New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-06
TRocprps DEFENSE OF PARIS.


THE DEFENSE OF THE CITY,
with reference TO the late Trocbu trial. the following
account Of an interview between tne enien. nSo S
Trochu translated from NJ Louis Blanes forthcoming ming
History OF the Siege Of Paris, Is Pupd1Heu Al LIE
TRIBUNE by permission OF the author-
In the morning of the 18th october, 1871 1
went to Gen. Trochus He had been Informed beforehand
OF my VISIT and expected The reception he gave mo
was extremely courteous, and saw that IL would nave
been cordial II the General had not known WHAT was inc
object of nv visit Indeed IL not 10 ienctate OF 10
compliment him that came far from IL. lcame 10 tel
him that Paris full ardor but that bitter Complaints
were made that this ardor allowed to remain With
ont employment the Government either dd not
choose or did not know how profit by IT, had brought
with me some plans Of defense which had been commu
nicated to by military men, and when desired 10
submit to the Generals he only paid slight attention to
them and 1t was evident that. for him, the siege was
settled matter. Gen. Trochu is fine speaker; his
greatest fault is to be convinced OF this lie ABUSES the
facility Of elocution with which he is endowed in an al
most inconcevabe manner. 1t is amusing to see the
dexterity with which he turns conversation Into
monologue, and this dexterity is only equaied by
the impossibity for him of listening to any one
else. / soon had experience OF this Scarcely had
opened my mouth before he interrupted Inc in order to
recount to in detail the history Of the works when
had made Paris impregnable.
"But" remarked, after having watched for the mo-
mept TO edge in word, what does IL matter that Paris
should improbable II it does not form part OF the
plan OF those who beslege II to endeavor TO take IL
That the capital should be put In position to repuse an
attack by main force, is quite rights but what need nave
the Prussans the risks OF bloody attack wheh
1t is by famine that they expect TO bring us to bayi Their
system Of investment indeed proves this. What use VIII
Paris be TO starving Paris The Offensive
that is best OF defense, and now that our
enemies overwhem without coming near u.s. IL Is
we that must go to meet them" 81 understand" said
thoto rfaa1n az n al
and calm had he hitherto been you are, like all the
Parsas for the system OF sores. That Is TO say that
you come here TO bring me- under most reasonable
FORM the fever OF Paris These were the exact express
sons which pleased him to make use Of had not 10
defend myself against such reproach, for certainly
did partake Of that fever and even to-day and indeed
especially now, hold honor to have shared tha
fever of Paris which consisted in generous desire 10
make one supreme effort which should bring victory
back 10 u.s. or which should make defeat forever hon
orabe And what was there 50 chmerca In TINS WISH
Paris with her grde of forts her ramparts now un
assailable her 30O armed national guards, her 10000
soldiers and mobiles with cannon in abundance cout
she, without being accused OF madness give herseH
up to the manly hope of breaking through the Prnssan
linesl That is what had written, and what re-
peated to Gen. TrOchu But Il IS not correct as e has
since affirmed in the Assembly tting OF June IL, lo7D
that spoke TO him of a great battle to be fought,
battle with great masses" With regard TO this his
memory has deceived him. The Jstem OF defense,
which, according to the opinion most widely spread in
Paris and by the advice Of distinguished military men'
| had come to submit TO Gen. Trochu con-
sisted in dividing into army corps, each OF 10000
men, the immense force at our disposal and TO
cause them to attack in turns the enemy by night some
times on one point sometimes another, as To harass
him without ceasng, TO leave him no rest and to Keep
HIM continually the watch, and TO trouble him both by
the certainty he would be attacked and by his I'M
tn bara
advantages OF this vigorous offensive organization would
have been incacuable, il it had other result
than to prevent the Prussians from thinning the invest
ing force by sending part Of their troops against
the relieving armies alas IL was IN fact, only too
for them do But In order to adopt this plan would
have been necessary have faith in the country, to
have faith in the power of patriotism, AMI belief in
| cess Now this faith, which has always saved the
nations il has animated what Gen. Trochu did not
| possess.
How can express my asonishment and grief, when
heard him pronounce in speaking Of the defense OF Paris
the words heroic folly" In tho National Guard, al
though he admitted its ZEAL he declared that he only
saw mob" To conduct it to battle would, according
10 him. be TO conduct it TO slaughter" il would be
sacre he cried several times, and will not incur the
responsibility OF a massacre" Besides" he added,
what we want are cannon. We have not enough twelve
FOUNDERS and even II had, how should do for
riagesl And If we had enough carriages how should
we to find gunnersi" 1t was in vain that answered
that Paris would supply all that. In the state Of mind in
which Gen. Trochu then was he could only regard such
an answer as unfOunded assertion. Nevertheless,
| every one knows that the admirable patriotism Of
the Parsians rendered possible what the 18th OF Oc
tOber appeared TO Gen. TrOchu impossible Without his
aid or that OF the Government over which he presided,
Paris fabricated cannon, fabca carriages Paris
found teams Paris furnished gunners. Our interview
had lasted more than an hour, when the door opened,
and man In full uniform appeared. This Gen.
schmitz dhe chief Of Trochus stalD. lie TO relate
| how a Sudden conflict had broken out between Gen.
Bellamare who commanded Of the forts, and Gen.
Guyot who had the artillery under his orders. mighty
matter, it not in the terrible strait INF The
embarrassment this incident caused Gen. Trochu, and
| the conversation which took place in my presence
| between him and Gen. Schmtz. 10 the means OF
getting out OF the difficulty, would have amused me-
admit IL what had not previously heard had not filed
my heart with sadness. Gen. Trochu had told enough
TO make fear that he would consider his mission be
1tingly fulfilled he saved military honor by under
going long siege, without boodshed. II this siege
should end in "a capituatlon, rendered necessary by
famine. Unfortunately, he but too well supported
In this idea by the attitude and the language OF the
generals who surrounded him. Were these generals
mented by professional jealousy Of the citizen sodery
without avowing it TO themsevesi Did they
1t necessary for the honor OF the epauetes that the civil
element should not triumph where the military element
failed amentably Did they fear that the victory
Paris due TO armed citizens the Republic would
make vet evident the shame OF the horrible disaster
Sedan for the men OF the sword OF the Imperial Court
and of the Empire selff Did they tremble lest history
should TO say: France which her standing
army could not Defend was saved by the peopei What
Is certain that those high IN station Ia the military
world neglected nothing in ORDER 10 discourage the de-
Tense, proclaimng it, in and out OF season. 10 be i'm
possible speaking but with contempt the National
| Guard and by these means, propagatlng among the
soldiers the spirit which caused them, whenever the
National Guard manifested It's military ardor TO cry,
IIurrah for Peace"
And now II any should ask what impression Of
Gen. TrOchu brought away from interview the
I3th October, this what ehOud Trochu