Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-01-11
War Notes Of the Dar,

The bombardment Of the aoutbsrn
forts of Paris commenced on the morn
ing Of Thursday, the 9Th instant tbe fire
being directed against D'IssyK anves.
and Montrogue. These are Ghe three
forts which we predicted. Al tho COM
mencement Of the siege, would probably
be the object of attack. They are weaksr
than the works to the north, are on
lower ground, are nearer to the enciepte,
and are commanded by the heights OF
MeudOn and Claimant, which tina Ger
mans seized upon when they first made
their appearance near Paris. From their
works the Germans can direct a plung-
ing hre into these forts, and thus render
them ~untenabie. The German opinion
at Versailles was that the works could.
be silenced in fOrty-eight hours, and a.
dispatch OF Saturday saws that fort
Dlssy, he most westerly OF the chain
Of forts on the south side has been 81
fenced. The three. forts named are but
a mile from the elcieite, and as they are
built 10 operate in either direction, their
northern faces will be turned to account
in the bOmbardment OF the inner wall,
and Of the city itself, il necessary. With
the artillery possessed by the Germans,
the center of the city, with all its impor-
tant buildings, will be within easy she'll
ing range Of the forts named, should
their ire be turned IN that direction.
The fire on the east and northeast sides
of the city continues, and the forts in
that direction reply weakly. The fierce
ness Of the fire has prevented any
sOrtie, If any such movement had been
contemplated, and driven the French
troops within cover.
But if the reports Of affairs within
Paris, are reliable-and different dis
patches appear to confirm each other 10
this efect-there was no intention to
make a immediate sortie. Trochu is
sued a proclamation on the previous
Sunday, in which he complained Of at
tempts to create ~dissensiOns among the
people because the troops had not made
a more vigorous defence. He attributed
the delay in operations to the severity OF
the weather, says the troops have been
severely tried and require a brief rest,
but that they are preparing to act and
will do their duty.
From other parts OF the field Of opera
tons the reports, as has invariably been
the case of late, are directly contradic-
tory. From the south there 10 Sgree-
ment in the statement that Gen. ChauZy
is moving northward in two columns, /
one on the road from Tours to Charities,
by way of NendOme, and the other from
lie Mans to Charities, by way OF NOgent
le RotrOn. There has been fighting
south of VendOma on one road, and
north Of NOgent lie Rotrop on the other,
the result Of which is disputed in both
instances. Neither was more, probably,
than engagements with advanced detach-
ments.
Bourbaki's whereabouts remain prob
lematical. He is said to be moving 10
unite with Garabildi, against Werder,
on the upper Saone, at the same time to
be marching towards Nancy TO unite
with Faidherbe and destroy the German
communications between Paris and the
BOurbakii is a commander who
little information as to his plans,
and ne IS not in perfect accord with the
present French rulers, who gave him
command out Of sheer necessity. All
as to his poses are, there
fore, mere guess work.
From the north the reports arc still in
direct contradiction to each other. Faid-
herbe insists that he won a victory at
BapRume, whilst the Germans insist that
be was defeated. FNidherbe's headquar-
ters are at BoileuI, about four miles
south of Arras and eight miles south or
Bapaume. AErench account rom Lille
says the Germans evacuated Bapaume
Friday, which is in direct conflict
Faidherbe's previous statement, ,
that he drove them out Of Bapaume lev
sral DAYS before and destroyed the viii
In the direction Of Havre there
are similar contradictory accounts, the
under Gen. Roy having won a
victory west of Rouen, according to one
recount. and been defeated and driven {
Jack according TO another.-CleuelaHd {
jan 10. )