The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-30


been occupied the second time by the Germans
on the Both Of October was eyacuated on the |
approach of the French, and occupied by Carl |
baldis forces on December 90. On January 9 |
Bourbaki was defeated at Villerscxel, 90 miles |
w. 8. w. of Belfort, and on the 18th Won |
Werder successfully resisted fierce assault on |
his position south of Belfort. Bourbaki re-
newed the attack on the 10th and 17th, but sus-
tained a damaging defeat on both occasions,
with heavy loss. He then Withdrew his badled
army from the immediate vicinity of the Ger
man forces, and contented himself for some
time with outpost skirmishing.
Active operations, however, were subsequently
resumed in the negbborhood of Dion, near
which place the Germans were repused on
January % by the Garibaldians; after severely
contested fight, according to French reports.
But this success could, not materially affect the
critical position of Bourbaki, who found him
self between the army of Won Werder around
Beliort, and a force under MauteufIel, who was
Fastening to the latters assistance and TO assume
the chief command in the East.
miner Military Movements.
On December IS, the minor stronghold of
Pfalsburg, in the Nosges, % miles northwest of
Strasburg, capitulated, after protracted siege
which had commenced on August IL, immedi-
atey after the battle of Woerth. Nearly 1000
prisoners and 6S cannon were captured with the
fortress.
On December IA, Montmedy, % miles north
of Verdun, surrendered, after a severe lombard
ment which effected a breach in the walls. The
first engagement in the neighborhood had oc-
Cured on September s, after which the town
had been closely invested, the garrison making
sorties on October II and November 16 and II,
but without any success except on the last oc.
casion. The Germans captured 5000 prisoners
and 65 cannon with the fortress,
The next minor capture of importance by the
| Germans was Mezieres so miles northeast of
Rheims, and near the scene of MlcMahon's
crushing defeat in September The siege COM
menced Immediately after the latter event. and
the defense made by the garrison was heroic
and unfagging. On September 26, an armis-
| tice of forty-eight hours was granted for the
removal of the wounded; the garrison made
determined sortie on November IA; and on No
vember 80, the Germans were twice repulsed in
attacks on the town. On January 9, however,
the fortress capitulated with 2OOO prisoners aud
| 106 cannon.
Next came the fate of Longwy near the Bel
gian frontier, 33 miles north-northWest OF Metz
Here the Germans again encountered deter
mined resistance. On January 81 the garrison
made successful sortie, dismountng several of
the besiegers' guns and forcing them to with
draw their batteries to greater distance. But
on the 25tl the town at last fell into the hands
of the Germans, with 5000 prisoners aud 200
cannon.
The Bombardment of Paris.
Returning 10 the siege OF Paris, we find Won
Moltke politely informing Trochu of the disas-
tiers to the Army Of the Loire and the reoccupa-
ton of Orleans, in note dated December 5th.
Trot hu declined to verify the fact by sending
one of his officers through the. lines, underia
proffered safe conduct and prepared for another
sortie. On the 2lst, Vinoy and Ducrot again
ventured beyond the range of the forts, Yinoy
assaulting the German lines on the east of the
city, and Ducrot On the south. 1t is said that
100000 French troops participated in these
sorties, which we're comprehensive In plan, but
feeble In execution aud easily repulsed
Thus far the German army around the capi-
tai had been content in strengthening its lines
and repelling the sorties of the garrison. But
by Christmas it was prepared for more exciting
work. ard on the 9th the bombardment OF
Fort Avron, the most advanced of the French
outworks east of Paris, was commenced. The
French guns were silenced, and a Saxon de-
tachment on advancing found the works
abandoned. The Germans were thus established
within the outer works of the French, at one of
the weakest points along their line of defense,
anu Wllnln suelllnB ulstiluce Ol Lle CITY lCSelt.
The beginning of the end was at hand To
trace the progress of the bombardment
in detail is as yet impossible;
the barest outline must suffice. The
abandonment of Fort Avron rendered the evacu-
alton of other advanced posts in the neighbor-
hood necessary, and the whole line of forts to
the east was soon reduced to comparative silence
On January the bombardment of the southern
forts was opened, and continued with destruc-
tive effect, the fiery Gordon being extended from
the south to the north by the opening of the
German batteries upon st, Denis the 22d.
Gradually the aim of the beslegers' guns was
directed upon the city itself, and shells fell
almost In the heart of the city, creating con-
steTnatiou and making havoc with life and pro-
perty. The first shells fell within the enceinte
on the 9th, and on the Sth the fire upon the city
itself became well directed and continuous
In a circular issued on the 18th, the Gov
eminent of Defense protested against Ithe
bombardment, because 1t was not preceded by
special warning TO remove nOn-combatants and
characterized it as ian act coldly calculated to
devastate the city and strike terror to the citi-
zens by murder and incendiarism."
Sorties, however were again resorted to on
the 18th, on the northeast, south, and south
west of the city, but like all that had preceded
them, they we're unavailing. more formida-
ble sortie was made from Fort Mont Valerien
on the west, on the morning of the 10Th. The
French attacked the Germans in immense force
but after a terrible conflict lasting six hours
back The French loss was so great that they
III 4 -, T.