An Ambuscade in the Franco-Prussian War. The autumn campaign of 1870 proved disastrous to France - everywhere the Prussians proved themselves victorious and the Battle of Sedan gave the final blow to the French Empire. During the early days of the siege there were a few skirmishes in the outlying districts of Paris; but these were the only military incidents of the first few months. The Prussians launched enormous shells; larger than any that had yet been known; into the city; on to the monuments which were the pride of civilisation; on to the hospitals and on to the schools; till at last the bombardment brought the siege to an end. Illustration for Hutchinson's History of the Nations (Hutchinson; c.1920).