Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-10-12
THE SIEGE OF PARIS.

tablished. All points are in telegraph
ic communication with the Kings
headquarters at Versailles, and the
preparations for an attack upon the
Notifications and for Smelling the city
are complete. There are supposed to be
within the besieged city about 800, 0OO
troops Of all arms, rather more than
one half of whom are National Guards.
How far these latter may be relied upon
for effective service remains to be seen.
Without, the besiegiDg army numbers,
probably, not less that 800, 0OO men,
and these may be counted as veterans.
General Trochu, it is said confidently
asserts that Paris can stand three
months siege, and, if the city Is not
reduced within that period, the expec-
tation is that the rigors of winter and
sickness from exposure will cornpe! the
withdrawal of the Pruesians. Mean
time, the event must be influenced by
the movements of the PIusslans else
whore. If it be true that a movement
toward the South of France Is contem-
plated. and that a German force OF
100, 900 is concentrating at Toul Tor
that purpose. this can hardly tau to
have an effect upon the question OF the
prolongation of the siege and the hope
of defence.
1t is about two weeks since Paris
was fairly beleaguered. MacAahon
capitulated on the Sd Of September,
and on the Goth the Prusslan guns
were brought to bear upon the outer
line of the Notifications of Paris on
the south. Since then, there have
been occasional artillery duels, with
sorties aud attacks with varied, but no
serious or permanent rsults. Ii the
Prussians calculated upon internal dis
sensiors among the besieged, they have
bean disappointed. There have been
no disturbances of any moment, and
the great city awaits calmly and firmly
the gradual approach OF the enemy
with an evident determination to de-
fend itself bravely to the last. The
inner wall is as well prepared for de-
fence as military science and military
watchfulness can make it. Outside OF
these defences are the fifteen forts,
from one to three miles apart, all heav-
ily armed and their connections with
the inuer line well secured Then comes
the open country, three or four miles
wide with circumference Of not
less than thirty miles, cleared of all OBJ
structions in woods and buildings, be-
yond which are the Prussian camps
To complete this line of circumvalla-
ton, to bring the great siege guns In
| place, to secure the command of OBJ
iective points, and to make all needful
preparations to guard against attacr
and surprise, has been the work OF the
last fortnight. Now all is ready, and
the city holds its breath in expectation
of the terrible ordeal of bombardment.
Itsimag nifcent public and private build
iugs, its beautiful streets and avenues,
! its historical movement, its libraries
it's treasures of art and science, all the
accumulations of centuries of learn.
ing, of taste, and of wealth, which g
to make Paris the most attractive and
the most splendid city that the worlC
has ever known, are about to be exposed
| to the pitiless storm Of shot and shell
which will rend, ard tear, and shive
into fragments the howell and the pal
ace alike, the crudest handiwork o
man and the sublimest work of hnmar
genius. However sue .esstul the de
fence may be, the results of the bonn
bardment can only be disastrous ant
lamentable, not to Paris only-not t.
France only; but to the whole civil
zed world IF it must be that she
broad wall shall be broken down, AM
Der high gates shall be burnt with fire
and the labors of the people shall hay,
come to nothing, and of the nation
shall go to the fire, and shall perish,
civilization, at least, may mourn tn
loss of her treasures Of art and O
culture, even if religion has no wor,
Of protest against the barbarities 0
war in the nineteenth century afte
Christ Chacago Tribune.
PERsoNAL.-Mle. Christine Nj
| sson, the vocalist, is about twenty fou
years Of age, and native of the pro
vice Of Smoland, in Sweden. She j
of humble orr gin. her parents havin;
been peasants. At au early age sh'
showed decided musical talent, an,
sang at fairs and other gatherings
where she was rewarded with few COP
| pers. At the age of fourteen she wa
domiciled with the / aroness of Len
husen, and from her received her frs
musical education. She afterward
studied at Stockholm and Paris. Sh
made her debut at Paris in 1864, an,
since then has been steadily gaiun;
fame, appearing in the leading cites
of Europe, and coming to America a
one Of the first singers Of the time
She is described as fair, slender grace
full in carriage, and with the light blu
eyes of the Scandinavian race. He
success in New York has been marked
and next week she will be introduced
at the Academy of Music to Phila
delphia audience.
Senator Carpenter, of Wisconsin, il
a recent speech at Milwaukee, said
II was standing by one of our Wis
consin regiments, when, being muster.
ed out it finally broke ranks in tn
streets of Milwaukee, | shall never
forget brief conversation | heard be
tween citizen and one of the soldier!