DR RUSSELL'S ESTIMATE OF THE STRENGTH OF PARIS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 778, 18 February 1871, Page 2

DR RUSSELL'S ESTIMATE OF THE STRENGTH OF PARIS.

In a letter, dated Headquarters, Versailles, October 12, Dr Russell, the special correspondent of the " Times," writes, regarding the difficulty of taking Paris:—"l give," he says, '-my own opinion quantum valeat, and that is Paris is not to be battered or reduced by violent siege processes very readily. The ground is generally unfavourable to parallel and sap, and even to the erection of effective breaching batteries. As far as I know, there are only two violent processes of siege by which regular fortresses can be taken—viz., annihilation by bombardment, which is difficult and tedious, and regular approaches, which, under certain conditions, are not more easy or rapid. Generally speaking, the site of the forts has been well selected. Some, indeed, are at present inaccessible, and some can never be affected except by the fall of all the rest. It may be as well to state that there is no truth in the report that the redoubt of Genevilliers is in Pruss : an hands or that the French have given up the work near Villejuif, or been driven out of it. There are, in fact, several positions which promise to be of serious incident in the siege, not included in the original design of the fortifieatious. Take an ordinary contoured map and you can see how the ground lies and how great a range will be required to reach the works, and long ranges in direct and horizontal fire means, pro tanto, loss of power. 1 dare not trust myself to speak of 'amelioration and improvements ' which have been introduced into war making. Ido not believe in them. Admit that there is more national aid given to the wounded, and larger philanthropy at work out of the field— contrast sacks and dragonnades with the present genteel practice of belligerency, and see if, in comparison with the progress and enlightenment of the age, war is not still, when the tinsel is off, a very homicidal, houseburuing, pillaging sort of business, in which it is frightful to be at the wrong side of the ledger.