New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-23
PARIS UNDER FIRE.
THE CAPTURE OF FORT AYRON-TRlVIAL LOSSES
INCIDENT OF THE COMMANDMENT
IFgOM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE

THE CAPTURE OF FORT AyRON-TNvItL LOSSES
INCIDENT OF THE BoMBARphENr'
IFGOM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
PARIS. Dec. 2S.-The Plateau of Avron, which
was occupied by the French the goth Of November
was instantly mounted with guns of enormous range
the heaviest guns in Paris which reach even 10 Chees
and gave the enemy great deal of trouble The
Germans cannot occupy this plateau, but they think
Chat they may render IL untenabe 10y the French ;
and to this end, far l can understand. the
heavy firing Of yesterday, in which 5000 projec
tiles were dropped upon AKRON. was directed
Suppose the view by the Government and all
the papers DE correct IL follows that rs commandment
on this side do no harm whatever to Paris, it
only have moral effect. But if the enemy have aimed
at moral effect they have been wocfy nj faut in their
calculations. The bombardmcnt if il is to I've called
has put the Parsians in great good spirits 1T sign
Of dsquetude and impotence on the part OF the Prus
slams" they say. 1.-THE siege lasts longer than
they expected; they are tired of it, they want
TO finish; it is necessary that they should
finish soon; let us wait a little longer, and
they will have TO raise the siege" SO IT when
Gen Won Moltke sent in word that the Army of the
Loire was defeated. He doubt expected TO drive
Paris 10 despair and 20 the point OF surrender On the
contrary. he raised the courage OF Paris and
know that though the French armies in the provinces
defeated, they made stout resistance and
cumbcd under circumstances which give good hope of
better lack for renewed efforts Christmas day the
German leaders made another psychological attempt,
which, far from dampiug the spirits of the Parisans,
has set them chucklng with gee. One Of the generals
sent long letter OStenSbly TO arrange for the eX
change Of prisoners and particularly to inquire as TO the
fate OF John Muller But this elaborate cpise,
fun OF anxiety for the welfare of Mr. John Muller,
contained the announcement. introduced with clumsy
emphasis OF the defeat sof "a French army at Amens
1t is great pity, in the opinion of the Psrisian that
"a French army should he defeated az Amens; but ii is
consolation TO them that the Germans should he so
anxious it, that they must stumble into so
much cumsinesS
Yesterday morning the enemy unmaskcd twelve
heavy guns-three Raincy the road to
the Hermitage three at Gagny three at Noisye-Grand
and three az the bridge at GOurnay These directed
their Of Noisy RoSny, and Nogent but
Oh oGy on the plateau of Avron in advance of Rosny.
Toe French under the impression that they have in
fcted severe losses the enemy; but this is always
suppustion What is known for certain is. that they
have themselves sustained little loss Their works
have su red not at ALL and in men their losses amount
simply 10 ght killed and 30 wounded From military
point view. the effect From picturesque
dramatic point OF view, there Of the 5000
shells fred which produced startling effect In
the midst of the firing nine people sat down to breakfast
IN small house upon the plateau of AvrOn There were
the commander the Sixth Battalion of Mobiles of the
Seine (d Hruster his wife. the adutant of the batal
i0n a captain, two heutenants, ensign, chaplain,
"a
san shell came smashing upon the table and killed six of
the party The commandment and his wife wounded.
The only one who escaped unhuTt the doctor. OF
the eight persons who killed yesterday six belonged
10 this little breakfast party. What incident for the
future novelist! Nine persons, including a lady, are
testing over their frugal breakfast which they deter
mined to enjoy spite of the cannon. There wants
but o shell give butter" says one Of the party
Instantly comes shell and blows six Of them out Of ex
istencc. while wOundug two MORE the commandant and
Lis wife.
II the cannouade failure Yesterday, still more is
il So today when It has diminished i'll intensity; and
the Partisan becomes more and more content as he
thinks of the ayailing efforts Of the enemy 1t is
wonderfully happy faculty-this OF cheerfulness and
sublime cOuce l neither praise it nor blame it, recOg-
nzing fully that IL is Characteristic not OF French
alone but also of nature. Its terrible weakness
and il is tower Of strength. Let me give you an eX-
IRENE example Illustrate the ingenuity Of the French
mind in cOnceivng disaster as victory When the Army
Of the Loire defeated the other day and cut in two
what do you think the comment OF French journal
list He said ave have two armies instead of one"
According which rule you may cutting hostile
army to pieces and every fraction of it becomes new
power This is of course very absurd and there are
many people who have patience whatever with such
temper which every event tinged with beautiful
rose color that answers their cOnce Still III this
temper there turks the spirit which refuses 10 be
queIed though 1t cannot lead 10 victory.