The Washington times., 1914-09-04
THE SIEGE OF PARIS.

members of the national Legislature
and large share of the high officer
Cf administration, have abandoped
the ancien. capital and gone once
more to Bordeaux as the capital ad
interim. The siege of Paris may be
said to have begun. Siege has heer
proclaimed in the city, the govern,
ment has officially withdrawn from
it. The military forces are still
there, and it is ye; the base Of
French operations in northern
France, as well as the objective OF
+ the German invasion.
But enough has been accomplished
by the allies to make certain tina,
the investment of Paris-whick has
not by any means been accomplished
and even the loss of the city, can
not be the decision of the war in
the west. In such a time, Paris is
not France.
The allied armies have achieved
wonderfully successful withdrawal
in the face of overwhelming odds.
There cannot but be disappointment,
possibly alarm, among the military
directors of Germany, at the failure
to win a great, decisive victory.
Paris is now a reinforcement 10
the allies arms. They will fight
under cover of the most powerful
Notifications in the world. That
they can cut it off and literally
starve it into submission as they did
in 1901 is believed by few mill
tary authorities. Consider the task
which confronts the Germans when
they are before Paris.
The outer ring of The city's forti-
fcations extends about seventy-five
miles. The Germans must occupy a
yet wider range, at least 100 miles
in length. Inside the fortifications,
a maximum of 100000 soldiers can
man the Notifications and hold at
bay vastly superior army. Out
side, because of their longer line,
the Germans must be stretched out
in thinner force. The army of the
allies has no mind for being shut
up, rs a whole, inside the city. 1t
will be drawn away probably to the
south, consolidated, and held ready
to hurl itself against whatever weak
spot may develop in the German en-
circling force.
The Notifications of Paris consist,
at the outer circle-which by the
way is not a circle at all. but very
irregular disposition of works in
tended to take advantage of the nat
ural strength and to strengthen the
natural weaknesses of the position
of a series of great forts. Concrete
has been used in immense quanti-
ties; very often REINFORCED con-
crete. Armored turrets not unlike
those Of battleships, are employed.
Huge guns are so emplaced that
they disappear after firing, the
shock of -he reccil carrying them
backward and downward to regions
of comparative safety. These forts
are connected by network of mill
tary railroad lines, largely operating
through tunnels, so that ammunition,
pro. isions, and re-enforcemCnts may
be hurried from one point to another.
In recent wears, with the develop
ment of aircraft, especial effort has
heen made 10 conceal these works.
Little and big reservations, careful
ly fenced in and patrc!ed even in
times of peace, have often been noted
by travellers, who frequently do not
have their interest aroused to the
extent of asking why these parks
should be closed The explanation
is that these reservations contain
Notifications, mainly underground,
or concealed by shrubbery and hill
ocks. Such a reservation means that
a part of .he fortifcation system is
being guarded against ohserl alton.
1t is said that in order to guard
against the marvelouSly efficient
spying and intelligence syster! of
the Germans, the French have adopt
ed a plan by which no French officer
is permitted to know the whole
scheme of the Paris works. Only
The general staff understands all the
sections. An important officer, even
in command in one section. may be
kept ignorant Of details at other
POINTS.
Between these various fortitca-
tions are vide areas seemingly un-
protected. There is 70 thought. in
modern fortifiration of a ci,y, of
completely encircling the place. The
walls Of the ancient and medieval
cities arc unnecessary, and would be
impossible, because to build them
strong enough to be Of real use
against modern artillery would en-
tail an expense that would bank