The New York herald., 1870-09-24
The Military situation.


Our dispatches this morning indicate that
the Prussians are still fighting for position in
front Of the southern line of works about
Paris. Dourdan, village southwest Of Ver-
sailles, has been occupied by the besiegers,
and the Notifications at Vincennes have been
abandoned by the French No strong effort
has been made on the northerly side of the
city, the intention being merely TO present a
thin front there, strong to resist, from behind
the Notifications that the besiegers throw up
as they move, any sally on the part of
tho French, but not strong enough to
venture on an assault. The positions gained
thus far are Sceaux, from which the Prussians
command Forts Montrouge, Vauvres and BIZ
cetre; the Notifications at Vincenpes, whence
they can lombard La Plssotte and Charenton
If necessary, and Versailles. Outside of these
positions a railroad encirclng Paris has been
can concentrate their whole force upon one
point. The woods which the French failed to
burn enable tho Prussans to mask their
movements pretty effectually. One report
states that the French had attacked the Prus-
slams in the woods on the south and severe
battle had ensued, in which the former had
been repulsed. Another report denies this,
but if it is tru, no doabt the intention Of the
French was to complete, ifpossible, the destruc-
ton of the woods by fire in order to unmask
the movements of, the enemy. Dispatches
from Tours state that inside Paris there Is a
calm determination to hold out to the bitter
end. Another despatch, however, says that
all discipline is vanishing among the troops
inside and that the mob is rapidly becoming
the dominant power.
The Prussian movement southwark con-
tinues with unabated activity. Detachments
have entered Fon.anebleau and Blois, and
other detachments are marching on Nemours
and Orleans. There remains but little doubt
that these detached columns are uhlans, who
merely make flying visits, levy contributions,
destroy railroads If possible, spread false re-
ports of the movements Of the Prussian in
fantry, aud are gone again. These movements
cripple the French severely and serve as
an efectual mask Of the actual opera
tions of the invaders. It may prove,
however, that the force moving on Orleans
is actually heavy infantry force following in
rear of the advance cavalry at Blois and hav-
Ing Tours as its present objective point.
Tours and Orleans are both to be defended and
will probably undergo a siege such as Metz
and Strasbourg and Paris are undergoing
With the disappearance of the Army of the
Loire, which does not seem to have attempted
any resistance whatever to the Prussian ad-
vance, the strange anomaly is presented of
France at war without an army in the field,
every force she has raised for service
go far being cooped up in one of
several towns now in a state of siege. What
weak enemy she has proven in open combat,
and what stubborn foes her mismanaged armies
have proven In Strasbourg, Metz and Toul
The siege of these cities is progressing slowly
with no effectual change in the sitnation.
General Ulrich, it is said, is willing to surren-
der, but has been deferred from it by the de-
mands Of the soldiery. A shell is reported to
have set fire to the Strasbourg theatre, two
hundred women and children who had taken
reIuBe IucTo OeAuy OuIuou w uca0u. he
Metz and Toul the defence holds out stub
boraly against a close blockade, the furious
bombardment having ceased, owing, it is
probable, to a partial withdrawal of the be-
sieging force.
We may soon expect grand assault at
Paris. King William cannot afford to sit
down patiently to the tedious operation OF
starving out the garrison until he has tried
the spirit and strength of the works and their
defenders by finging the full force of his army
against them. The quiet withdrawal of troops
from Toul and Metz indicates some action Of
this kind, and it may be that it is only delayed
by the pending negotiations for peace. Heaven
grant that blessed peace come early enough to
save this century from the sight of an army
of infuriated Prussians swooping through the
streets of Paris.