The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-21
INSIDE PIRIS.
Conduct Of the Popu.atIon-Denrth Of
Outside News-The Food Supply
Tidings Sent Abroad-The Rights Of
Aeronuuts.


PARIS, Saturday, December II.
Too much cannot be said In praise OF
the conduct of the population of Paris in these
days of suffering aud priyatlon. Whatever
sins they rlay have committed against the
interests of France in bringing about the
war, the Parislans have fully redeemed
them by their present attitude. Never
did any population under similar circum-
stances exhibit greater patience, resignation
and heroism. The Prussians imagine that
when they begin their threatened lombard
ment these qualities will fail them. They are
mistaken. The people OF the capital know
well what Is before them, and are prepared
for everything. But one sentiment prevails
here. and that is the determination to brave
any amount OF suffering sooner than see the
country dismembered. There Is question.
however, whether the cly will be put 10 the
last test Of endurance. The military authori-
ties are said to be making preparations which,
while they will contribute 10 the safety and
further efficacy. OF the splendid army which
has been formed within the walls. will relieve
the. city itself from the danger Of starvation.
or the details of the plan, do not feel ut lber-
ty 10 speak. It is sufficient to say that 1t Is
only intended to be resorted 10 In the last eX-
tremity, and in the event ofthe failure OF the
series Of sorties which has been resolved upon,
to harass and wear out the besieglng forces.
DEARTH OF OUTSIDE NEWS.
The greatest trial which the protraction OF
the siege entails upon us is the difficulty oil
obtaining news from outside. The latest En-
elish papers from which extracts have been
published, are the numbers of the London
Times OF November l6 and II, aud IL is only
to-day that we have the official announcement
of the defeat of the Army Of The Loire. We
n clnin thprl
hope OF speedy relief from outside, and we are
therefore looking with great anxiety 10 the re-
sults OF the projected series Of attacks on the
investing lines, by which 1t Is hoped to find
spot sufficiently weak to enable the army
to break Its way through. The success OF
the effort will depend upon the skill with
which the requisite combinations VIII be
made, for we believe here that the thing is
possible. There is no doubt that Ducrot
might have forced his way out in the famous
sortie across the Marne had he been properly
seconded. good deal OF blame has been
cast upon TrOchu by military men IN con-
nection with the preparations for that affalr,
and know 1t for TACT that some OF the OIL
GERS who are Immediately about him are
among the severest Of his censors. My own
belief is that the failure of the attacks on the
enemy's lines on November 30 and December
Is TO be attributed rather to the conduct OF the
soldiers and of the Mobiles than to any defect
in the plan OF the attack or the absence OF pro-
per support. Had the men behaved with the
same dashing courage and contempt Of danger
as their officers, the object which Trocnu had
in view must have been accomplished.
THE FOOD SUPPLY.
You will hear all sorts of speculatlons as to
the period when starvation must bring us to
surrender, and know correspondents tor
soMe of the London papers who seem to make
it point of sending out the gloomiest view OF
things. Accept their Statements for what they
are worth. Ny own calculation Is that we can
hold out for two months longer without much
suffering, and for Ehree if our population CON
tinues to he animated by the same patriotic
sentiment which appears TO dominate them at
present How it will be when sickness and
death commence their raYayes In families, and
help to increase the horrors OF u lombard
ment, remains to be seen. There are limits to
human endurance, aud this population, though
as brave and patriotic as any In the world,
may we'll be excused pushing their resistance
to such suicidal extremes.
T1DINGs SENT ABROAD.
Close as ls the Investment, there iS no ques-
tion that private messengers continually sue
ceed in penetrating through the enemy's lines.
This, CT course, is done az great personal risk,
and in consideration Of large pecuniary re-
wards. The London journals and one or two
large banking houses are said to be spending
heavy sums in this way. The letters which the
former publish profess to be sent by balloons.
in order not to attract the suspicious OF the
Pr,lssans to the manner in which they are
conveyed. The balloons which leave Paris
only carry out at present two hundred pounds
weight of letters, being reduction OF about
two-thlrds OF the weight which they originally
conveyed.
RIGHTS OF ERoNAUTs.
Under the title of Les ErosElers en- 1874, the
well known balloouist, Nadar, has published
pamphlet, which furnishes reply to the
pretenSions Of the Prussians to the right of dis
posing arbitrarily OF the fate of the eronauts
who chance to fall into their hands. He
says that in 1874, elk weeks after the creation of
balloons of observation, COutelle, who happen
ed to be on service with one of them before
Mayencc, received orders to make reconnols-
sance. The wind was so violent that he was
thrice obliged to descend with his balloon. The
enemy, nevertheless, Cd not feel justified in
firing upon him. Five generals issued from
the fortress waving white handkerchie(s. The
French Generals advanced in their turn, and
the commandant Of the fortress said to one OF
them, "I.beseech Of you to order that brave
officer to descend; the violence OF the wind
will cause his destruction. He must not be
made the victim of an accident foreign 10 those
OF warfare" Those were days in which gen.
prnsity an6 hravprv wont hand In hand.