The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-25
STRASBOURG.
The Imperial Headquarters-The City and Its
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Attempt upon the
town In 1876.

tificntions-Napoleon's Attempt upon the
town In 1886.
Napoleon has made his farewell speech, but
the latest dispatches say that his departure for
the front has been delayed few days. The au-
thorities at Strasbourg, however, are busy pre-
pairing quarters for him and his staff, in view of
that city being made the headquarters of the
army during the early stages of the war.
The City of strasbourR,
in German spelled Strasburg or Strassburg, is
strongly fortified city of France on its extreme
eastern frontier, and is situated on the west
bank of the river Ill, about mile from the left
bank of the Rhine, to which its glacis extends.
1t is $50 miles east by south from Paris and is
the capital of the French Department of Bas-
Rhin. 1t has a population of about 10000,
chiefly of German descent, but who are said to
speak both French and German with equal diff
Guilty and defect.
The city is supposed to have been founded by
the Romans, under the name of Argentoratum,
as a barrier against the incursions of the Ger
mans. They ultimately made themselves mas
tiers of the place, however, and retained posses
sion until they were driven back across the
Rhine by Clovis. In the sixth century the
ancient name was changed for that of Stras-
bourg. In the early part of the tenth century
the city passed under the dominion of the Ger
man Emperors, becoming free city and being
governed as a republic. After the Reformation
it became Protestant, and remained such until
1851, when it was seized by Louis XIV and
annexed to France. Nearly two centuries have
elapsed since then, but tstil retains, in appear
ance, people, and language, the general charac-
terstics of a German town. The cable tele-
grams however, represent that the people are
so enthusiastic in their support of Napoleon at
present as to offer up prayers daily for the sue
cess of the French arms, the churches being
crowded with woman on these occasions.
The river Ill flows through part of the town
in a northeast direction, has many branches,
and is crossed by several wooden bridges. The
streets generally are narrow and crooked,
but the principal thoroughfares are broad and
attractive and there are several fine squares.
The houses are lofty, we'll built, and have steep
roofs. There are in the city large number of
prominent public buildings, including fifteen
churches. The largest of these the Cathedral, is
considered one of the finest Gothic structures
in Europe. Originally founded in 5O4, it was
almost entirely destroyed by lightning
in 1907. The present building was COM
menced in 1915, but was not completed
until 1439 The principal dimensions
of the Cathedral are:-Extreme length 357 feet;
height of ceiling, 70 feet; length of transept,
140 feet, and breadth of the nave, 35 feet. The
west front, which is richly decorated with
sculptures statues, and bas-reliefs, and contains
a circular window 4S feet in diameter rises to
the height of 230 feet. Far above this, however,
towers the spire, the loftiest in the world, to q
height OF 466 feet. From the peculiar location
of the town, q splendid view of the country for
miles around is afforded by an ascent to the top,
this grand panorama being one of the chief
attractions of the city to the tourist. The au-
thorities few days ago put temporary stop to
all ascents of the spire by strangers, as the
movements of the two hostile armies can be
seen from its summit.
The Fortifcations OF StrasbOurg
are of a formidable character, having been
greatly improved under the supervision of Vau-
ban. Improvements have been going on for
many years, and important additions are still in
progress. The fortified city is of triangular
form, enclosed by Fashioned ramparts, strength
ened by numerous outworks, and entered by
seven gates. At its eastern extremity is strong
pentagonal citadel, built by Vauban. The city
stands upon level ground, and is nearly six
miles in circuit. Numerous outworks and de-
tached forts, large and small, finished and un-
finished, add to its strength, and in connection
with the citadel on the eastern side contribute
SO much support to the main works as to render
the fortress almost equal to that of Metz. The
Fashioned wall is surrounded by moat filled
with water and by means of numerous sluices
! the whole surrounding country may be over
flowed. The defenses of the city depend greatly
! upon these aqueous appliances; but special
despatch TO the London Daily Nelos, dated the
21st inst, stated that the water was then so low
as to materially weaken the Notifications. Al
the latest accounts there were 5000 soldiers gar
risoned in the city, and 10000 in camp in the
immediate neighborhood.
Further up the Ill lie the large towns o
Schlettstadt and Colmar, the former being forti
fed by Fashioned work, with ravelns and we
bitches. 1t secures the important communica
tions by rail and otherwise, along the plain ant
over the mountains.
The German Town of Kehl
is located on the right bank of the Rhine, di
rectly opposite Strasbourg and near the mouth
of the Kinzig, in Baden. The place is insigni
flcant, except in military way its population
being less than 1900 1t was fortified by Vau
ban, and was formerly a German bulwarl
against France, but its fortifcations have beer
dismantled 1t communicates by o short brancl
railway with the Basel and Baden Railway, ant
is consequently readily accessible to the Prus
sian troops. Kehl has long been connectet
with Strasbourg by bridge of boats across
the Rhine, strongly fortified on the French side
Late on Friday afternoon the Prussians blew vi