  The amount of the extraordinary expenses of the Versailles was, at the rate of three millions of francs a day, 216 millions from the 18th March to the 28th May. The list of artillery implements removed from the arsenals of Douai, Lyon, BesanÇon, Toulon, and Cherbourg, and forwarded to Versailles from the 18th March to the 21st May, comprise— 80 cannons of 0.16m (6 in. 299/1000 diameter) from the War Arsenal 60 ” ” ” from the Marine Arsenal 10 ” of 0.22m (8 in. 661/1000 diameter) Marine. 110 Rifled long 24-pounders. 30 Rifled short 24-pounders. 80 Rifled siege 12-pounders. 3 Mortars of 0.32m (12 in. 598/1000 diameter). 15 Mortars of 0.27m (10 in. 629/1000 diameter). 15 Mortars of 0.22m (8 in. 661/1000 diameter). 40 Mortars of 0.15m (5 in. 905/1000 diameter). —— Total 393 artillery siege pieces. Ammunition received at Versailles— Shells of 0.16m (marine). . . . 73,000 ” 0.22m ” . . . . . 10,000 ” 0.24m (rifled). . . . 140,000 ” for 12-pounder (rifled) 80,000 Bombs of 0.32m . . . . . . . . 1,000 ” 0.27m . . . . . . . . 7,000 ” 0.22m . . . . . . . . 7,000 ” 0.15m . . . . . . . . 30,000 ——— Total 348,000 The stock of gunpowder amounted to 400 tons. Up to the 21st of May, the artillery received 20 tons a day, and on that day 50 tons were forwarded to the besieging army. Up to the 21st of May, the field ordnance consisted of— 36 batteries of 4-pounders. 18 ” 12-pounders. 4 ” 7-pounders (breech-loaders). 12 ” of mitrailleuses. — Total 70 batteries, 63 of which were provided with horses (7 being in store). The ammunition service consisted of— 80 tumbrels (calibre 12), each containing 54 charges. 30 ” (calibre 7), ” 90 ” 120 ” (calibre 4) ” 120 ” 55 ” of mitrailleuses ” 243 ” 5000 cases of ammunition (for calibre 12), containing 49,000 charges. 600 ” (for calibre 4), ” 12,000 ” 2000 ” (for calibre 7), ” 20,000 ” 1000 ” for mitrailleuses ” 30,000 ” 16 millions of Chassepot cartridges, and 2 millions of Remington cartridges. On the evening of the 23rd of May the army of Versailles expended— 26,000 discharges (calibre 0.16m), marine guns. 2000 ” ” 0.22m), ” 60,000 ” ” 0.24m), rifled guns. 30,000 ” ” 0.12m), rifled siege guns. 12,000 ” (calibre of 7), used as a siege gun. 150 bombs of 0.32m 360 ” 0.27m 2500 ” 0.22m 5500 ” 0.16m ———- Total 138,800 discharges of siege guns and mortars.—“Guerre des Communeux,” p. 321. The great feature of the second siege of Paris was the prudence exercised in manoeuvring the men so as to protect them from needless exposure, practical experience in German encounters having taught the line a severe lesson. From the report of Marshal MacMahon we learn that the lost amounted to 83 officers killed, and 430 wounded; 794 soldiers killed, and 6,024 wounded, and 183 missing in all. |
|
