The New York herald., 1871-01-13
THE SIEGE OF HAVRE.
Operations Becoming "Mixsd"-A Spy from
Paris-The City Open on the South and Pro
viioned from the 0utside-Minister Wash
burne's Report-The British, French
and United States Squadrons.

l was sitting IN the junior of the Hotel de
rEurope this morning in company with high officer
OF the regular army, when Q spy arrived who had
just came IN from Paris. II was a most singular
meeting, and regret that silence is imposed upon
me, because was partially unwilling listener to
his story.
am at liberty to say that he brings the news that
Paris Is open on the south from Charenton to Mon
trouge and that beeves and horses being into
the city Paris still had ample provisions the esprit
corps was good, moderation prevailed and there was
generally Joy at the last sorte Of Ducrot He says
| Paris Is entirely free.
Captain G. ii. WelIs OF the Shenandoah, mas re-
ceived letter from Minister Washburne, dated the
18th December, in Paris in which Mr. Washburne,
by implication, indicates that Paris is still able to
sustain It's position for an indefinite time.
Colonel De FaDy, one or the oldest and bravest
soldiers in the French army, was appointed COM
mandant en- % cner OF the troops here while rendering
command Is over thirty thousand men, and it was
| given IN word and accepted IN second. He is
man who commanded The artillery at Magenta and,
like Bou baki, does great deal and says very little.
He Is the best man for the postOn-cool quiet, un-
assuming, jolly, and to the polnt-of tile bayonet
Naval Operations on Havre-Prince Napo-
leon's Yacht-The Navies ON the French
COnsfs English, French and Americnn-The
United States Steamer rShenandoah-HerC Com
dition and the HOspitalities of the People.
HAvRE, Dec. 26, 1870.
HdVAl OperdtlOuS vi IHo war, as i nave Writ.
| ten the HERALD ~ former letter, amount to nil
The French for brief period were able to harass
| and embarrass the German steamships; but even in
this regard the French marine has fallen short Of
It's duty. No doubt the service has suffered serious
weakness because Of the large draft which the gov
ernment has mace upon the naval rolls for gunners
in Paris, out OF Paris and In every part of France
But this could hardly prevent the navy
from making serious demonstrations on Ger
man commerce were 1t not either from
an astonishing timidity or an lncompre-
hensible policy. The world was gravely told
by Jules Favre that aggressive movements should
cease after the 4th Of September and shortly after
the blockade was raised, and the government, ad.
herring to its technical designation from that mo-
ment warned France to rise to the national de-
fense." 1t may not be necessary to assure the
readers OF the HERALD that
THE FRENCH NAVAL OFFICER
Is man who thinks little Of any navy but his own,
and that after this war reason may get the better Of
his prejudice and he may acknowledge as fault
what he now praises as fine quality.
The German steamers, we are informed here run
regularly from Hoboken, and go around Ireland,
Scotland, and by various clever ruses, succeed
without much difficulty in reaching port The only
Of prizes captured and brought in for adudi-
cation were six vessels, or varying tonnage taken
by the French steamer De Sair which was formerly
the celebrated steam yacht Prince Jerome, belong
ing to Prince Napoleon.
These faint instances OF activity, If may except
burning coal and getting under way, consti-
tute the achievements of the French navy during
the war; but 1t mus. be admitted the navy was
amos: made cripple by .'the little tin boxr planted
along the waters of the German coast.
NOW let Us look at
THE THREE NAvIES
Of America, France and England-and see how they
stand in comparison, which must be based upon the
snip herself her model, rig, ordnance, appearance
routine, discipline officers and personnel.
The Shenandoah, United States corvette thirteen
guns, Commander G. II. Wells, is the finest looking
man-of-war in the basin. Ignoring dimensions
she @ Is the exquisite perfection Of nice Notation.
not that Over-vlrtuous fault OF being over
spared. Fortunately for her beauty OF profile
through which she passed with SO much success
and now with stump topgallant she makes a plc
ture alongside the Spanish affair on her port beam
anu the Norwegian concern on her starboard. 1t
would take chapter to detail the routine and po
lice OF the Shenandoah and how they are applied
but can say that nave seen Il heater shin in
my life. IL is the pecuarity of the vessel. She has
white decks, taut rigging and gear, FURNISHED brass
work, lusLrous battery, and the men always look
as If they had just been paid on, You may imagine
that q 'swelp' vessel IKE this excites much envy
and comment here, and especially among merchant
mariners, who are never weary in crticising their
fraternal salts, who, more unfortunate than them
selves know navigation, seamanship and dlsci-
pine quite as well IN theory In practice. One of
these sons OF Neptune was talking to me the other
day about the SLOW heavy, torpid way in which evo-
lutl0nS were performed on board an American man.
ofwar Two nours afterward was on board the She
nandoah, and topgalant yards were sent down ana
secured IN the rigging In two minutes and ten
seconds. though an awning was 1.-THE time stretched
over the quarterdeck Al another time fhe Snenan
doah sent up her mizzen topgallant mast from the
deck, dded It, set up the rigging ana piped down IN
forty five seconds.
need not say that such evolutlons have given the
aloat and ashore, she is good REPRESENTATIVE for
this important squadron.
DESPATCH BOAT HEIICoN
IS here, and though the boast OF the English naval
officer IS the close discipline OF her Majesty service
one must nave q very strong eye to observe 1t. In
TRUTH the discipline on board her most gracious
Majesty lumperlng deep narrow craft Is neither
better err nor worse than IN our service. The men do
not feel better they do not work better alot; but
II any tnlng. the English tar is the hardest, with
muscles mus IKE the engine. shat This Is
in ss At sea which our service
spry English manof-war be sure that its decks are
covered by whilom American seamen, who left our
brace. Grog was a timehonOred custom IN the
servlce IT was in the routine and the seaman's
nope, ana nothing but brief gust OF undue aud
mlsconcelvcd piety could ever have dealt the blow
at the efficiency OF the American mar-oi. wars-men.
vi tne English officers here, they made q good i'm
preston by their frank, saior-like wavs hut IN
knowledge OF their profession In general cuiture in
tne improvements In gunnery and the march OF
naval science our officers were III every way their
snperiors WITHOUT al all rejecting upon their good
sense or common understanding: and this Is graft
lying 10 the American people, who should be proud
od y navy .nat Goes SO much for The credit OF the
country with 80 little ostentatlOn English officers
Know the details OF their own English practice but
dlsdan an other naval authorities wnile our officers.
~ M .iie OIIer nanu are educated In every branch.
The English offlcers however have much 10 feel
saasIed WIN wnen .hey read Secretary RoDeson's
tfnl GtntAa AAu