THE CAPTURE OF MALAKOFF.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1553, 9 May 1887, Page 2

THE CAPTURE OF MALAKOFF.

(FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT.) ' In the "Journal dea Gonoourt, Me'aaoires de la Fie Lltte*raire," just now issuing from the preep, occura a paragraph concerning the capture of Sebastopol. The account given by the Gancourt, and confirmed by a note communicated by a German diplomatist, deprives General Polisfer of the credit cf the idea' of storaing Malakoff, and gives it to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the war the Prussian Military Attache* at St. Petersburg sent regularly the secre*; da ails and plans of the campaign through M.M. de Gerlaoh and Niebuhr to King William. In order to c intend against the influence of the Russian party at the Court of Berlin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. de Manteuffel, organised a secret service, by means of which be got copies of the letters addressed to Gerlaok and Niebuhr. On the other hand, the French Government suborned M. de Manteuffel s secret device, and so the Emperor Napoleon obtained oomrauoioation of the tell-tale letters, one of which indicated Malakoff as the weak point. The Emperor immediately ordered Pelissier to attaok at this point, without being able to tell him on what ground he based his certainty of success. Pelissier, remembering the d'sastrous attempt of Jaly 18, refused. Napoleon insisted. Pelisßier again refused Telegram followed telegram until Peliasier cut the wires. Finally General Vaillant was aent with formal orders and indications, end the Malakoff was stormed These letters cost (he French Ministry of Foreign Affairs 60,000fr— a mere trifle. The " Journal de Goncourt" is not, however, rich m historical relations. As its title cajs, it i 3 a journal of the literary life of two brothers, Edward and Julas de Goncourt — a mental autobiography varied with notes, anecdotes, and portralto of men and women celebrated m art and letters since 1851, the year when the brothers began to keep their diary.