The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-01-31

inspired great confidence in its new leader
On the 10Th of December the Germans OBJ.
tanned an advantage that led to the ultimate
capture of the city. The bombardment on
the part of the Prussians had been postponed
again and again, until it was believed that
they adhered to their original intention to
starve the city into submission. On the 10th,
however, the beginning OF the end took place
by the bombardment of Fort Avron and its
forced evacuation by the French. This posi-
ton gained it became clear that the Prussians
were able at any time they chose to begin in
serious earnest the work of Smelling the city.
Akron once taken, the Germans directed
fire from that position and silenced Fort No
gent. On the Sd heavy bombardment on
the forts on the north, south and east was De-
gun, but with very little effect.
Meanwhile affairs inside the doomed city
had become more aud more desperate. Meat,
even salt or wild Of any kind, had tor weeks
been out of the market. Two-thirds of the
population were living only upon the insult
Gent rations of -four served out by the gov
eminent. Owing to these privations and to
the severity of an unusually cold winter, there
were great many deaths from Sickness
Still the temper of the people remained true
to the provisional government until the mac
ton that succeeded Ducrot's unsuccessful and
disastrous s0rties Of the 18th and 21st of De-
cember showed that all hope, in the opinion
OF Gen. Trochu, lay in succor from Without
In the tretfuness of forced inactivity the peo-
pie began to complain, and Trochu has had to
make choice between wasting French lives
| in useless sorties or bearing the taunt from
his own people of being cowardly and incom-
petent. Finding that efforts were again being
| made to stimulate disafection he issued a
proclamation calculated to promote union aid
confidence. The bonbardment began on the
Sd, and daily increased in severity. Fort Van
vres was destroyed, the barracks of Fort Mont
rouge were set on fire and burned, and few
spent shells fell into the gardens of the Lux.
embourg. The firing from this time was kept
up all through each day, and through the
night until four o'clock in the morning. Il
soon became evident, too, that part of the city
would have to be destroyed or the entire city
capitHlate. TrOchu, however, still held firm
to his resolution to resist to the last, and ever
| after Fort Vanvres had been reduced to 81
lence, issued defiant proclamation.
On the 18th Paris was on fire in severa
places, and the French battery at Notre DAM
de Clamars was captured. This was a pOin
nearly a mile in advance of the former Prus
sian lines, and guns were Immediately mount
ed on the position and directed against For
Issy. On the following day the French mad
determined attempt to repossess themselve
of this position, but were repulsed with heav!
loss. The same day the French made sOr
tie from st. Denis, under the personal super
intendence of Gen. Trochu, but without sue
cess. On the 18th the Prussian fire destroye,
Fort Issy and Fort Montrouge.
This brings us down to the present, an
when the desperate condition of Paris
placed side by side with the disasters to tn
armies OF Chanzy, Bourbaki and Faidherbe,
is clear that the capitulation of the city ha