Many pretend to distinguish, above the noise of the cannon of our forts and the Prussian batteries, the echoes of distant artillery, and rush off to announce to their friends that the army of succour has fallen on the besiegers from the rear.

In the meantime the bombardment of the forts and villages to the east of the city is continuing, and with that passion for system in everything which distinguishes the Germans, it is being methodized.

A fixed number of shells are fired off every minute, and at certain hours in the day there are long pauses.

What is happening in the forts is, of course, kept very secret.

The official bulletins say that no damage in them has yet been done.