THE DEFENCE OF PARIS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 731, 1 November 1870, Page 2

THE DEFENCE OF PARIS.

(From the Morning Post, August 12.) The complete state of defence in which, in view of the worst happening, Paris is being placed, seems to give the assurance that be the result of the coming battle what it may, the war willbe maintained. Paris being an open town in IS 14, caused the abdication of the first Napoleon. Had the city been then fortified, the whole aspect of affairs might have assumed a very different aspect. Colonel Ilamley, in his work on tlio operations v£ war, shows capital. He says " the defence of the capital by forlifications is a measure of incalculable advantage. ■ The fortifications of Paris,' says Marmont, 'assure more powerfully the .independence of Prance against the attacks of all Europe than the acquisition of many provinces which would only so much the more extend the frontier.' The student of the campaign of 1814 will perceive what vast additional powers of manoeuvring Napoleon would have gained had Paris been secure from assault. No longer recalled by the fears of the people or by political exigencies to interfere for its defence all his strokes would have been delivered in the most decisive way, and the nearer the allied aimies approached the capital the more imminent would be the risk they ran of fatal disaster." Paris is now a vast fortress and entrenched camp. It is thoroughly garrisoned, and nothing short of a regular siege could be expected to place it in foreign possession. Seeing that Paris is politically much more the heart of France than" is the capital of any other country, the importance of its safety is manifest. While Paris is intact Franco is unconquered. To capture Paris would be a work of time. But time is precisely what the Prussians can least afford. That which they are to do they must do quicklv. A long series of operations in the middle of France would be fatal to their arrangements or their organisation. Come what may, then, immediately, tenacity of purpose, unflinching resolve, and renewed efforts would be the wisest as well as the most dignified course for the French nation to pursue. They ought to be able to wear their antagonists down, even if they find themselves unable to drive them off their soil at the outset of the war. !

Tbe "Pall Mali Gazette's" corres pondent writes: —

M. le Barou de Chabaud Latour, who is 1869 resigned the presidency of the Committee of Fortifications, in consequence of having passed the limit of age, is recalled to this post, and the defences of Paris are to be immediately placed in a state of efficiency. The fortified line of the city is twenty-six leagues in circumference; the forts which defend it are divided in such a manner as to prevent any approach to it. Twelve hundred thousand men would be required to invest the place ; and as Paris always has provisions for two months besides stores in reserve, if the Prussians succeed in invading the precincts of Paris, they would have to employ four armies of 300,000 men each, and wait sixty days without disturbing the regularity of Parisian meals. The fortified enclosure is to be completed by replacing the forty or fifty open spaces left for free circulation in time of peace, by portcullises, which are all ready in the warehouse.