Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-01-31

81
cAPITUE.ArIoN or RARfs-raE
81 TERMS DEfEANDED.
An official dispatch frsm- the United
States Legation at London to the Secre-
tary of State at Washington, announces
the capitulstion of Paris, and en- armis-
tice for three weeks. A Versailles dis
patch to the New York World says the
terms of the capitulstion provide for the
possession of the forts around Paris by
the GermanS but no occupation by them,
and that the Prince Imperial is 20 be the
future Emperor of France, with the EN-
press Eugene as Regent. There is reason
to believe that this last piece of informa-
ton is erroneous, for Emperor William,
in his dispatch to Empress Augusta an
nouncing the capitulation, states that
'the National Assembly is to be sum
moned to meet at Bordeaux in a fort
night, and q London dispatch to the
World, dated jan. 20, says "the capitu-
lation and armistice settle nothing polit-
cally, nor do they assure an end Of the
war. All depends upon the Assembly,
There have been strong reasons
for believing that Emperor VIII
ism-or Bismarck, for that matter
desired the restoration of the Napoleonic
dynasty in France, and matters may be
so managed as to bring about the result
stated in the Versailles dispatch TO the
World as part of the capitalization, if
not the reinstatement of the Emperor
Napoleon on the throne of France. 1t is
noted that Napoleon has been treated du-
ring his residence in the palace of VIII
helmshohe, with all the elaborate cour-
tesy due to a reigning monarch. Enpe-
ror William has all along carefully avoided
any other than military recognition of
the Republican Government, nor do the
dispatches before us show that he has
conceded much if anything more in the
armistice that has been agreed upon. But
1t Is useless to speculate as to what will
be the future of France; a few days will
probably suffice to settle that question.
With the entire garrison of Paris surren-
dered and the men held as prisoners of
war, it would seem hopeless task TO at
tempt to carry on the war after the
expiration of the srmistice. Some
sort of civil government will have
to be accepted and there is little doubt
that the willy Bismarck viii play an i'm
portant though unseen part in its CON
struction.
The Germans occupied all the forts
around Paris on the 2Sth of January, and
all the armies in the field were to return
to their respective positions, to await the
action of the National Assembly. Thus,
after siege of a little over four months,
Paris has fallen. On the 10th of Septem.
Der the German army, half million
strong, began the investment, and on the
same day the city was declared in a state
of siege. The Prussians closed in ON the
capital, says the Philsdelphia Press, in a
way that indicated an attack on the south.
ern and southeastern sides, and in that
direction, so as to receive their support,
and at the same time to prevent rein
forcements from the south and west to
the besieged. The workmen of the city
formed sixty-six battshons, comprising
eighty thousand men. They were
among the most determined defenders of
the city, and were resolved on q war
of determination. Military men of ex-
perience at this stage of the war said that
the power of the city to resist was limit
ed only by the supply of food. It was
claimed that Gen. Trochu had 410, 900
men under arms, who would become good
soldiers behind the ramparts. The citi-
zens were determined to emulate Stras.
burg. zm
On the I'D of October the Prussians
had completely surrounded the city, and
communication with it was entirely sus-
pended, except as the cable facetiously
put it, by way of Berlin. At this time
there was a marvellous activity displayed
in and around the city. EarthwoIks
were being thrown up, battalions formed,
and the most complete preparations
made for long siege. Numerous small
engagements occurred around the city,
but no general battle took place. Com
municstion between the two wings of the
Provisional Government at Paris and
Tours was entirely cut off, except by the
precarious service of balloons. The Prus-
slams established their headquarters around
the city as follows: King William at
Ferrieres, the Crown Prince of Prussia
at Versailles, and the Crown Prince of
Saxony at Grand Tremblay. Balloon ad-
vices received from Paris on October 8,
stated that the city was admira-
bly, defended; more than five hun
bred thousand soldiers were behind
the walls. These were well armed
and disciplined. The firing from the
forts have been 80 accurate that the
Prussians were baffled in their attempts
to erect batteries. The city was repre-
scented as perfectly tranquil. A sharp
engagement took place on Friday, Sep
tcmber 81. The French troops of the
line made a sortie against the troops of
the 9th Prussian Corps, while the Prus-
sian 9th Corps was attacked by three
battalions. At the same time a brigade
made demonstration against the 18th
Corps. At the end of two hours the French
took shelter under the guns of the forts.
The Crown Prince commanded the Prus-
slams. On October 6, it was telegraphed
that the supplies of meat within the city
were already vanishing. Gsmbetta, in q
declared the place impreg-