The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-13
The Siege of Paris.

The Siege of Paris.
 When Paris learned the stunning news he empire at end. A republic was decl red and preparations made to defend the city. The French spirit aroused, and in spite of the humili. ation of successive defeats in the past two months it continued with a much smaller .orce to resist the German advance Paris. The capital was in- vested by the German army Sept 19, and until the last of January the garrison made heroic defense
 The seat of government Lad been transferred to Tours and Bordeaux, nd the depleted nation raised armies in the provinces and continued resistance to the invaders. After holding out to the end of Oc- tober Metz surrendered and by this and the fall or Strassburg almost 100000 ,renehmen became pris- of These events sealed the fate of the capital, and it settled down to resist long a. it's supplies lasted At the point of starvation it gave up Jan 2S. Peace concluded at Versailles, and the vanquished nation promised to pay Germany S1,000000,00o in three years, support the German army until it withdrawn, and rive up Alsace and part of Lorraine.
 Another humiliation imposed by Bismarck upon the beaten country his choice of Versailles as the place at which to seal German unity The South German states were taken into the confederation and the German empire established with Will liam I. as German emperor. This took place Jan 1S 1871.
 But Frances troubles were not over If she had passed through Gethsemane, Golgotha yet awaited her. The assembly under the proclaimed republic controlled by monarchists. There were pre- tenders to the throne and the popuace feared that they were to have another bitter dose of Bourbon ism. The paralysis of trade, the starvation of the populace, and the proposed removal of the govern ment to Versailles led to the organization of the Commune the product of combined sentiment among the republicans and Socialists, largely in tho as cendant politically. With them was the national guard
 In fear of an insurrection, the government with drew and the commune took charge of the city council chosen, and the radical element came to the front clash occurred with the assembly at Versailles, and several men were shot The fight was between the Commune and the assembly, The latter, strengthened by soldiers released from Germany. proceeded to invest Paris. It was not for fortynine days that the besiegers were able to break down the defense. Street battles followed, and the city was set on fire by carrying cans filled with coal oil Anarchy reigned everywhere. Public buildings were destroyed and art treasures ruined
 The Commune had all this time held number of prominent persons as prisoners These were exc cuted when it that the city would fall to the assembly forces. It appeared as though the revolution was come again. Seventeen thousand are said to have perished. Later there were trials and many thousand persons punished The republic finally established with Adolphe Thisrs as prep- ident, and the country painfully began to rscouD from its terrible experience.
 France Makes Quick Payment.
 Dr. xh> was reduced about 2,1O0.000 To the anassment q the world, but of Germany especially. the enormeun war debt paid befors was due % wondsefal was the recuperative power of Fr.ncs and ths inv dustry and thrift of in peopla BuEnen hseaa . regain it's normal activity, finance was put a . sound basis, end the army was thoeoushly yeog- sanized. The year q ths Fzanco- Prussian VT ahs