Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-09-01
Paris as a Captured CITY,

strategic movement are now ended by his I'M
doubted defeat. Now in this hopeless, distracted
condition, they must prepare for the speedy ap-
Pearahee before their walls of the combined
German host, flushed with continuous victory
The analogies between the present Campaign
against Paris by the Germans and that by the
Allies after the battle of Leipsic, ending in the
capture Of that city, render a retrospective
glance interesting at this time Following upon
the defeat Of Napoleon at LeipSic the Allies
entered France and marched Paris. The
Allied sOvereigns on entering French soil dis
claimed in their msnifestoes the intention OF
debating to France any particular form OF gov
eminent. They simply desired that she should
remain within the limits of her ancient territory
peaceful member OF the European common
wealth, and they wished a total suppression of
all preteSt of usurpation founded on alleged
natural boundaries. The allied armies entered
France in imposing force, and with little Oppo-
. sItiOn penetrated 80 far TO form an ALMOST
complete military line from Lansres to Chalons
But at this point their tardy movements enabled
Napoleon, who had been Disgusting his real
weakness by exaggerated rumors concerning his
preparations, to rally his forces. The allies
had, including the force OF Butcher, an army OF
15' GOO men. To oppose this Napoleon coullm
ter for the protection of the capital of his empire
dlspOsable force OF rot more than 20 900 men.
But occupying the center OF the raCI of high
ways coRverging at Paris. BY which the allies
hadtc approach, Napoleon had the advantage of
shorter lines OF communication, and he pro-
CeeGeG To handle his inferior numerical force
with degree OF skill which has never been
matched. His first blow was aimed az his active
and inveterate enemy, Butcher, who, apprised
Of the purpose OF the Emperor. concentrated his
forces at BTienne, near the source of
the Aube, village which now figures
amongst the war localities named from day to
day. Bonaparte, BY his alertness very nearly sur
pTiSed and captured his wary opponent when at
dinner. The battle, though indecisive, com
PEELED Blucher 10 retreat from Brienne, bat did
not divide him from the GranI Army, as Ma
F0ieon desired Butcher, reinforced, assumed
the offensive, and defeated Napoleon at Chan
mont, capturing 1900 prisoners and seventy
three guns. The allies now concluded to ad-
vance On Paris in two separate bodies Blucher
hy the Marine, while Prince Schwartzen- |
burg. with the Grand Army, should de-
sccnd 10y the Seine. One reason for the |
separation was the difficulty OF finding provi- |
ston> for what was then considered such i'm
ineI>e armies" Though nothing approaching |
vhat Germany, single handisd, has pat i'm |
the h~iil the other reason was the hope that BY /
approaching Bonaparte from so MANY differ
ent quarters it would be made impossible for |
hisn To make head against one army without /
with that alertness in proitiEg by the mistakes
of al adversary for which he was 50 conspicu-
Gus. and III which the present French comman-
ders seem wholly wanting, aTaied himself of |
this division Of the armies to make a sudden
swooP upon Blucher. Deceiying Schwartz
zenbeIs by a feInt, he hurried, by forced |
marches, across country intersected with |
thickets, marshes, drains, bitches, and l
imPtdiments OF every kind, scarce paSsabie in |
the best OF weather for any travel, much less for
al army With Its carriages and artillery. The |
result Ci this wonderful flank march, consitl- |
cred the most remarkable OF its kind on record |
Was the complete surprise OF the flank a1! reas |
OF Butchers army, and a victory for Napoleon |
that forced a sudden retreat upon his adversary.
Leaving the pursuit OF Blucher, Napoleon now /
bounced upon Sch~srtZenberg with such sud !
drnnesS and force a. to cripple him in turn aat /
compel tie allies 20 make a general retreat a. 4
ftT a. TIE original line held by them entering
France, between Nancy and Langres- After
tFuiilcNs gOtiations for peace, and some :isat
Ing IN other quarters by other divisions of the
opposing forces, the allies again turned
their attention to the conquest OF Paris,
their Grand Army being a.iOned between Cha
Ions and LsBgres, and Butcher being placed on |
Tie NaTne. Napoleon undertook to repeat his
previous tactics, deceiying Schwsrtzenberg b. |
LENT, ana making rapid lateral march or |
biucheT, but failed to surprise the latter, an1
after some lighting Napoleon was Obliged to
give up the attempt 70 dslodge his stubborn !
EcyerSary- Al the same time Schwartz.nberg
was able 10 push out OF his path the weak force !
lett by Napoleon opposite him, and the Allies
once more entered upon the general advance
upon Paris, and with their greatly pTepvnaiers-
ting strength swept all before them. After the !
disastrous defeat al Arcis, Napolzon, with his
little army Of - 900 men, opposed to 5000 OF
tie i Hes made that mastery retreat without
TO- down the VALLEY OF the Aube, considered |
orc of the most brilliant OF his series of brilliant
military exploits
And nov Napoleon, confronted by this i'm
merscly superior force, adopted the line of |
action that Mcmahon has resorted to, though !
the sUcceSs OF the experiment under the great !
master CT not sufficient TO JUSTIFY a |
repetition, would think. Napoleon deter
mined 10 move to the rear OF the allied armies
instead OF falling back upon Paris, thinking
that lie could strengthen his army from
the frontier fertresses and from the peas
aHtry. and believing, too, that the allies would
not dare TO move directly upon Paris, leaving
the French army unbroken in their rear TO act !
upon their line of communication with Ger
many. Bat he was mistaken. Leaving q COW
tTing army OF q, 900 men on the Marine, the res,
OF the allied forces moved In columns along the
three grand routes Of Meux, Lsgny. and Sois-
sOns. thus threatening Paris along al!
Its Northeastern quarter. The French |
government At Paris, directed by Joseph |
Bonsparte, In the name of his sister-in- |
law, Mana Louisa, did all they could to encour- |
age the people-ss Is now being done by the |
French goyernment-by exAggerating their /
means OF defence and maintaining that the |
Emperor was practising some feats Of strategy |
in the rear Of the confederated army calculated |
fax h0fl a.+r A
the present occasion-preparati0ns were made |
TO remove the government beyond the Loire. |
aaria Louisa left the capital with her son, as |
Eugenie will probably do very shortly, and at |
the same time almost al the civil authorities of
BonaPaTte's government left the city, carrying |
with them the Crown jewels and much OF the |
public treasure.
Joseph meantime issued proclsmations or an !
assuring character, and asking the people 10 |