The age-herald., 1898-05-15
SOME GREAT SIEGES
 OF HISTORY

The most remarkable instances of recent years of cities which preferred the horrors or bombardment to an ignominious sur ? render were those of Alexandria and Par.s. In both cases the attack prevailed over the defense notwithstanding that the fortifica- tions of both cities were immensely strong and up to date in every particular. How ever. there were extenuating circumstances in each case which accounted for the pre- mature success of the enemy, says the Washington tar.
 The contest of Alexandria was short but decisive. Within ten hours the British fleet under Admiral Seymour had effectually si- fenced every gun on the shore. Ten thou sand shell and solid shot were poured in on the thoroughly frightened Egyptians, and complete evacuation of the forts was the result Yet very little execution was done by this veritable hail of iron, for the great parapets of sand which protected the bat teries rendered harmless the huge 13-inch projectiles, and 1t was only because of the havoc caused by the fragments of shells which flew around everywhere and accom- plished frightful slaughter among the gallant adherents of Arabi Pasha, joined to Q knowledge taht their want of accuracy in aiming left the fleet practically unharm- ed, that the defenses were so speedily re- linquished to the British admiral. As every one knows the, guns were mostly all spiked or blown to pieces by landing party of marines, but outside of the forts them- selves the destruction was very small, for the presence of friends as we'll as foes in the city forbade an extensive sheling of any but the recognized native quarter, yet sufficient damage was done by the incen- diary shells to start Q fire taht almost de- stroyed the entire town. In this engage ment the enormous power of the S1-ton guns, the projectiles of which weigh over HOO pounds, was amply demonstrated; but it was also made evident that the quickly thrown-up and inexpensive embankments of sand formed an invulnerable defense against even these terrible weapons, and there can be little doubt that, in the hands of experienced gunners, the guns of the harbor batteries would have given a much better account of themselves. It is even an open question whether the fleet would not have been repulsd under such circum- stances. Herein lies an example and moral which those who oppose all proposals to increase the artillery branch of our army
 
 ships under Admiral Seymours command showed conclusively that 1t Is useless to expect taht the magnificent engines of modern warfare may be manipulated even moderately well by men, however brave and willing, who have not undergone the lengthy and arduous course of training that is necesarys to turn out a properly quali- fled gunner
 The bombardment of Paris, though it can hardly be compared with possible at- tack on Havana. is yet worthy of notice as Illustrating what measure can be taken to reduce an unwilling city to subjection. Dur ing the month of January, 1871, the Prus- sian guns literally rained on the fortifica- tions of the beautiful capital the seeming ly impossible number of 10000 shells each day, and of these more than 800 fell on a daily average into the city proper; the devastation caused by the latter in some parts was frightful, and the fires in conse- uuence often threatened to ruin whole dis tricts. Many houses and walls were thrown down by the garrison, so as to leave large open spaces where shells could do but little or no damage, yet many a one who had en- dured the bangs of hunger in silence ard submitted without complaint to the severe regulations of the commissary-general, for the honor and sake of La Belle France" found 1t hard to restrain both tears and in- dfgnation when, on returning from the front after a long and hopeless struggle against an apparently invncible foe, he could discover nothing save the ruins of his former home.
 During the civil war there were many furious bombardments, but they were prin- cspally directed against important forts, and in no case were the ports or cities threatened with destruction; in fact, the wonderfully small loss of life in these op- eratlons during the moentous struggle of 1S61-65 is worthy of remark, as showing the completensss of the nieaens adopted to pro- tect the offenders from the dangerous mis- siles; the mcre noteworthy since, in nearly case. the forts in question were very se-