guard houses
and prisons. According to the account OF this
OuU'e,, some alarm is felt IN the city the spread
Of fever OF typhus character superinduced, the
doctors say, by the fright and anxiety or the pa
tients. He also reports the rumors prevalent in
Paris yesterday that Jules Favre had demanded ano-
ther interview with Bismarck, with a view to max
ing further efforts to conclude treaty or peace
DESULTORy FIRING
Ii must not be imagined that all is quiet ana safe
here because no great movement is at present con-
templated. Along the front in every direction the
constant desultory fire OF musketry and the Occa-
sional kissing and explosion Of shells and the heavy
boom Of cannon are the normal sounds. Wounded
men constantly brought in. IL is rare, In fact
that the firing Is not without effect.
WHAT BISMARCK DOES NOT DESIRE
I was told to-day, on good authority that Count
Bismarck not the slightest intention to interfere
In Italian politics and does not desire 10 inherit the
legacy OF the French empire.
WHERE THE ATTACK WILL BE MADE.
The near approach OF the King to the be!caguercd
city, occasioned by his change OF headquarters has
created quite hustle here. 1t seems also to fully
confirm the general belief that the advance upon
Paris, when made win be from the direction OF the
southwest
Operations Of the German Forces-ssirnsishes
at St. Just and Brcteuii-A SECOND Cordon
OF Germans Forming Around Paris-Ehort.
Of the French Prevcnt it's Borp,ation-No
Chance Of Their succeeding.
LONDON, Oct. 8, 1870.
The NEW YORK HERALD correspondent at Breteull
writes from that place under date of October l as
follows:-
BRETEuII, Oct. i, 1870
Ileit Brussels September % and worked my way