Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-04
NO. 80.

able terms of peace. After some not very
dlgnified wrangling on both sides, extend
ing over several days, the negotiation fell
through. Favre was willing to end the
war on basis of a money compensation
by France to Germany, but refused to as
sent to the cession of an inch of territory.
Bismarck, while also looking upon a
money compensation as a necessary basis
of settlement, demanded some territorial
fruits Of victory as well, especially insist
ing upon the handing over to Germany OF
Strasbourg. which did not surrender until
a week subsequently. Upon this rock the
whole negotiation split, and NJ. Favre re-
turned to Paris, only to impress more
earnestly than ever upon his countrymen
the. necessity of vigorous resistance, and
to assure them that it was impossible to
agree with Prussia upon any honorable
terms ofpeace.
With the surrender of Strasbourg ON the
18th OF September the besiegers and the
besieged settled down in serious earnest
to work. The Parisians were daily grow
ing apparently more resolute, the city
was rapidly acquiring government in
which it had the greatest confidence, and
all the arrangements for defence were be-
ing perfected. The great difficulty was
it was clear, the food supply, and meas
ures were adopted by the authorities to
make the stores hold out as long as pos
sible. Fresh meat demanded naturally
the first attention, and the government
took possession of all the live stock within
the walls, and allowed only certain num-
Der of beasts to be killed each day. Every
butcher received daily certain amount of
meat, based upon his average sales. The
meat supply, however, under this system
was complained of as being insufficient,
and the restaurants were frequently un-
able to supply their customers. All stores
of flour were also taken possession of by
the government and doled out on a similar
plan. Only three weeks from the open
ing OF the siege rates already were enor-
mously high for everything of which the
government did not thus supervise the
sale. Ham was quoted at seven francs
the pound salt butter, nine francs
chicken, ten francs the pound; rabbits,
eleven francs; ducks, nine francs; goose,
twenty francs. Still, in spite of these
enormous indications. the government
announced that it could easily hold out
privations upon the people. And it was
looked upon as beyond all possibility that
the capital of France would be allowed to
remain thus long unreleved.
At this time the troops under Troehu
mustered nearly four hundred thousand
men, fully equal in apparent strength to
the beleaguering army. But this vast
force was composed chiefly OF volunteers
or the demoralzed wrecks of the great
armies that had already been destroyed.
They We're, therefore, either inexperienc-
ed or unreliable, and Trochu might well
hesitate to hurl them against the German
veterans who surrounded him. He avow-
ed his determination to wait until an army
of relief arrived to aid the besieged in
raising the siege, and for the purpose of
fastening on this happy consummaton
Nj. Gambetta was commissioned to leave
Paris and organize a force in the provinces.
He left the capital in balloon, and will
probably 90 down to history as the first
Minister who ever ventured for u serious
object in SO hazardous q means of travel.
Some two hundred Americans and
number OF other foreigners still remained
in the city All of these were, of course,
strongly i'll favor of the French cause, and
the Americans organized an ambulance
corps on the model used in our own war,
which did good service in alleviating the
sufierings of the wounded.
For a month after the investment rumors
ment was to begin Immediately. On the
l1th of October the first three shots were
fired by the Prussians, but their position
was too far removed from the city for a
bombardment to infiict any great damage.
Besides this, the besiegers were unable to
bring up their heavy guns, owing to the
breaks in the railroad communication and
the impassability of the roads from heavy
rains. In fact, the bombardment was
from these causes deferred until few
weeks ago. From the outset the French
maintained vigorous fire on the Prussiaii
lines with cannon and small arms.
| On Wednesday, the 18th of October,
the French made first grand sortie, with
brilliantly successful results. The sortie
was led by General Trochu in person. and
10000 French troops participated in it.
They displayed the greatest gallantry and
their courage was well rewarded. The
Prussians had crept up almost to the walls
and ii they had been able to plant batteries
of heavy guns in these temporary posi-
tions they could have shelled Paris. The
Prussian line was driven back at all points
with heavy slaughter, all their works were
destroyed, and, as the beleaguering circle
expanded hope for the French became
brighter and brighter.
600 men, and the news of this grand dis
aster more than counterbalanced the con-
tidence in ultimate victory that had been
inspired by the victory of the 18th of Oc-
tober. Before this last misfortune hopes
had been entertained that Bazaine would
afford employment for the troops of Prince
Frederick Charles, while the first Army OF
the Loire, organized by Gambetta, could
advance either to the relief of Paris or
Metz. The fall of Metz dispersed this
hope, however. and Immediately after Nj.
Thiers began negotiations with Bis
marck for an armistice. These negotia-
tions, however, fell through. as the Prus-
slams would not allow victuals to pass into
the city during the temporary cessation of
hostilities.
Concluded tn Mondays paper.
f ]. w, TOWARD. M. D.,