The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-13


lowest fgure-at least eight weeks. Be-
fore the end OF even that time the immense
Prlsslan forces would melt away like snow in
rain. With rhis historical warning before his
eyes, what can the Crown Prince mean? /
believe that he yet hopes TO see diplomacy
make peace when he has planted his first bat
tery against the French capital. But he mis-
that. Once here, he must attack or retreat to
his line beyond the Moselle; and If he does at
tack, it Is my belief that he will sllatter his
army in single fight, and receive blow from
which be cannot recover. this side OF the:
Rhine. He is playing bold and perilous
game.
EXPULSION OF INHABITANTS. @'''-'
have said that certain measures have been
taken to strengthen the city for the. expected
siege, and one OF these Is the expulsion of les
bOuches ia,tileS-the useless mouths which con-
sume without rendering any kind OF aid in the
defence. Under this comprehensive phrase
are embraced the fugitiyes from justice, the
iiragabonds, hostile. strangers, women Of the
street. beggars, and all persons who are con-
sldered as dangerous To either person or.
property. Individuals, also, who nave
no regular means Of existence-persons
whose presence in Paris might constitute a
who can render no service, and who might
be open to the bribes of the enemy's agents.
The commander of the. city has authority
70 eXpell all such persons and he has begun
the work at once.,: Some two. thousand were
arrested yesterday. In one cate two hundred
were taken during the day, and some OF them
proved to be Prussians, or strangers strongly
suspected Of being spies. Some women were
arrested, and as they passed through the streets
there was o sad though disgusting scene.
Some were in tears, and appealed to the jeer...
ing crowd for relief Some hurled oaths and
insults at the men along the route, Heaven
alone knows what. will become of these mis-
cradle creatures when sent beyond the limits
of Paris. 1t ia a hard case, but the public
safety dominates over all other things, even
the feelings of pity and of mercy. -
THE RAzrNG OF THE BoIs.
The razing Of the Bois de Boulogne has been
abandoned. From the first, could but regard
this as useless, or worse than useless meas
ure. If the wood might be used for an attack,
It might also be used for defence, and, with
little OF the energy which characterized some
Of the officers Of the Potomac, 1t might. be
made very formidable. a line Of earthworks
thrown up around this wood, IN triple lines.
like those of Gettysburg, would. Ii properly
manned, prove as strong as any fort OF stone
and mortar. With the force at hand, very
strong earthworks could be thrown up before
the enemy could reach the city; and II the
French engineer officers do not avail them
selves Of the experience gained during the
American war, they will show an old fogyism
entirely behind the age. The Bols de Bou-
logne, In three days. time, ought to De made
almost impragnable. Gettysburg was fortified
In a single night. Work upon the fortiacations
goes on with rapidity, and heavy guns have
been brought IN from Brestand Toulon. Some
two thousand Douaniers, men noted for the
accuracy of their artillery fire, have arrived to
man these huge guns. When we remember
that each gun will have service OF e4pe-
rIenced and competent men, we can add con-
siderable to the estimated strength OF the
city. And another point, which I have al
ready mentioned, must not be forgotten. The
circular railway runs entirely around Paris,
and can carry troops to any one point in O
few moments. Of course cars will always be
in readiness for this purpose, and, running
fresh meat TO all OF the garrisons without hav-
Ing it spoiled b. transportation in carts for
miles IN the hot sun.
FRESH TROOPS.
Yesterday there arrived In Paris, to be arm
ed with the chassepot, battalion OF the
-gendarmerie- all odds the finest body OF
men that ever saw. As the French police
system is entirely military, and the appoint
ments given for important service, one can
Imagine that the gendarmerie will form
strong and intelligent corps. Regiments OF
Franc-Tireurs are forming daily, and are being
drilled in the courts of the Tuieries or Louvre.
These volunteers are equipped by public sub
scription. They are young, but they will do
splendid service, so long as there ls no heavy
marching to break them down. Behind forti.
fications young men are better than men OF
maturer years. New regiments OF Ecldireurs
de rArnlee are forming, and these are chiefly
composed of men who have already made two
or three campaigns, and are accustomed to
the fatigues of war. Their encampment at
was very neat and simple. They
had no tents, and made bivouac merely,
when they might have made camp.
RECEIPT OF PROVISIONS.
It Is almost Impossible to speak with ac-
cuTacy OF the amount Of provisions arriving in
the CITY, but can say that the officers of the
commissarat are very active. The farmers
have been informed that by bringing their
grain to Paris they can have 1t stored free of
cost, that they can fl1d market for their cat
tie. while II left upon their places the grain
will be destroyed to prevent it from falling
into the hands OF the enemy, and the cattle
seized or driven away One can imagine,
after this, that provisions are pouring Into
Paris, especially nom the strip OF country ,
lying in the route of the enemy. There must |
be many days yet before the gates will be
closed and in week Paris will be well supplied !
with stores am confident there Is enough |
for many months-enough to keep the city |
and its garrison from want until armies from
without could arise to harass the besieging
army, cut off Its communication, and force 1t
to maintain concentration which would be
fatal. The provisioning of the city has not
been forgotten. and vast buildings for the re-
ception OF commissary stores have risen with |
the military works. These are being now |
filled with grain; and, following the advice OF
the authorities, the country people are bring |
ing their produce into the city to be slowed In |
the public or private warehouses free Of ex-
pense. There is -four enough for one year.
The annual consumption OF meat takes about |
ITO, 900 head Of cattle, and care is being taken
to have more than a years supply on hand. |
The preparation of meat Is well conducted. |
all OF the old butchering establishments have |
been suppressed, and one large and splendid
1banoir erected at La Vilette. II Is In thin
" inhabited section, near the st. Denis
canal, and close to the circular railroad men
toned above. In connection with this public |
establishment there are buildings for the stock |
and market capable OF holding hve thousand
oxen and sc, 900 sheep at a time. Upon these |
iwo important points Paris Is ready: and as for |
water, the Seine runs through the very heart |
Of the city. Wine is very important part OF |
the French commissariat, and Is as necessary |
10 the soldiers as meat or bread. Deprived of
wine, the public health would suffer, and the
public spirit tail; hence it becomes question
of necessity to see that there Is supply.
The average annual consumption Of wine In
Paris is about 3,l54,4 Ala hectolitres, or nearly
seventy millions OF gallons; but in private eel.
lars alone there Is this amount OF wine, and
the public storehouse, comprising eight large
is we'll supplied.
SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE.