The evening times., 1900-02-16
SIEGES OF OTHER DAYS.
south ifrica's War Recalls the Bonn
bardment of Paris.
tFrom the Boston JouIGIL)

iFrOm the Boston JoulEdl)
While Ladysmith. Mafeiing, and Kim
berIey have been undergoing siege. Lieu
tenant Colonel Needham. of the British
Amy. recalls some famous bombardments
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 bombardment only;
among the more notable Of them being
Tour. Thionvile. Verdnn, Mezeres, Neuf-
Brisach. Longwy, and PerOnne.
A bombardment was also employed to
hasten the surrender of Paris, although
it may be noted that it was only with
great reluctance that the German lead
ers had recourse TO ii on that occasion.
For it must be remembered that a bonn
bardment. strictly speaking, is an cper-
ation of war directed as much against
the civilian population of a town as
against its military defenders. In the
text books on fortifcation it is de-
scribed as An attempt to overwhelm a
place by throwing into il great guam
tity of shells. rockets, etc. with the OBJ
ject of burning and destroying the town
mot the fortifcationsl, and SO 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 troop; and
so wear out their endurance.
1t 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 it against
-
mans in September but it was not until
December 20 that its bombardment was
begun BY January 3 shells were falling
freely in the quarters of the town lying
on the left bank of the Seine and on Jan
uary S a general exodus Of the inhabitants
from the left to the right bank began
On January u request that the sub
jects of foreign states then in Paris might
be allowed to 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
ting that a bombarded town was no fit
dwelling place for the subjects of neutral
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
TO leave.
The distance of the batteries in the first
days of the bombardment of Paris from
the furthest point reached by their shells
was about five miles. rather more than
less The weather was at times foggy,
and this, coupled with the fact that the
domes of the buildings, together with
that of the Pantheon. were conspicouS OBJ
jects at which to aim, was probably the
cause why several shells fell and burst
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 Jaunary IA General Trochu sent
a formal protest to the German headquar
ters. In reply Count Moltke denied most
solemnly that the act was intended by the
German artillerists, and with a certain
grim humor concluded by expressing
hope that shortly the occurrences COM
planned of would be altogether avoided, as
the German batteries would be advanced
nearer to the town and it would conse-
quently become possible to place their
shells more accurately.