The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-02
THE CAPTURE OF FORT AKRON.

from tRe W. r. ItlHeS
Yielding, probably, as much to the pres
sure of public opinion in Germany as to con-
siderations of military necessity, the first
step in the bombardment of Paris has been
completed. 1t is understood that the great
strategical leader of the German forces has,
from the first, been opposed to any attempt
to reduce Paris by shot and shell. The true
master of the military art is never prodigal
of human life. General Won Moltke has
doubtless very clear perception of what it
will cost to carry Paris by storm, and the
magnitude of the task may fairly be guessed
at from the length of time he has refrained
from attempting it. The decided opinions
of Bismarck and Won Room, both of whom
are said to have advocated more active mea-
sures, he has been able to overrule, but
the growing discomfort of Germany Ger
many that has been giving freely of her very
life's blood to have France at her feet-has
proved too powerful for him. Away in
fatherland, he has found his call for levy
after levy freely responded to. The Land-
wehr came gaiiy to the front, although the
defense of Germany was their allotted duty;
and now there are drafts from the Land
sturp coming forward, of fathers and heads
of families, the bread-winners of a people
who at heart love peace, and yet there is no
murmur heard at the stern requirements of
war. Only the people have got it into their
heads that their Generals are showing fool
ish clemency in sparing the stubborn and un-
expectedly heroic populace behind the walls
of Paris, and have got tired Of hearing
how the ranks of their brethren get thinned,
as sortie after sortie comes out behind the
still unsilenced forts, and after doing their
bloody work retreat safely to the same covert
again If luxurious and pampered Paris can
live for weeks upon horsehesh, how much
longer may it still hold out upon the stores
of bread and wine that are said to be so am
pie? If the work is to be done, let it be
done quickly, reason the people across the
Rhine. The ravages of disease and the in
clemency of the weather, between them, will
shertly cost as many lives as might have
effected lodgment in the outer circle of the
Partisan forts.
Fort Avron may serve as a strong offensive
position to the Germans, or it may prove
more difficult to hold than it has been to
take. It's possession will certainly form a
check upon sortles from the northeast
which have hitherto been so successful If
there is heavy enough artillery, as we have
| every reason to believe to be the case, ready
to be mounted upon it, the fall of Rosny
situated on the opposite eminence about
| two miles nearer Paris, is only question of
days and then the suburb of Montreuil will
soon be mass of ruins, and the charmed
circle of the outer enceinte will be
broken. On the other hand, the Prus-
slams have occupied point which
they cannot abandon without great loss Of
prestige, and on whicN the French, moving as
they do round much smaller circle, and hav-
ing all the facilities of railroad round the
city at their command, can at any time, direct
an enormous weight of men and metal. Stu
ated not only within easy range of Fort
Rosny, but also of Romainville and Fonte-
nay, the redoubt erected in the grounds of
! the Chateau Avron may turn out very costly
acquisition. Either way it's capture marks q
badly forms the prelude to more sanguin.
airy struggle than any of those that have YET
occurred for the possession of the capital oi
| France.