The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-31 00:00:00

THE SIEGE OF STRASBURG.

Dreadful, indeed, must be the condition of the non-
military inhabitants of Strasburg, whose sufferings are
nowhere more earnestly compassionated than in the
ranks of the armies compelled to inflict them. Dozens
of times Prussian officers and soldiers have expressed
themselves to me in terms of heartfelt sympathy
for these poor people, who, besides the perils
I they are personally subjected to at every minute, are
compelled to support a surplus population of some ten
thousand men, women, and children—deluded refugees
from imagined Prussian brutality—who hare placed them-
selves in a position a thousand times more dan-
gerous and distressing than if they had retreated
from their desecrated homes to a post of safety
behind the German lines. From ' townspeople who
have managed to reach our quarters during the
night, we hear that these fugitives are enduring hardships
of the most grievous character, and that the citizens are
well-nigh driven to desperation by the severity of the
trials they are called upon to undergo. Think of seventy
or eighty thousand peaceable souls, altogether inno-
cent of participation in the crime which is being
visited upon them, hating war, and loving busi-
ness—essentially a commercial, quiet population—
shut up in a town that is being burnt about their
heads from day to day. Think of the refugee
peasants, houseless and without shelter, sleeping in the
streets under a rain of fire, and conscious that their
granges, farmhouses, and barns are being consumed within
a few hundred yards of the walls in which they are im-
prisoned ! The attack cannot last long without resulting
in the total annihilation of Strasburg. The garrison's
weakness is more clearly apparent every day. To-morrow
will be ushered in by the placing of some forty more pieces
in position. Heaven help the unhappy creatures inside
the French lines !—Correspondent of the Telegra" Aug. 25
Every effort is now being made to push forward the
siege with' the vigour necessary to ensure success.
The troops work heartily, being anxious to end a
piece of work which interferes with their chance of
reaping laurels in the field. The progress made is
very considerable. The occupation of a railway sta-

tion within fire of the walls was a feat which re-
flected credit on those who performed it. On the other
side, nothing of note has been accomplished since
the ineffectual sally made by a portion of the garrison.
By bombarding Kehl the defenders of Strasburg have con-
tributed to increase indignation which was aroused when
the tidings came that the retreating French had set fire to
Saarbruck. Kehl is an open town, and ought to have
been spared. If the Germans should take reprisals for
these acts of barbarity the provocation they have
received will be their excuse. They are patient and
magnanimous, but they are human also, and they
cannot be severely blamed if they retaliate when the
opportunity offers. When the Prussians occupied Paris
after Waterloo they were guilty of some acts of Vandalism
and of some deeds of cruelty. The French have not
forgotten these things. Unfortunately, however,
they have failed to remember the inflictions of
which Prussia was the victim when the Conqueror
of Jena became the Dictator of Germany. It would
appear as if history were to repeat itself in this
particular as in others. Should the French have cause to
complain hereafter of the way in which the victorious foe
uses his superiority, the conduct of the French them-
selves at the beginning of the war will have been the
original source of the deplorable consequences. The
Germans are certainly becoming exasperated at the
manner in which their adversaries carry on the war. It
would be well for all parties if the rules which civilised
belligerents have generally observed were more uniformly
respected by the French. A story is told which, if true,
will do much to embitter the contest. Following the
advice of their priests, some Lorraine peasants have cap-
tured and killed isolated Gernian soldiers. The result has
been that the culprits being detected, they have been
tried by court-martial and shot.—Correspondent of the
Daily News.