The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-06

not all Oi L!leln Wllloul 5uCCesa' tMo
spies were captured here close to this
hotel last night, and am told that as many as
eight or ten have been caught all together.
suppose we must allow for a few escaped who
have returned to tell oil that is to be told, but
their story. if duly veracous, is not likely to
encourage an attack. There is not anything
here but "nakedness in the land to spy ont" at
least in the way OF men and artillery, and Stras-
bOurg Is so strong place that Its inhabitants
may be believed when they profess themselves
perfectly comfortable no matter how large
a Prussian force may centre upon this point
The French soldiers on the bank INDUCED IN
much ironIcal sschaG" at the notion of the ofh-
GERS opposite, being at the trouble to make
plans, and expressed regret that they could
not invite them to cross the Rhine and recon-
noitre more conveniently and efectually on
this side. All intercourse between the two
countries is suspended, except when few
emigrants from either camp are nuddled
across the river in boats, somewhat iSno-
miniously, with their luggage and household
goods.
The railway bridge has been rendered i'm
passable by removing sort Of drawbridge on
the French side. soldier told me that on
the Baden side this arrangement could not be
made. and 80 their share of the bridge was
already mined. to be blown up If necessary al
a moments notice. railway bridge mined
is certainly an apt emblem OF what war means
In our stage OF civilization. It may seem. per-
haps, childish to talk of the ruin inflicted on q
few obscure villagers in the face OF the misery
that is shortly to be sufered-is, In fact, al
ready being sufered-by thousands all over
Europe in consequence Of this terrible war.
But here In Strasbourg I am naturally most
Impressed by what Strasbourg does and
thinks, and this sudden Interruption OF inter-
course between the two banks Of the Rhine
means starvation, or something very like
ho,t q hor
made living by. bringing provisions into
the town. We are, as IL were, in q state OF
siege. AT every night the bells ring out a
warning that in an hour the gates OF the town
are to be closed, and if after that time any un-
lucky lolterer wants to come In or go out he
may knock and knock In vain. The warning
is now understood, bnt when the gates were
first thus closed, on Friday night, i oeneve, a a
host of country folks found themselves smut
up inside Strasbourg, and, worse fate, q most
Of town folks found themselves shut out. All
access to the ramparts Is also now strictly for-
hidden by day as well as by night, In conse-
quence Of spies having been detected upon
them making plans. The French troops here
are, as need scarcely tell you, In the Widest
state of excitement and delight
Partant Pour LIN Frontiere.
Metz Correspondence London Tlmes.I
The train from Strasbourg was filed to over
flowing with what at first took, from their
raw and boyish appearance, to be conscripts,
fresh caught, and found afterwards that they
belonged to the reserve force. They were
nearly all in blouses, and looked as If they had
lust been taken from their work In the fields,
as dare say many OF them had. One young
passenger, a large employer OF LABOR,
was bitterly deplorlng the sudden seizure OF
some specially fine young fellows who had
Just ueen taken from him, and whose assls-
tance would be cruelty missed by their parents,
but he admitted that they were themselves
perfectly willing TO so, and In the highest
Spirits at the prospect of being wanted to
fight. On this point, indeed, there was not
much room for doubt. The enthusiasm may TO
certain extent have been artificial, as
many good citizens think they cannot
better Show their patriotic devotion to ''lG
patrie" than by taking opportunity OF
making her brave defenders drink. but at
the bottom 1t was thoroughly genuine. and our
Journey was q perpetual ovation me
blouses did nothing but shout anti-Prussian
war cries and songs, nearly all in German, anu
whenever we stopped at station we ionnd
that all the villagers in the neighborlood had
turned out to welcome the force, and the
cheering and roaring became positively ter
rife, the cries of ~ 6dS Ia Prusse - "a BeT
lin ~ enough to make NJ. Bismarck himself
tremble. Occasionally some one Of the nu-
merous trains passing, also full OF troops,
change Of huggings and greetings became a.
most dangerous, and / half expected 10 have
one of the trains pulled over with crash upon
the other, as the warriors cluD2 together and
tugged at each others hands. The day before
one Door young fellow had his visions OF glory
and marshal's baton suddenly put an end to
by getting his arm caught in the opposite train
and wrenched of, as he was ndnlging In these
dangerous greetings.
N ov.A 1,a
Correspondence London News.l
The garrison of Strasbourg seems to consist
of about GO00 men, but there IS a camp without
the walls which may hold 10000 more. The
original troops belonging 70 Strasbourg have
been removed northwarlls, probably towards
Metz or Phalsburg. OF those coming from
Lyons and the south a large force are now In
camp, but some Of these have, believe, also
taken rail- for the north. The camp. formed
on a large plain where the artillery are , IN inc
habit of carrying on their practice, and called,
as such places are usually on the Continent,
the Polygon. Nothing but tentes d'abri are to
be seen here.
Every French soldier carries piece of can
vas about five feet long by four broad. and
stick; when two OF these pieces OF canvas are
Joined together, they form shelter; when siN
are built up they constitute tent closed at
both ends. The French soldier Is thus, for his
house accommodation, independent of bag
gage animals or these, there seem to be
Scarcely any with the troops assembled here:
they are probably to find them elsewhere.
The tents are pitched in the loosest order i'm
aginable, and although at Cha!ons was oiten
struck By the rapid manner In which tents
were raised, here the men seem out OF prac-
tice. and one party were more than liteen
minutes in raising shelter. Their cooking
was conducted with Spartan simplicity.
scratch not six inches deep was made in the
ground, on each side were laid few stones or
bricks, the kettles or cooking.pots placed over
this, and the fuel put into the scratch: The
horses for the artillery were tethered by the
head. do not wish TO give the number OF their
runs, but 1t can do no harm to say that nall
OF those / saw were short rifed hoWitZers,
such as had never before seen with French
troops. On the whole, l should consider that
q soldier coming from Aldershot would chiefly
remark what number of things at that place
considered necessary might be dispensed with.
Everything was simple and practicable, but
the cooking arrangements and the tent ac-
commodation we're much below those of our
service. The personal equipment or dress or
the soldier cannot be too much commended.
He is now to be seen always in his greatcoat,
which, being loose, keens stratum OF air be-
tween the mans body and his clothing, and Is
as cool in summer and warm in winter as any
garment am acquainted with. The kept is q
Comfortable head-dress, lighter than our shake.
and more of protection than Our cap. The
water bottle. metal covered With cloth, is
much superior to ours.
Strasbonrs is fortified on an old.fash!oned
plan. with antiQuated Oastions and raVelins.
its chief defence seems to consist IN It's wet,