Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-07

Chinese pavilion OF fantastic form and about
10 feet h'gh Stone bridges are built over
the river aud tie canal opposite these gale
ways. Draw-bridg 5 do not Stem TO have
figured in the plans furnished to Gia Long
by the Frenchmeu.
The place looks very imposing from the
ou'silr A row II magnificent tres lines
the IAN. ats aud makes charming prom
euade but the view within is very dismal
and The h,cri looks more like desert than
a capital city. Within ihesrampnrts live the
mandarins, the garrison and the princes OF
the blood royal. The only other buildings
| arc public offices, the granaries, the prison,
the arsenal besides the novels of the few
tradesmen who are allowed to come in to
sell tea and tobacco and such like wares to
the sjldery. These wIetchcd shantics
scarcely add to the general checrlessucss.
The paved ways are nil grass-grown and
the Test is waste OF unculiivaled
| land. But within these walls there is a
I second line of deicnce-a fortress within the
fortress. This occupies perhaps quarter of
the whole area 1t is also qualrangular. and
is the citadel properly so-called it is styled
the hang-u Like the outer walls IL has
ramparts and bistions, mounted al every
available point with guns, and, If resoluely
defended, would be much harder to take than
the gigantic outer works. INSIDE this is the
imperial palace, out Of which his late mai
ty hardly ever etirrcd. 1t Is distinguished
from afar by It's yellow roof, that being the
Anamese royal color. The princes Of the
blood daub their palaces rcd In the thang-
moi his majesty lives with his queens, and
none but the guards and those employed in
the royal service are allowed to enter it. Ii
an artifcer has displayed sufficient skill 10
be called in to execute repairs in the palace,
he is detained there as a prisoner for life.
BY the side of the palace stands a temple
consecrated to the ancestors of the emperor
and there he performs what worship seems
TO him consistent with his magnificcnce. A
curious rule-oriCntal or un-orental, accord
ing to the point of view in which you regard
it-provides tina. any woman, of whatever
rank, may enter the thang moi .unqnestloned
us long as she is fairly goud-looking.
The grauaries of Hue, within the ramparts
ave one of the chief sights of the place.
They stretch over an enormous ar, a, aud t"C
or three fresh buildings are added every year,
AS the tribute comes in from the provinces.
They contain supplies sufficient to suppni
50, QUO men for dozen years. The treasury
is u building of which wonderful stories are
told. 1t is II vast reservoir or tank, with hlg
blank walls and only one opcning-a window
high IN in the side toward the palace.
Through this window is thrown anuu all,
50 the lalc z res. log Of wood followed out
and stuffed with nguts of geld and rouleaus
OF money. What goes in never comes out
a.ain. No wonder the French want to pos.
sess themselves OF Hue. The guardians that
wa oh over this fabulous treasure are vigil
ant and incorrup,blo, They are crocodilrs.
The arsenal of Hue is as vast e. the gran
aries. III 1928, when Dr.. Crawford went
there ms ambassador from the Governor Gen.
eial of India he saw in this arsenal IA great
number of old ship guLs-English, Freucb,
Ducii aud PO,tugese But there were als,'
whole parks OF brass ordnance ma lc in
Cochin China from metal dug in Tong
king MINIS. TIE models were French
gus and they were mostly howiz-
crs and mortars. Crawford saw nine
ninety-thrcc Founders with Gii Long,
name cast on them The gun CARR
az were neatly painted, and contrary to
Oriental habit the guns thems Ives we're kept
in good working order. This atcmcnt is
borne out by the letters of many missionaries
in the "Annalcs de Propagation de la Fol-"
one enthusiastic father declaring that the
pieces were so highly polished that they.shone
in the sun like silver. Whether the Anamese
gunncrs are able to work their guns as well
us keep them in order remain 10 be seem
/, They are not wanting in plnch in TACT, q
great pant of the Anumese soldiers drill con-
sisls in tests Of his courage.
| Hue is undoubtedly a place ihat may offer
IL stout resistance, but it has many weak
points. The chief Of these is its vast size.
At least 50, 900 men are required 10 garrison
it. That number will be forthcoming with
out doubt but they ma, not be able TO r. sist
a concentrated attack. The height of the
ramparts is another source OF danger
Modern field artillery would probably
be sufficient to batter them down,
Notwithstanding their enormous thick
ness and the debris would serve to fill the
ditch and 90 remove another difficulty.
Finally it Is almost certain that the Anamcse
will be unable to find sufficient men capable
of working the 800 guns mounted round the
fortress. Their great ally At Mis- season OF
the year is the unheallhiness Of the cmlte.
II prolonged resistance can he Offered it is
not unlikely that the FRENCH will have to Ic-
tire bani.d. Indeed, it seems probable that
the sudden resolve to attack Hue is prompt
cd as much by desire to combat disease by
active operations as by a notion that the fall
of the capital will terminate the war.