The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-02

These walls are still further protect by f1f-
teen detached forts provided with seven
great external works, whose fires cross
can crush everything around them. Paris
is further guarded by the Seine, the
Marne. and with an internal circular rail-
way. Such place cannot be invested in the
regular way; 1t must be assailed at some vul-
nerable point. Now, which is tle vulnerable
point? The eastern forts, RomainVille, Noisy,
Rosny, Nogent Vincennes, are advantageous
" on plateau covered by the Marne, and they
form such strong line that our Prlssian ad-
mits it would be imprudent to attack on that
side. Thel, again, it wouldn't do to attack by
ChaTentol. for after carrying that place they
must Cross the fires of Vineennes, Iyry and
the ramparts. On the southwest the attack
would be against Charenton; 1Vrg and the
Bicetre-decidedly unadvisable. Then, the
southern forts, Montrouge, VanVes and Issy,
on the steep heights between Sceaux and
Versailles, are very impracticable. Mont
Valerien Is the only work on the West but
then Paris is behind the Seine, which makes
double curve. The banks here are billy and
covered with wood, furnishing abundant shell
ter to the defenders. The besiegers, then, are
limited to St. Denis. The Prussian colonel
says: .o.,,uo,,- :, .,o
north and northeast. They are the weak
sides; the eastern fronts are partly covered by
the Marne; the south and west are strong, and
their attack might compromise the Desiegers'
hne OF retreat On the north the Paris and
Strasbourg Railway would serve for transport
from the Rhine. Admitting that the Prusslan
army must be stronger than the French army,
and that the French In the field, being kept at
distance, cannot annoy the besleg!ng force.
St. Denis should be the first point OF attack.
We might then advance on Montmartre with
out the risk of fanking fire from the forts.
We should attack simultaneously the three
forts of ST. Denis and that of AIberVilliers.
and then make feint on the east. The siege
would resemble that OF Sebastopol. st. Denis
is on the right bank Of the Seine, which
leaves tongue Of land that must be seized BY
the beseging force. The besiegeTs will then
observe the citadel of Mont Yalerien; they will
cut railways on the left bank Of the Seine,
and throw bridge across 10 communicate
with the troops on the right bank"
To accomplish this the Prussian officers
arrangements are simple. He sets $4,000 men
against the three forts of St. Denis and on the
tongue of land between St. Denis and Mont
Valerien, 10000 on the north OF st. Denis,
10000 more ID front of Anberviliers; and all
these covered by the forest Of Bondy and
other points Of resistance In that direction,
could maintain themselves against any force
sent to dsloGge them. Thirty thousand at
Neuilly could operate against the Rosny fort,
but their main use would be TO secure the line
of retreat. Place before st. Denis $4,000, north
of ST.. Denis 10000, in the forest Of Bondy
S0,OO0 at Bouyet 10000, a. Neuilly $4,000.
between Neuilly and villeneuve 30, 0,O00-total
$50 600, which would form the siege.
But these would not be enough; to pro-
tect the besiegers an army Of observation
would be needed. This could be done by the
army of the Upper Rhine, 10000 strong. and
another army ought to enter by way OF Swift
zerland, without paying any attention TO the
neutrality OF that petty nation. In this way
there would be an effective force OF 100000
men. The duty of the last mentioned army
would be to intercept conveys and cut OIL rail-
road communications between the provinces
and the capital. This plan was formed and pro-
mulgated some seven OF eight years ago; but, in
conclusion, we must allow the author to speak
for himself: "a defeat Of the besiegers might
attain the most disastrous proportions, II the
population should take an active part In the
war, and should join the garr;sons IN cutting
off the conveys OF the invading army
HYAcINrHE TO THE FRONT.
The following is Father Hyacinthe's letter
asking to be assigned to duty in the defences
Of Paris:
-..iH0nsieur le Adire-The spirit and law Of
the church forbid priest from taking up arms
except in moments Of extreme danger to the
country. That danger, If France should not be
spared from it, will certainly find all those
who are not bound by any obligations, sacred
to their office, faithful 10 their duty as cIizens
upon the ramparts. In the meantime there Is
no reason why we should not assist in the ma
tional defence, by the use OF pick and shovel.
Please to direct ne to what place must go,
in order to take part In the earthworks and
forufcations now proceeding tor the defence
of Paris. From to-morroW-after mass-I
hold myself at your orders"
THE DEFENCEs OF PARIS.
The work of defence at all the gates Of the
ramparts round Paris Is being carried on with
great activity. There are about one hundred
entrances in that girdle Of fortlfcatlon, SO, 600
metres (nearly twenty-four miles) round. At
each of them not only large body OF work
men is employed, but all the materials for con-
structing the retaining wall are on the spot.
With respect to the two wide bays formed by
the Seine at each extremity OF Paris-below
the yladuct bridge at Auteuil and above the
Pont Napoleon at Berey-the epaulements OF
the rampant are carried Into the shall
low water Of the river, the channel in
piles. The seven hundred or eight hundred
eplbrasures for the cannon in the parapet all
around the enceinte remain to be made. but
with the number Of engineers and laburers
employed, that work will be terminated in
few days. All the platforms for the gunners
are in good condition, as well as the refuges
for men in the gorges Of the ninety-elght bas-
tions Baron Haussman, the last prefect, as
with presentiment Of what Is now taking
place, had constructed inside the ramparts
about thirty barrack ports and houses for the
octroi men, and which may become admirable
quarters for the defenders.
THE NEW FRENCH LEvlEs.
The old soldiers called to service by the cir
cular of the Minister Of War, of August
IL, respond with ardor to the appeal made. Ac-
cording 10 the official dispatches, more than
600 presented themselves on Monday in Paris
and in some neighboring departments. The
number OF soldiers liberated from the age Of
TWENTY-FIVE to forty exceeds the figures ola
million They viii be armed and equipped on
their arrival at the chief town of the depart
ment This new reinforcement will very
shortly become an accomplished tact. Six
thousand customhouse officers have arrived
in Paris from the shores of the North. They
are lodged in the Magasino Reunio, Place du
Prince Eugene. The total number in France
4 n,,hta fnI