The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-29
,on against the republic This was the last serious

In the beginning OF November the Army OF the
Lore, under De Paladines achieved signal vic
tory over General Won der Tam and forced the Prus
SLAMS to evacnate Orleans. Later on in the month OF
November other French victories were also obtained
In the same department, and the news OF them car
rled to Paris by carrier pigeon, which was
wounded by the Prussans as 1t entered the city.
Until the end OF November the siege went on but
slowly, while the stock OF provisions became palpa-
bly, smaller and the Parislans experienced the most
dsagreeable consequences or the investment. Fresh
meat gave out at the beginning OF the month, and
the animals OF the Jardin des Plauts were slain
and sold to the people-elephants, monkeys lions
tigers, yak ana rhinoceros included. There was an
abundance OF other provisions, however, and 10 re-
animate the patriotism OF the citizens General Tro
chu issued. about the Goth November proclama-
ton, OF which the following extract contains tile
gist:-
The attitude OF Paris makes the astonishment OF
Europe. The enemy has been surprised. He IS
Kept for space OF two months bel re the capital
by the exertlons OF the population oil Paris alone,
which had not been thought capable Of such a
power OF resistance Prussia accepted the de-
mands OF The government for an armstce but the
fatal day OF the 3lst OF October ut Metz compro-
missed the position SO mat comma faDn Wsh
Inc enemy tried to discourage the Desegers
by creating here dlssenslons. They circulated ahse
reports, which were originated at the German out
posts and printed IN the German newspapers The
Garde Rationale has been incre2 sed TO nve l0d It's
numoer. Private enterprise and industry nave pro-
uuced large quantity or new cannon In Paris.
History does not afford the example OF people,
after the destruction Of their armies IN the field and
the capital OF the country invested and all commu-
nlcatlon with the provinces cut Off, having opposed
to disaster, apparently rreparabe, more vigorous
efforts OF moral and material resistance. IL would
be unworthy OF France, alter having prepared ener
getlcay for any and every sacrifice, not TO go still
further and suffer In the struggle to the last ex-
IRENE. II successful we Will observe well OF our
Will do SO with non0r."
Toward the end of November the Army Of the
Loire was signaliy defeated by Prince Frederick
Charles, VINO after the surrender or Metz had
turned his march southwark. The day after this
news was received at Versailles General Ducrot,
with 1907 900 men, made a grand s0rte from Paris.
On the night of the Goth OF November lively fire
was maintained from the forts round Paris, and the
following morning the garrison made sortles at
various points on the Seine and Marne The fight
ing very desperate and lasted until night. The
believed to have been successful in break
ing thr ough the Prussian lines. He took some OF
the villages about Brie-sur-Marnc, and practically
for twenty-four hours the investing circle was
broken. On the following day FRIDAY, December p
the Germans however, by dreadfully hard lighting,
succeeded in again establishing their positions, and
Ducrot and his army were once more prsoned be-
meath the walls OF Paris. The losses in these days.
lighting must have been frlghtluy heavy but the es-
Inmates given are very various. The German loss
alone in the two days, according to their own est
mates, was $500 men, while the French loss in killed
and wounded was even greater, and In prisoners
1900.
Following this defeat came the final disaster to
the Army of the Loire, and further unsuccessful
and not very vigorous attempt by Ducrot on the 10th
December
lines These disasters, and especially the
first, produced a very bad effect upon the
defenders OF Paris, and affairs within the
doomed capital grew more and more discouraging.
From this time until almost the close OF the year the
record Of the siege was not very interesting In the
north, under General Faidherbe, in the south q
second Army OF the Loire, under Chanzy, and In the
east an army, under Bourbaki, had been slowly
gathered together. Faidherbe was soon defeated,
and Bourbaki's command was not very
promising. The Army OF the Loire again
achieved few successes which inspired
great conndsnce in its new leader. On the 10th Of
December the Germans obtained an advantage that
led to the ultimate capture OF the city. The bonn
bardment 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 20th how
ever, the beginning OF the end took place by the
bombardment of Fort AKRON ana It's forced evacua-
ton by the French. This position gained Il became
clear that the Prussians were able Gt any time they
chose to begin In serious earnest the work OF shell
ing The city. AKRON once TAKEN the Germans
directed fire from that position and slenced For,
NOgent. On the Sd a heavy bombardment on the
forts on the north, south and east was begun, but
with very little effect.
Meanwhile affairs inside the doomed city had be-
come more and more desperate. Meat, even salt or
wild Of any kind, had for weeks been out OF the
market. Two-thrds Of the population were living
only upon the insufficient ratons OF -four served out
by the government. Owing to these prlvations and
to the severity or an unusually cold winter there
were great many deaths from sickness. Still the
temper Of the people remained true to the pro-
visonal government until the inaction that sue
ceeded Dusrots unsuccessful and disastrous sor-
ties Of the 18th and 2lst December showed that all
hope IN the opinion OF General Trochu lay in sue
cor from without. In the fretulness Of forced mac
tivity the people began to complain, Trochu has
had TO make choice between wasting French lives
in useless sOrtes or bearing the taunt from his own
people Of beng cOwardly and incompetent. FINDING
that efforts were again being made to stimulate dis.
afecton he issued the following proclamation on the
18th inst:-
Efforts are being made to destroy union and con-
n0enCe, TO WHICH ParlS owes nef prolonged defence.
Political capital Is being made OF disappointment
caused solely by the severity Of the weather The
army has indeed been sorely tired and requires
brief rest, which the enemy seeks to prevent by
most violent bombardment. But that army is pre-
pairing to act and will do It's duty. There are no
dIssensons among the members OF the government,
who are perfectly united In face OF the countrys
pers and In hope OF her deliverance.
The commandment having begun on the Sd, gra-
dually Increased in severity, and the damage 1t has
done has no doubt terminated the siege. On the 9th
Fort vanvres was destroyed and on the 9Th instant
the barracks Of Fort MOntrouge were set on fire
and burned, and few spent shells fell
into the gardens OF the Luxembourg. The
firing from this time was kept up all
through each day, and through the night
until four O'Clock In the morning. 1t soon be.
came evident too, that part Of the city would have
to be destroyed the entire city captulate Trecnu
however still held firm to his resolution to resist to
the last, and even after Fort yanvres had been re-
duced to silence, issued the following defiant
nroc fion.-