The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-01-31

| tlIlcs OIS
with the mar
| strong enough to rep..
| which he did with effect; anu ~.
months, and only within the past two or tut =.
weeks, when the people had lost all hope OF
prolonging resistance, has the spirit of disaf.
lection and disorder ventured again to
| make its appearance.
With the surrender of Strasbeurg on the
9th of September, the besiesers and the be-
sieged settled down in serious earnest to
work. The Parisians were daily growing ap-
parently more resolute, the city was rapidly
acquiring government 10 which it had the
greatest confidence, and all the arrangements
tor defence were being perfected.
The food question now became troublesome
and the means resorted to to supply the de-
mand are familiar, aud yet the government
announced that it could easily hold out four
months without imposing any great prva-
tons on the people. At this time Trochu
could muster 100000 men, fully equal in ap-
parent strength to the beleaguering army, but
the vast force was composed chiefly of volun-
teers or the demoralized wrecks of the great
armies that has already heen destroyed. They
were, therefore, either inexperienced or unre,
Liable. and, and Trochu might well hesitate to
hurl them against the German veterans who
surrounded him. He avowed his determine
ton to wait until until an army of relief ar
rived to aid the besieged in raising the siege
and for the purpose of fastening on this hap
py consummation NJ. Gambetta was commits.
stoned to leave Paris and organize force in
the provinces. He lett the capital in a bal
Don, and will probably 60 down to history as
the first Minister who ever ventured tor a Sc.
rious object in so hazardous means of tray-
ell
The bombardment actually begun on the
18th OF October, and Oh the following day the
French made their Fl rst grand sortie, led by
Trochu in person with 10000 French troops.
Their gallantry and courage was we'll reward
ed. The Prussian line was driven back at ali
points with heavy slaughter, all their works
were destroyed, and, as the beleaguering circle
expanded, hope for the French became bright
er and brighter.
Metz surrendered on the 9th, with 10000
men, and the news of this grand disaster
more than counterbalanced the confidence in
ultimate victory that had been inspired by the
victory of the 18th of October. Immediately
alter M. Theirs began negotiations with Bis
marck for an armistice. These negotiations.
however, fell through, as the Prussians would
not allow victuals tOpass into the CITY during
the temporary cessation of hostilities. While
these negotiations were pending, the disturb
ance at the Hotel de Vile occurred, in which
the ministry was practically captured by the
(
the national guards. The leaders were arrest
ed for treason, and this was the last internal
trouble that occasioned any anxiety.
In the beg inning of November the armv of
the Loire, under De Paladines, achieved a
signal victory over General Won der Tam
and forced the Prussians to evacuate Orleans.
Later on in the imonth OF November other
French victories were also obtained in the
same department.
Until the end of November the siege went
on but slowly, while the stock of provisions
became palpably smaller and the Parisians ex.
perienced the most dtsagreeable consequences
OF the investment. Fresh imeat gave out at
the beginning of the month, and the animals
Of the Jardin DIES Plants were slain snd sold
10 the people.
Toward the end of November the armv Of
the Loire was signally defeated by Prince
Frederick Charles, who after the surrender of
Metz had turned his march southwark. The
Jay after this news was received at Versailles
General Ducrot, with 100000 men, made a
grand sortie from Paris. The fighting for
Three days was desperate, Victory coming al
lernately to the contending armies. Finally
the Germans succeeded in again establishing
lheir positions, and Ducrot and his army were
once more prisoned beneath the walls of Par
IS. The losses in these days fighting must
nave been frightfully heavy, but the estimates
gwen are very various.
Following this defeat came the final disas-
.er to the Army of the Loire, and a further
and not very vigorous attempt
~ Ducrot on the 10Th of December to again
break through the investing lines. These dis
asters, and especially the first, produced
very bad OBJECT upon the defenders of Paris,
md affairs within the doomed capital grew
more and more discouraging. From this lime
until almost the close of the year the record
Of the siege is not very interesting. In the
north, under Gen. Faidherbe, in the south a
second Army of the Loire. under Chanzy,
and in the east an army, under Bourbaki, had
been slowly gathered together. Faidherbe
was soon defeated, and Bourbaki's command
was not very promising. The Army of the
Loire again achieved few successes, which