The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-16
sIEGEs OF OTHER DAYS.
south Africn's MRr Recalls the Bonn
bardment of Parih.

While Ladysmith. Mafeking. and Kim
berley have been undergoing siege. Lieu
tenant Colonel Needham, Of the British
Amy. recalls some famous commandments
Of the past:
During the first six months Of the
Franco-German War. between August
1870. and the end OF January. 1871. twenty
six French fortresses we're captured by the
Germans. and Of these no fewer than six
teen surrendered TO a bombardmeut only;
among the more notable Of them being
Tour. Thionyille, NerdHn. Mezieres, Neuf-
Brisach. Longwy, and PerOnne.
A Commandment was also employed TO
hasten the surrender Of Paris. although
II may be noted that it was only with
great reluctance that the German lead
ers had recourse 10 a on that occasion.
For il must be remembered that a bonn
bardment, strictly speaking. is an cper-
alton OF war directed as much against
the civilian population Of a town as
against its military defenders In the
text-b books on fertilization IL is de-
scribed as an attempt to Overwhelm a
place by throwing into il a great Qu3n-
tity OF shells rockets. etc. with the OBJ
iect OF burning and destroying the town
mot the fortifcatiOns), and 50 bringing
about the surrender OF the place by the
adverse moral effect produced. With this
view fire is directed upon the buildings
occupied by the Inhabitants and troops and
so wear out their endurance.
II was the recognition OF the fact that
the civilian population and civilian build
ings must. during a bombardment suffer
as much or more than the military de-
tenders and defences which in 1870
caused the Germans TO hesitate
so long in employing IL against
{ Paris. Paris was invested by the Ger
mans in September. but it was not until
December 20 that its bombardment was
begun By January shells were falling
freely in the quarters of the town lying
on he left bank Of the Seine. and on jan
uary a general exodus OF the inhabitants
from the left to the right bank began.
On January y a request that the sub
jects of foreign states then in Paris might
be allowed 10 remove their persons and
property was made TO the German authori-
( ties by the members Of the Diplomatic
/ Corps still remaining in the beleaguered
city. but in reply Bismarck while admit
4 ting that a bombarded town was no TT
/ dwelling place for the subjects Of neutral
1 powers. declined to permit any exodus on
; a large scale, though he added that, out OF
/ courtesy. the representatives of the neutral
/ states might even at that stage be allowed
| 10 leave
/ The distance OF the batteries in the first
]
! the furthest point reached by their shells
was about FIVE miles. rather more than
| less The weather was at times toggy,
! and this, coupled with the fact that the
domes of the buildings. together with
/ that Of the Pantheon. were conspicous OBJ
| tects at which to aim. was probably the
| cause why several shells fell and burst
1 in close proximity to the large hospital
/ Val de Grace, although the Red Cross flag
/ was flying over it
| SO frequently did this become the case
that on January II General Trochu sent
| a formal protest to the German headquar-
! tiers. In reply Count Moltke denied most
/ solemnly that che act was intended b. the
! German artillerists. and with a certain
| grim humor concluded by expressing a
J hope that shortly the occurrences COM
/ planned Of would be altogether avoided, as
! the German batteries would be advanced
nearer to the town and il would conse-
I quently become possible to place their
| shells more accurately.