New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-09
TIE PRELUDE TO THE FINAL STRUGGLE

IN FRANCE.
The reduction of the Paris fOrts--not the
bOmbardment of the city, as some of our CO.
temporaries, with strange disregard OF facts,
insist on disappearing the present opera
tions-has been continued unremittingly. and not
without signal though incomplete success. Two
of the southern forts have been silenced, but are
not vet occupied and Others east of the city have
been rendered untenable by the destruction OF
their classmates. Before any advance can be
made by the Germans TO these positions they will
doubtless have to meet the French infantry,
and this, Judging from past tactics, they have
no disposition to do unnecessarily. Thus far,
the chief and great advantage gained by the
bombardment has been the contraction and
consequent strengthening of the German lines
on the east where previous sOrties have
shown them to be weak, and possibly pene-
trable to determined assault. The reduc-
ton of the forts south of the city will have
similar result and make the line there well
nigh impregnable to assault from within or
without.
1t is evidently on the attack from without
that the Porisians now repose their hopes Of
succor. The folly of attempting to break the
lines by sOrties in large columns, on which the
Germans can concentrate overwhelming num-
bers at brief notice, has been shown by fire.
duent failure; and there il good reason to be-
leve, from official declaration and general
condemnation, that the policy of Trochu is to
waste no more strength in such aimless efforts
until an army has approached near enough to act
in concert. Gen. Faidherbe was expected from
the north, but this hope will be abandoned when
the Parisians are told, as we are this morning,
that his first efforts at advance resulted in his
going back to Lille to reorganize his commssa-
riat. His right, under Gen. Roy, has been
again beaten near Rouen, and is i'll retreat to
the west. Gen. Chauzy, at lie Mans and near
Tours, is collecting large army; from all
parts of Western France recruits are joining
him and swelling his numbers, if not adding
greatly to his actual strength. But thus far
he has made no advance. UntTust-
worthy correspondents on Saturday re-
ported him beyond Vend6me and La Louppe,
but the French reports of a later date claim
that he only designs going to these points :;
and German kilograms report the Duke of
Mecklenburg in attack upon the French ad
vanced posts southwest of Vend6me. Gen.
I Chauzy doubtless means to advance towards
Paris soon, but he has more than eighty miles
of distance and not less than 100000 veteran
soldiers between him and the rear of the Ger
man line of investment at Versailles.
| Every indication points to active hOstilites
at Paris and in the Southwest. The French
recognize the desperate situation of their cap
ital, and the necessity for making an early
effort to succor it. The Germans will not fai
to follow up any advantage which the bonn
| of Cos a.,
engagements under the very walls of the city
and within the line of the forts may be pre-
cipitated. We see in the preparations which
the French have been mabing-heroic efforts
which necessary haste threatens to render
abortive-nothing to lead us to change our
opinion that the fall of Paris is inevitable.