Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-01-17
THE GERMAN SIEGE GUNS.
Description of the Artillery for the Bonn
bardment of Paris

A correspondent of the London Times OF
Dec. II furnishes the following interesting de-
scription of the artillery with which the Ger
mans are prepared to lombard Paris, and with
which they are now reducing the forts on the
East
The task of bringing up heavy guns from the
interior of Germany to the neighborhood of
Paris has been very severe one; and [ don
think it is generally known that it was not be-
gun until the 9th of October The Eastern
Railway Of France was not available until after
the surrender of Toul, and when that well-de-
Tended little fortress had at length capitulated
it was necessary in various places to open the
line before 1t could be used throughout from
Weissenburg to Nanteuil, where, until only a
few days ago, an insuperable obstacles III the way
of further progress toward Paris existed in the
shape of blown-up tunnel
The first transport of siege guns from Weis-
senburg conveyed thither from the interior of
Germany to NaDteuil was made on the 9th of
October, fortnight or so after the capitulation
of Toul. A provisional siege park, or siege
park of reception, was formed at Nanteuil :;
and from Nanteull the guns were sent on un-
der cavalry escort and Ito avoid the forts) by a
roundabout road to Yiilacoublay, where the
park is established for supplying the siege bat
teries opposite Paris On the 9th or lOh of
October the first supply Of >iege guns, IA in
number, were delivered at Nauteuil, and The
next day drawn up in the park, which, by the
way, covers, or did cover tf9r nearly all that
constituted it park has now been forwarded
to Paris), a space of % acres During the
next nine days siege guns, chiefly of modern,
and indeed quite recent manufacture, were de-
livered at Nanteuil in the following numbers
IA, s, IA, A. Is, %, IA, 45, 13. Of the last
l3 guns six were rihed mortars of the Stras-
tourg s.breach battery" pattern, carrying 2
cwt. shells-the only thoroughly new gun that
the Prussians have introduced since the 1866
war. @ To -
Up to the goth of October, then, 16O siege
guns had arrived at Nanteuil, en- route for Vii
lacoublay. But before the end of the month
10 more had arrived so that by the lst of No
vember 230 siege guns, for the most part of the
newest and lightest make and Of the most pen
etrating quality, were either at Villacoublay, or
on their way to that place. 1t was interesting
at that time to see the various kinds of artil-
lery collected at Nanteuil, and not less so the
beautifully prepared am mmunitiou, especially the
elongated and almost elegant shells for the 200
ID weight rlt1ed mortars, each packed carefully
In its own peculiar case, surrounded and pro-
tected by hay, like bottles of valuable old wine.
When the park at Viacoublay is quite COM
plete (t can scarcely be SO at this momentl, it
will, believe, include, or will have included,
in artillery and ammunition
Fifty 50-pound mortars, with 500 shots each
(25, 900 shots)
Eighty 6-pounders, breech- leaders, $50 shots
each 100000 shots).
One hundred and twenty twelve-poundcrs,
breech-loaders, 750 shots each 100000 shots)
One hundred and twenty long 24-pounders,
breech-loaders, $50 shots each O,OOO shots).
Twenty short "a Founders 6-inch guns, 1000
shots each 10000 shots).
Fifty old-fashioned 25-pounders, muzzle-
leaders, 500 shots each Us, 900 shots).
Six rihed mortars, or S4-inch guns, declared
by Prussian artillery officers to be the most
powerful mortars in existence. These guns,
made after the Strasbourg breach battery
model, but not as has been stated, forwarded
from ST. Petersburg, reached Nanteuil at the
end Of October, and were at once sent on to
Villacoublay. OF the 200 pounds-weight gren-
AIDES or elongated shells fred by these guns
200 for each had, at that time, been received,
The transport of heavy guns By road from
Nanteul to Villacoublay has been one of the
great difficulties attendant upon the siege
The artillerymen march well, and the horses
pull well; but some of the guns are very
heavy, and the roads here and there are steep
aud it Is very desirable in escorting q ponder
Gus siege train to avoid the fire of the Paris
forts The artillery journey from Nanteuil to
Viacoublay, as made it a short time since,
extended over something like a hundred miles,
and occupied US four days, which was one day
less than usual