Year: 1870

Tho siege Of Parls-Movements OF tho


Armies i'm France.


Our dispatches indicate that the Investment
OF Paris is completed The city is surrounded
by line of Prussians so closely that all
communication by railroad or telegraph is cut
off. No date of Paris appears in our
telegraphic columns at present, and may not
for some time. The beautiful capital of France
has drawn completely within herself to fight,
and perhaps to fall, alone and isolated. The
investment was not completed without severe
fighting and determined resistance on the part
of the French. Three divisions under General
Vinoy met the advance at a point between
Villeneuve and Montrouge, and fought them
obstinately, but to no avail. They were
driven back within the Notifications of Paris
with loss and the heights of Sceaux remained
In possession of the Prussians. According to
the despatch of the Crown Prince the in
west, to Vincennes, on the east, thus com
pletely closing all communication south. II
must not be inferred, however, from this that
the northern and western segments of the circle
are left unoccupied. The forces which came
in on the northern side of the city are
doubtless extended in thin line ON both
sides of the Seine on the north, far enough
to meet the other segment of which the Crown
Prince speaks. The line is evidently slim
one for it cannot be the intention of the
Prussian King to attack from the north at all,
as the fortresses about st. Denis and Mont
martre are among the heaviest in the whole
circle. The strong line OF investment is south
and west Of the city, and the thin one on the
north serves mainly to close communication.
We may, therefore. look for the hottest work
about Fort Mont Valerien on the west, and
Forts d'Issy; d,Ivry and Montrouge on the
south. In fact, the dispatches yesterday show
that the frst weight Of the siege has been
thrown against these forts.


In the meantime the movement of the new
French levies In the south of France-the
Army of the Loire-are assuming practical
importance. The Crown Prince has been epe-
rating along the line of the Orleans Railway,
with the view, probably, of striking short
and decisive blow against the force thus
threatening the rear of the whole Prussian
army. Some severe fighting has undoubtedly
already taken place; but the reports concern
ing the result of this fighting are unfortunately
so contradictory that we cannot safely venture
on any opinion as to the upshot of the move
ment One despatch states that the Prussians
had been repulsed with loss and driven back
upon Pithiviers and Malesherbes, and another
that they they had been defeated on the
plains Of Meudon and at Sevres, while
yet another despatch says it is rumored that
the Prussians are in Orleans. These de-
spatches, contradictory as they are, indicate
that the army of Southern France is in motion,
intent on the relief of Paris; but what success
they can hope for, unframed peasantry as
they are, against the trained veterans Of the
Crown Prince, is a problem that we must look
to future dispatches to solve. Another move
ment for the relief of Paris is noted at Lille.
near the Belgian border, where troops and vol
unteers have organized and are almost ready
for the field. The government at Tours has
ordered all these troops to converge upon
Paris and if the gallant defenders of the city
are vigilant and stubborn and the armies of
elief are well managed King Williams wish
to dictate terms of peace from the Tuileries
may yet be thwarted.