Year: 1871




We have no faith that anything short of
miracle can save Paris from capture and the
French armies in the field from subsequent
dispersion but it is evident that the Germans
are not to attain final success without at least
one more desperate and doubtful struggle
with the Provinces. The two halves of the
Committee of National Defense, though work
ing under great disadvantages of cOmmunica-
ton, have at last attained something like con-
cert of action and are straining every nerve
in another-perhaps lst-desperate movement
to relieve Paris from the Provinces.


Gen. Faidherbe. in the North, is reported as
again in motion. We Judge this to mean that
be Is once more advancing from the position
to which the late victory of Manteuffel forced
him to retire, for his right wing, under Gen.
Roy, has gained some advantage, or at
least some ground south of Rouen. 1t Is
not probable, however, that Faidherbe,
With his 10000 men, can reach PariS
by driving Manteullel, but un lOubtedly he
can keep large force, nearly his own num-
bers, in fact, from strengthening the extended
lines about the Capital. Manteuffel is, doubt
less, strong enough to keep back any army
which the North can organize. He has the
best troops of Won Steinmetzs old command,
and the French opposed to him are among those
latcst equipped and most hurriedly put into
the field.


From the southwest the Army of Bordeaux
advances against Prince Frederick Charles and
the Meclllenburgers. As yet this army has not
reached or passed the Loire, and it must be
some days before it can be consolidated with
IN of Gen. Chauzy and advance to attack
the Germans, who remain about BlOis and
Vend6me Once united, these armies will un-
questionably exceed in numbers those of the
German Prince and Duke to which they will be
opposed, but in every other military aspect
the French will be far infer or to the Prus-
slams. Can they hope by overwhelming num-
bers to be more successful than PaladlneS
was with his 100000 against Won Der Tam
and his 25,OOC' The numbers now arrayed
do not bear a like dsproportiOn, though it is
possible that the combined forces Of the
French in the southeast will number twice as
many as those of Prince Frederick Charles
and the Duke Of Mecklenburg. That serious
engagements must ensue from this movement
is apparent and the result may be considered
as very doubtful indeed.


The movement of Bourbaki from the south
east against the scattered forces of Won Wer-
der engaged in half-tinshed sieges of strong
fortresses in the Vosges, il, we fancy, fraught
with more danger to the Germans than
either Of the immediate movements on Paris
uninterrupted success and the absence
of any formidable enemy in the east
have made the Germans there somewhat
less vigilant and careful than at other points
and the positions of Won Werder are not well
calculated for the defense of the German COM
munications, unless he becomes stronger by
the concentration which the retreat now max
ing will naturally produce. The Germans can
reinforce this army with greater facility
than any other, since it is nearer
the reserve camps beyond the Rhine,
but to what extent and with what character
of tros3s we have no means of knowing. Ger
many has certainly drawn already very largely
on her reierve force to keep up the gigantic
blows with which she began the demolition of
her enemy; but we do not imagine that she is
as nearly exhausted as reports would have us
believe, OF as much shattered as her foe.
Meantime, while tee Provinces thus advance
to the and of The Capital, its fOrcible reduction
has been begun and is continued with yigor.
An important Ortwork has been reduced, and
| from the position thus gained the lombard
ment Of Fortp Rosny and NOgent has COM
menced The lines of the Germans on the
east have been considerably advanced, and
the reduction of the main defenses is now a
work of real earnest.