The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-27

General Trochu, the Governor Of Paris, has
Of late been severely criticised. BY some he
is regarded as incapable, by others as lacking
| courage, while by another class he is con-
demned for not attempting grand sortie with
two hundred thousand msn , or G, thersahc..S and
n. h. --aaing through the German investing lines.
Not alone from those outside the walls of Paris
come adverse criticisms of the Governor The
people within the city cry out against him, and
"a has Trochu!" may be heard 10 any Of the
streets of Paris, yelled by men who perhaps
have never handled musket or done days
duty at the outposts Before Trochu Is con-
demned, however, might il not be well to intolli-
gently and calmly consider his position before
visiting on him that unstinted condemnation
which has of late been heaped upon his name9
1t is scarcely necessary to recall to the read
ers of the HERALD the rapid, almost sudden,
collapse of the armies of Napoleon. After
the capture of the imperial armies the capital
of France stood in danger King William re-
garded his victories as incomplete until Paris
was taken. The capture Of the capital was
German success and French humiliation. To
avert so dread calamity General Trochu bent
all his energies. Paris he resolved to render
impregnable. How well he succeeded the
months during which the Germans have lain
around the city will amply testify. So far,
then. as the defence of Paris is concerned,
Trochu has done his duty.
The surrender of Napoleon at Sedan gave
TO the German conqueror the last of the armies
of the empire, with the exception of those Of
Bazaine at Metz and Ulrich at Strasbourg.
The forces of those two generals, however,
were unable to do anything for France Ba-
| zaine was hemmed in on all sides in Metz and
Urich was effectually locked up in Strasbourg.
| While the thorough investment Of these for
| tresses was being completed the great bulk
of the German army was marching on Paris.
When Trochu assumed the governorship of
the capital he found himself in position of
great responsibility without the means Of main
tanning it. 1t is true he had Notifications
and outworks, and means at command by
which the city might be rendered impregnable,
but he lacked the properly drilled and disci-
plined soldiers, without which the fortiica-
tons and the war material they contained
were absolutely worthless. To form an army,
to discipline that army and prepare 1t for
future operations Trochu directed all his skill
Moltke's summons to the Governor Of Paris
to surrender after he appeared outside the
walls with his victorious legions was refused,
and for over four months that refusal has been
maintained.
The republic was proclaimed. France was
declared free without the means to assert her
independence. Without armies in the field it
was plainly the duty of General Trochu, even
supposing that he had force Of say three
hundred thousand well disciplined men under
hm--which he had MOTTO remain where he
was, and, by mastery inactivity, afford
chance for the republican leaders in the
provinces to awaken the people to the neces-
sites of the situation. The war had, with the
fall Of the empire, assumed an altogether
different phase. Trochu held, by the policy he
pursued. over three hundred thousand Germans
outside Paris in check, doing nothing but
watching; the obstinacy Of Bazaiae engaged
the attention Of nearly two hundred thousand
more at Metz, and the gallant defence Of Gen
eral Ulrich at Strasbourg gave employment to
another formidable force there. Thus it will
be seen that nearly the entire German army
was delayed, affording time for republican
France to prepare armies for the field. That
the time SO acquired was probably employed
none will attempt to deny. The country
became alive to the necessities Of the hour;
armies were organized in the southeast, in the
southwest and in the north, and when Metz
and Strasbourg surrendered, and the German
armies which were employed in their reduc-
ton were released they found new armies to
confront them in different parts of France.
General Trochu all this time was engaged in
raising and in disciplining an army within
Paris. He attempted no sorties, rightly judg-
ing that the raw recruits which composed his
army were not able to cope with the veterans
encamped without the walls. The French
Army Of the Lorewas rapidly assuming for
mdabe proportions; the Army of the North
was also being perfected and Garibaldi was
| creating an army for operations in the Vosges.
From two, at least, Of these armies Trochu
expected succor. 1t was the intention of
General Paladines to '1move directly on the
enemy's works" outside Paris and cooperate
with the army within the investing lines. Won
der Tann's defeat encouraged the hope that
France would be able to turn the tide of Ger
man success, but the addition Of the forces of
the Red Prince, with his army from Metz,
checked the advance OF Paladines, while at the
same time the repulse of the sorties from Paris
again threw a damper over French ardor.
Again, General Chanzy, the successor Of Pala-
dimes, with the Army Of the Loire considerably
strengthened, moved on TO the rescue Of the