New-York tribune., 1870-08-26
THE SIEGE OF PFALSBURG.

THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
WITNESSES THE 1oMBARDMENT-THE SIEGE
GUNS TOO LIGHT FOR THE wORK-BUILD-
INGs IN THE TOWN FIRED - THE COM
MANDANT REFUSES TO SURRENDER.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUYBl
LONDON Wednesday, Aug. "a, 1870
The special correspondent of THE TRIBUNE at the
headquarters of the Crown Prince thus describes the
bombardment of Pfalsburg on the 14th
Pfalsburg has already detained considerable
number of German guns for two or three days. and
when last saw it it showed no signs of giving in.
True the guns thus detained of light caliber but
they are nevertheless kept from other work, and this
is what Pfalsburg has accomplished The town was
sharply cannOnaded this morning and went to see
the German batteries open fire. From hillock
behind the village of Zillingen Pfalsburg could be
seen among the trees at the top of stretch of rising
ground, and could distinguish part of the old
rampant with its shady avenue To our left, across
the open field dotted with red-roofed farm-build
ings, was rising ground opposite TO Pfalsburg.
Here were the besieging batteries, which could
scarcely be distinguished at all until their fire COM
menced
The German attack was made with field artillery,
and great many of their light guns have been
brought into position for the work. The capture of
Pfalsburg is an important matter for the Crown
Prince but not important enough to make his army
wait for heavy siege guns. The Prussian tactics are
TO push forward masking the fortresses that are en-
countered on the way leaving few battaliOns to
watch them; but in this case the chances have
seemed SO to favor the probability of Pfalsburg beng
unprepared for serious resistance or defense that
even with light artillery it has been resolved to have
attempt at 1T.
From our position on the hillock behind the Ziin-
gen everything is to be seen. Now puff of white
smoke goes up on the left and fierce rush through
the air tells of passing shell, which falls on the
town. The French gunners man their pieces and
reply in excellent STYLE Flash after flash comes out
from the old rampant, and from the opposite rising
ground there is a constant whistling across the
space between and a flying up of dust among the
German guns or crash among the roofs OF the
town. as one side OF the other makes hit 1t is evil
dent that houses are burning; but it is not so evil
dent that the French guns are silenced. They
fire more slowly than their assailants, and seem to
aim rather high but there is heavy metal in the
booming reports that come from the Pfalsburg ram
parts Three distinct columns of dark smoke rise
from the town. 1t is good defense, good for the
dav certainly. The cannOnade dies away at even
ing and there is now no sign Of surrender.
The same correspondent writes on the nth: There
is no delay in the advance, Town after town is oc
cupied 1t is difficult to realize the extent of the
invasion The reserves are increasing 1t is no
exaggeration to say that the conquered provinces
will barely hold the troops poured into them
Pfalsburg holds out Gen. TalbOuet received
flag of truce replying to it with firm refusal 10 sur
render adding that he should next day 15thl fire
salute of p guns in honor of the Emperor.