Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-06
IN u,I0s AND AMER lCAA
PARIs-rrs FORTIFICATIONs AND

It's difRcalf At this writing to pre- oic
what VIII be the course of the authorities
at Paris, but an impression prevails that
the surrender of the Emperor and the
capture by the Prussians of McMshon's
splendid army, virtually ends the war.
Even with this loss, Paris might be able
to hold out for some time against the
Prussian army, but there is not the slight
est probability that this army could be
finally beaten back, What would be
gained by an attempt to defend Paris
Five hundred thousand hostile soldiers
are like q cloud of locusts In
their march over even the most
fruitful regions. The country may
be garden and magazine
of provisions before them; but it is
waste attended by famine and pestilence
behind them. Destruction is the business
of war, and the German armies In france
leave behind the traces of Shermans
march to the sea. How long can France
sustain these ravages of her fsirest de-
partments A hostile army OF five hun
bred thousand men consumes or destroys
more of the fruits of the earth than would
suffice for an invasion of millions of
peaceful migration. The great Frederick
is credited with The rroverb that San
army is like a snake---it moves upon its
belly" The enormous demands of this
great German invading army have
already amply verified this maxim
in the enormous drain upon the coun-
try traversed by the Germans and in the
drain upon their own depots of supplies.
This is a truthful picture of what France
would draw upon herself by further re-
sistance, and she cannot afford to have
her domain laid waste in this manner
She must therefore sue for such terms as
her invaders will now grant,
Paris is one of the best fortified cities
in the world. 1t is surrounded by net
work of Notifications, embracing fourteen
forts. They are what are known as de-
tached works. Still they are connected
by circular railway, by which bodies of
men can be moved from one point to an
other in short time. From late work
we obtain the following account of the
defenses of Paris The encie1te or ram
part which encircies Paris, is faced
with stone, filled in with rubble and
backed by a strong and deep bank of
earth. Around its whole circuit runs q
magnificent military road to facilitate the
concentration of artillery or infantry with
the least possible loss of time at any
given point, and from the enciente to
several exterior forts, as also between the
forts, are likewise these same excellent
roads. Outside the e'lcierlte, detached
from it, and situated at a distance of
from a mile and a quarter to two
miles from the enciente, and the same
distance from each other, are the forts
forming the outer girdle. The very low
est estimate of the cost of these forts,
that is the cheapest ones, is 800, 600,
exclusive of the purchase money for the
site. Fort Mount Vslerian cost about
$1,000, 900, and Fort Charenton $500, 900.
The minimum estimate for construction
of the girdle is given as some $12, OOO,-
600.
The object of this popular method of
fertilization of an encierqte and detached /
forts without, is to have, not only two
lines of defence, but two such lines as
would furnish q powerful fortress all
around the city; and, at the same time,
debar an enemy from getting near enough
to that fortress to shell the city beyond.
The forts prevent the erection of a siege
line against the city, and in case an assault |
were made between the forts to take the |
city by storm, the e7lcie1lte with its nine
ty four bastions is there to protect it. An
army surrounding Paris, within cannon
range of the girdle of forts, would not
occupy less than ten leagues, a circum-
stance which renders a successful siege
or assault among the dimmest of proba-
bilities When these forts are manned by
men full of enthusiasm and fighting for
the honor and salvation of France, not
dynasty, they will be difficult 20 reduce by
an enemy, no matter how large the num-
Der may be.
Paris has sustained various seiges and
attacks from various nations The first
was from band of Norman rovers in
Sf5. These adventures, led by chief
tain named RegnoT, sailed some distance
up the Seine, laid seige to the city, en-
tered il, but it was ransomed by Charles
the Bold. In the war between the House
of Plantsganet and the House of Valois,
Paris was beseiged three times. The
Dauphin of France, in 1855, beleaguered
the city, and finally took it, in conse-
quence of a rebellion within its walls
against the despotism of Stephen Marcel,
who had been elevated to authority
by the populsce. In 1859, Edward Ill,
King of England, encamped at Mont
rouge, devastated the country to the walls
of Paris, but recoiled from before it, and
retired to Chartres. One of the most in
tsresting attacks on Paris is, perhaps, that
made in 1929 by Joan of Arc, the Maid
of Orleans. The attack on the city, which
was defended by Count Bedford, was led
by Joan herself. But notwithstanding
she fought with more than her wonted
courage, not being supported by the King,
who remained inactive il his position at
st. Dennis, she was driven back and had
to withdraw the army without accom-
plishing her design. The next descent on
Paris was made in 1854, by the Count of
Charolais, afterwards Charles the Bold,
Duke of Burgundy. Charles had already