Ellsworth American., 1871-02-16

1
Wilhelmshohe, and the captured army
consigned 10 the fortresses OF Ger
many, than the Crown Prince al once
began his advance upon Paris. That
advance was made without check. In
about a couple of weeks, on the 18th
Of September, their advanced line was
only a few miles from Paris. \ dav
OF two Of sharp skirmishing succeeded
but the defenders OF the city were in
no position to risk battle. and the
Crown Prince was permitted To draw
his lines closer and closer round the
walls, until, on the 10Th OF September.
the investment was complete and Paris
was isolated by glittering girdie of |
Prussian bayonets from the outside
world.
| Vigorous measures had, however.
been taken by the Parisians to make a
desperate and protracted defence. Fol- |
lowing upon the disaster of Sedan and |
the captivity of the Emperor they had, |
in the name of France. rcnounce,l the |
empire aud amid the widest enthusiasm |
Of patriotism declared republic. Ga !
national defence was appointed. head |
ed BY General Trochu, and composed |
Of Jules Fayre, Canbetta, Rochefort. |
Jules Simon, Mons. Cremieux, Picard !
and few more obscure names. Under !
these leaders preparations for defence
were strcnuously pushed forward inn
mense quantities of ammunition were
& ia artt
and drilled for military service. When
at last Paris was completely cut off
iIom the rest of the world her citizens
realized for the first time what isolation
meant, and their schemes for main
tanning communication with their ont
side friends and for eludIng the yIsi.
lance of the Prusslans by the adoption
of balloons and pigeon expresses, and
other means OF consolation for their
unfortunate condition are familiar.
For the first two or three DAYS altel
the beginning OF the selge there was
heavy skirmIshlng. and one OF two at
tempts at stornI1g the forts by the
Russians; but these affairs were OF
little Importance. The occupation of
'SaSdAA4Ns, tiS iliOSL CtiCuIaLctl OI tlt
French palaces, IS the German hcaj-
quarters. created the greatest sensa-
tIon. The siege had scarcely begun
when an attempt was made 10 bring
about the close OF hostilitics. NJ julie,
Fa,rc was commissioned BY the COVER
nent 10 see Bismarck and eudeavor to
negotiate reasonable terms Of peace.
Aftcr some not very digniiiei wrans-
ling on both sides, extending over
several days, the negotiation fe,.
il10ugh--Favre MAS whiting % end
Tie war On . basis OF money COM
7 peBsatfon 10y fsmuce ID germany. uas
refused TO assent To the ces,ion of an
inch of territory. About this time il
was clear that Paris WAS city divided
against itself. T~o different forms uf
authority had been created. The first
MAS the Provisional Government be
fore referred TO. The second was the
Central Republican Committee, com
posed OF four delegates from each
arrondissement, of eighty members ia
ali. This committee was organized
under the auspices of the International
Association OF Working men, anu soon
began 10 inspire fear both Oh the part
OF the government and the bourgeois.
The disatiection was healed Uy VI.
Gustaye Flourens, who became con-
spicuous in the affair OF Victor Noir.
lrochu, meantime, organized his
forces. and temporized with the mai
contents, until he found himself stron.
e
which lie did with effect; and for
nearly four months, and only within
the past two or three weeks, when the
people had lost all hope OF pro!onging
resistance, has the spirit OF disaiiec-
ton and disorder yentured again 10
make its appearance.
With the surrender OF Strasbourg on
the 9th Of September, the besiegers
and the besieged settled down in serl-
Gus earnest To- work. The Parisians
were daily growing apparently more
resoiute, the city was rayidiy acquiring
a government in which it had the
greatest confidence, and all the ar
rangements for defence were being
perfected.
The food question now became |
troublesome and the means restored to |
supply the demand are familiar, anu /
yet the government announced that it |
could easily hold out four months |
without imposing any great privations
on the people. At this time Trochu
could muster 100000 men, fully equal |
in apparent strength to the beleaguer-
ing army, but the vast force was COM
posed chiefly Of volunteers of the
denoralized wrecks of the great armies
that has already been destroyed. They
were, therefore, either inexperienced
or unreliable, and, Trochu might well
hesitate to hurl them against the Ger
man veterans who surrounded him. He
avowed bis 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
consummation NJ. Gambetta war COM
missioned to leave Paris and organize
force in the provinces. He left the
capital IN balloon, and will probably
20 down to history as the first Minister
who ever veLtured for a serious object
i'll so hazardous means of travel.
The bOmbardment actually begun
on the llth Of October, and on the fol-
lowing day the French made their first
grand sOrtie, led by Trochu in person
with 100000 French troops. Their
gallantry and Courage was well reward.
ed. The Prussian line was driven back
st all points with heavy slaughter, all
their works were destroyed, and, as the
beleagucring circle expanded, hope for
the French became brighter and bright
er.
Metz surrendered on the 27th, with
100000 men, and the news Of this
grand disaster more than counter