The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-28
The Situati0n in France.

OWiUR 10 tne ACTIVITY Ol the HERALD
special correspondents in Versailles, Bor-
| deaux, Saarbrick, Montm6dy Berlin, Vienna
and London we are enabled to give our readers
a thorough account Of the general situation of
affairs in France to-day and to tell how the
prospect is regarded in the capitals of Ger
many, Austria and England. Paris has not
| yet surrendered; the real import of Jules
! Favres mission to Versailles has not yet been
made public; Queen Augusta even knows
nothing about the proceedings at the royal
headquarters, and all we may anticipate in re-
lation to the expected capitulation of Paris
may be taken from the German Emperor him.
self when he says that he ''expects the early
surrender Of Paris Of course much specula-
ton is INDUCED In on the subject, and that there
is good ground for such speculation is evident.
AT the present stage Of affairs, when Paris is
suffering from starvation and the army within
its walls is powerless to accomplish any advan-
tageous results, 1t is natural enough to attrl-
butte to Favres presence at Versailles the
purpose Of arranging the terms upon which
Paris would yield. The expectation, no doubt,
of such movement on the part of the leaders
within the capital gave this color to the reports
which appeared in the London papers but of
the true nature of NJ. Favre's mission to the
German camp we are still uninformed The
bombardment of the city continues, and we
think this is pretty fair evidence that nego-
tiations looking to the surrender Of the city
have not been discussed at Versailles, and
that the situation at present is as undecided
as it was some days back From the
HERALD's specials in Vienna and Berlin we
see that the capitulaton story in those
capitals, as in London, has had a marked
effect, and opinions are freely canvassed and
decisions arrived at, all based on the same
slim foundation to which we have alluded.
Paris may be on the eve Of capitulation, but
there is no ground, taking what we have
learned regarding Favres mission, to believe
that he was sent to Versailles to offer the sur
render Of the city.
The tone of Gambetta, who was interviewed
by HERALD correspondent in Bordeaux on
the 18th inst, and the substance of which
interview we publish this morning is still as
and even if Paris should surrender he believes
the war will be continued in the provinces.
He declares that the war now waged against
France was not brought on by the French
people. 1t is the legacy transmitted from the
empire to the republic. He goes over the old
story of Napoleon's sins against the people,
and that he is a strong advocate of the never
say die principle both his acts aud words
advise. The republic has half million of
men without the troops in Paris, three hundred
thousand more are ready, and if Gambetta
truly represents the sentiments of the French
people, which we doubt, the war viii not close
with the fall of Paris.
The German army in the north is again pre-
pairing to move, and before long we may ex-
pect to hear Of collision between the two
forces of Faidherbe and Won Goeben. The
surrender of Longwy liberated another con-
siderable force of German troops which. in all
probability, will be added to Won Goeben's
army. With this addition we fear for the
worst results to the French when next the two
armies meet. In the east Bourbaki is doing
the best he can to extricate himself from
dangerous situation. A special correspondent
of the HERALD says that a large German force,
commanded by Manteuffel, had got in his rear
With Won Werder in his front and Manteuffel
on his flank Bourbak is left two alternatives
that Of surrender or escape into Switzerland
We have another despatch, however, which
says that he manGuvered SO as to free himself
and save his army. The situation to-day,
copious as are the dispatches, foreshadows no
sign Of sudden collapse, though the position Of
the French armies within and without Paris
show weakness in their organization and in
competency in the officers who command
them.
THE FISHERIES QUESTION difficulty between
the Dominion of Canada, the citizens of the
United States and the British government is
likely to be settled in an agreeable manner
through the efforts Of the Canadian commits
sioners, who are now in London, This we
are assured of by cable telegram from Eng
land. Should the anticipation prove to be
corroct tho infolliuonco 10 oood e. A.