Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-09-19
Reading Matter on evsyy Page.

TIE SIEGE OF PARIS.-It is not improbable
judging by the European kilograms, that the
negotiations for an armi>,lce and a peace may
be effected without subIeciing the City OF PARIS
20 the ordeal of a siege. IL is to be hoped in
the interests Of humanity AMI OF science and
art. that this prospect may Re realized, and that
This beautiful city, With its treasures of art,
may not lie exposed 10 the ravsges OF war.
Should the srmistice not be effected. the prob
abilities are that we shan hear, from day 10 day,
Of pretty sharp fighting outside the walls OF
Paris II TTOCbu has 30 .OoO troops at Paris he
will, doubtless, essay 20 use them against the
Prussisns by sorties AZ different points on the
immensely long circuit OF the Prussisn besieg-
ing lines.
Some OF the scenes OF the attack on Paris BIZ
the allies hf,y-six years ago will, doubtless, be
reproduced. Paris then, with a force of about
5000 men. and scarcely anything deserving
the name Of Notifications, undertook TO op-
pose the assault of the allies having an army
OF $1,000. The attempt was futile, but there
was some pretty obstinate fighting before
the city surrendered. The plan of the
allies was TO make general assault along
the whole TIE of defence. The Prince ROYAL
Of WTtemberg was TO attack the extreme right
OF the French in the woods of Vincennes. drive
village o. Chsrenton, and thus turn the heights
of Bellevue on the right. The Russians under
Rayefski were 10 make flank movement to
attack the important heights OF BeueviIle and
R0malnyille. The Russian and Prussian body
guard were to attack the French center, posted
upon the Canal de POurcq. the reserves of
which occupied the commanding eminence of
Nontmartre. Blucher. with the army Of Sile-
STA, was TO sssail the lefC of the French line To
the end Of turning and carrying the heights of
Montmartre from the northeast
The attempt of the Russians to yaio tho
heights Of Romainvile was arrested by n haavv
fire Of artillery from the French, who. In t1rn
became the assailants, and they drove back the
Russians, taking possession of the village Of
Pantin, place since made notorious from the
Wholesale murders characterized as the Pantin
massacre. The Russians, after hard fighting
repossessed themselves Of the village but the
heights were defended with so much obstinacy
and especially by the boys OF the Polytechnic
school, that the Russian General ordered sus
pension of the attack until the operations of the
allies elsewhere should make diversion in their
favor. The French again made q dash aud re-
possessed themselves of the village Of Pantin.
Blucher also encountered formidable opposi-
ton in carrying out his part Of the programme.
AAC SeObsy lntlcuchcu ana projected
by heavy batteries, made a determined resist
snce, and the attacking columns suffered Sc
yerely. The reserves OF the Slesiau army. com
manded by Prince william. OF Prussia, came
TO the support Of the attack upon the French
center, but the defenders concentrated them
selves on the strong post of La vilette, and con.
tinued 20 offer desperate resistance. Upon the
left wing OF tie allies the Prussian Guards and
those Of Baden made a dsshing assault for the
recaTture OF the village Of Pantin, and carried
IT at the point OF the bayonet.
Meantime the Prince Royal of wirtember1
on the extreme left, had forced his wsy To Vim
cennes and co-operated with the Russians i'm a
fresh attack upon the heights OF Romainyire.
from which they had previously been repulse5.
The attack was row successful, and the yietors
following mp their advantage possessed them
selves successfully of the villages of Bellsyiile
NesnilnOntant, the Butte de ST. Chaumont
and the heavy artillery which defended this
line.
The village Of Charonne. on the right eyfren-
lily OF the heights was also carried and the whole
line Of defence occupied BY the right wing of the
French fell into the possession Of the Allies
The center OF the French army, stationed on the
earsl De L'Ourcq, was now carried By assault
and the defenders driven back to Paris
The whole line or the French defepces had
now been carried excepting the heights of
MOntmsrtre, which were turned. and ON the
point OF being storned, when flag OF truce ap-
peared to demand a Cessation OF hostilities ami
the next day the AlFes entered Paris
The style Of attack by the Prussians this time
will be more in the nature OF regular siege one
rations than was the attack Of the allies in 1874
but If Is not improbable that we shall hear o.
fighting at many Of the points made historical
by the previous defence OF Paris