The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-02 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER -2, :870.

THE WAR.

AFFAIRS IN PARIS.
WEDNESDAY.

To-day's sitting of the Chamber has opened with an
exciting episode. M. Keller said that he bad received
some statements of the condition of affairs at Strasbourg.
The details were both glorious and sad. A quarter of the
town had been burned, and the Cathedral and hospital
were destroyed. The Bishop of Strasbourg had re-
quested the cessation of the bombardmenf, but he was
informed that there was no time to make a siege. The
Germans expect to conquer the population through fear.
French peasants are compelled to work in the trenches
and were thus exposed to the French fire. M. Keller
added that such conduct had roused the indignation of
all Europe. Strasburg had'deserved well of the country
and desired to remain as a French town. The depart-
meat of the Lower Rhine was:ransacked, not only by
Prussian troops but by Baden peasants, who were un-
armed. This could only ,occur because the authorities
had refused arms to the French people. These unarmed
; populations were deserted by those who should have be en
their support. At Colmar the municipal authorities had
destroyed a great deal of powder by throwing it in the
water. In other places they arrested citizens who were
fighting, and refused to furnish means of!transport to old
1 soldiers who wished to rejoin their regiments.

This dismal newsifilled the Chamber with the utmost
indignation. There were great murmurs of horror when M.
Keller announced-that the Germans hoped to murder the
people into subjection, and long and loud were the cries
when he added that the inhabitants had been driven into the
sewers for shelter. The Chamber rose in honour of the
brave Strasbourg people who thus preferred death to the
triumph of the foe. But the talk about arming the people
gave rise to the old tumult. The Left applauded the
speaker and denounced the Government ; the Right inter-
rupted M. Keller an 4 denounced the Left. " It is treason,"
cried the Republicans, when M. Keller said that the depre-
dations of the Baden peasants were due to the neglect (or
designed refusal) of the Ministry to supply weapons ; but the
Right ferociously came to the rescue of its leaders. It is
the old difficulty. The Government will not arm the
people. No matter what may befall the country, it will
not take a step which may lead to its own overthrow.
The easy progress of the Germans is in great part to be
attributed to the determination of the powers that be
to trust to no armed men except those in the regular
army. _ _ _

The expulsion of foreigners from Paris has become
a serious reality. They are departing in crowds. The
following notice has been issued :—" The foreigners who
are directed by the recent decree of the Governor of Paris
to leave the capital, and who consider themselves included
in the favourable exceptions made by the said decree,
are informed that by appointment of the Governor of
Paris the Prefect of Police is commissioned to decide upon
their claims. Each claimant must therefore present himself
at the Prgecture of Police, furnished with a written
demand, in which is stated his name and Christian name,
his age, his nationality, his profession, the time of his
sojourn in France, and all the circumstances which would
justify the ssue of a special and exceptional permission to
remain. This claim must be supported by the written
declaration of well-known persons who will be guarantees
for the claimant."

The Prefect of Police has addressed a circular to the
Commissaries desiring them to see that the decree is
strictly enforced in their several districts, and desiring
them to scrutinise most rigidly the antecedents and posi-
tion of any foreigner who claims to be exempted from it,
and of his sureties, making immediately a special report
on the subject.
Still there is no news, though all Paris is on the tip-toe
of expectation. There are rumours of battles, but that
audacious paper, the Pairie, says that the march of Mac-
Mahon upon Meta is going on with the most perfeet
safety, conditions so favourable, in fact, that we may soon
hear of complete success !