The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-09-04
DEFENSES OF PARIS
TRIPLE LINE OF FORTIFICA.
TIONS AMONG THE STRONG
EST In THE WORLD.

Washington, Sept. 4.-The FORTH
cations of Paris and their ability to
resist a siege are receiving the close
of military observers, nov
that Paris is the announced objective
point of the German forces. and the
French ministry of war has adopted
urgent means of strengthening the
city's defenses to the utmost.
While the details of the defense 3
of Paris are surrounded with strict
secrecy by the French military au
thorities. yet their general character
and formidable strength are we'll
known to military experts, who rec
ognize them as among the strongest
Notifications in the world.
They consist of three distinct cir
cles sweeping around the city: First.
the solid wall of masonry, IS feet
high, extending for twenty-five miles
around the old sections of Paris /,
second, the system of seventeen de
tached forts arranged at intervals,
two miles beyond the wall, and max
ing a circuit of the city thirty-four
miles in extent, and, third, an outer
girdle of forts. seventy-fiye miles In
circuit. on the heights commanding
the valley of the Seine.
Each of these circles Of masonry
and steel is a complete defense in 1t
self. the forts being linked together
with redoubts, bastion and glaci'
which permit a cross fire against ap
preach from any direction. The mag
nitude of the system is shown by it,
area, which Is 400 square miles.
The wall around Paris and the
seventeen detached forts two miles
beyond 1t were built by Louis Phil
ippe. They sustained the German
siege of 1S70-71, and the outer forts
have since been greatly strengthened
The third line of forts, on the hill!
OF st. German, Cormilies and VII
liers, are of modern construction
with the latest types of batteries and
heavy guns.
The inner wall about Paris sur
rounds the best known and most i'm
portant sections of the city. including
the business sections along the CRANE
~boulevards, the residence sections on
the north and west of the city. anC
the Latin quarter and other sections
of the left bank of the Seine. Out.
side Of the wall a circle of suburb:
extends fSr many miles, including
Neuilly, Argentull. Versailles, Vim.
cennes and many others. The forts
OF the second and third line of de
lenses are dotted among these su.
burbs. protecting them and the ap-
proaches to the capital. The wal
contains n~inety-three bastions and
sixty-seven gates. Some of these
have been abandoned, owing TO the
pressure of modern construction and
trade. But recent advices received
here from Paris say that all the gates
still existing are now closed at 8 p
m, with rigid regulations against
movements from within or without
The second line of forts includes
the famous fortress of Mont Valerien
which was the center of attack In the
German siege of 1S70.- 1t is strength.
ened by two groups of works-Pautes
Bruveres and the Chatillon fort and
batteries. South of the city is tho
row of forts at Ivry. Bicetre. Mont
Rouge, Vanves and Issy; north and
east Of the city are three great forts
around st. Denis, and two others al
Fort Aubervillers and Fort Charen.
ton. commanding the approaches from
the great wood of Bondy.
The outer circle of forts, which are
OF the most modern type. have from
twenty-four to sixty heavy guns and
600 to 1900 men each.
In all, the three lines of defenses
require 100000 men to operate them
not counting troops assembled within
the city. According to military ex
perts, II would require a force Of
SOC. 900 men to invest these defenses