The New York herald., 1870-10-09
The Progress sf the war-The Freuch
Uprisiag. MA

The PrO9reee ~ the WaE-Ino rF0ucs
Uprisiag. Nh
The situation about Paris remains without
material change. The forts keep up q vigor-
ous cannonade on the Prussian lines, and the
Prussians keep steadily to the work Of getting
their Siege guns In place. It Is stated that the
bombardment will commence early in the
week, and will be prefaced by a demand for
the surrender Of the city. The siege of New
Breisach, on the northeast, has commenced,
Gisors and Soissons are threatened, more
serious lighting at Metz is reported and the
army in the East continues its march towards
Lyons. Thus stands the credit balance Of the
Prussians.
On the e.French side the people have finally
situation, and have come to 1t, not with the de-
spair Of women, but with calm determine
tion worthy Of ancient Sparta. The volun-
teers are coming forward and swelling the
ranks of the defenders. The reorganization
Of the armies is progressing rapidly. The
people no longer fly before the uhlans. They
fight them. At New Breisach stubborn de-
fence is made. At Scissors and at Lyons all
the energy Of the people is being put forth to
repel the threatened assaults. At Pithiviers
the Prussians have been defeated and the
French have taken possession Of the town.
In the Vosges severe engagement
has taken place, and, although no certain
victory has been gained, the French
held their position against q superior
force, when night put an end to the combat.
These are the important credit balances for
France, the proofs that there is yet organized
vitality in the armies of the republic, that
there are yet hope. and resolution struggling
manfully against the crushing disasters Of the
past six weeks. But there are other indica-
tions. The Franc-tireurs are at work. Every
pass in the vosges Mountains contains BUSH
whacker The rails Of the Strasbourg Rail-
road, over which the enemy receives its sup
plies, have been torn mp in places by the
peasants, and the telegraph wires have been
cut. The peasants Of Normandy, expecting
an invasion, have removed their grain
and cattle further south, and are putting every
obstacle in the way Of the enemy. These are
the indications which show the spirit Of the
people. The calm resolve to do earnest work
has sobered down the mercurial element in
Frenchmen, and the careless, good, easy
peasants in the provinces, and the gay, light
hearted cavaliers in Paris have become Crom-
wellian soldiers in defence of the republic.
King William may possibly find that he is
pushing success too far. Paris, three hundred
years ago, sustained siege against Henry Nv.
under circumstances to which the present are
but trifes light as air. Two armies of nearly
three hundred thousand men are forming in his
rear. The policy of Moscow, which defeated
the First Napoleon, is finding advocates
among his desperate enemies. Germany her.
self is not oil loyal; and his own troops, the
victors of Gravelotte and Sedan and Stras-
bourg, are being mannuvred with an apparent
irresolution and lack Of any defined plan that
suggests seriously the idea that Won Moltke is
indeed dead. May it not be well for him yet
to stay his hand?