New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-09-15
THE SIEGE OF STRASBOURG.
HORRORS OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN THE
FRENCH CHAMBERS.


IRON OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
PARIS Sept I. - In the absence of positive
news concerning the movements OF the contendng
forces the OF the hour has been created by the
accounts of the bombardment Of Strasbourg, given
Yesterday by NJ Keller in the Corps Legislatif. The
facts are already known and NJ Keers purpose TO
obtain their condemnation at the hands Of the Assembly
The Governor of strasbourg declares that he will rather
blow the whole place up than surrender it, The Bishop,
anxious to lfe sought interview with the com
mander of the besiegAg forces. BadOs, Lieut.-Col
LeszinsH and submitted to him that the b0mbardment
contrary to the usages of This allegation hay-
ing been denied he asked permission for the inhabitants
to leave the city. This request rejected He next
solicited armistce Of "a hours which granted, on
condition that within hour the Governor of Stras-
bourg should offer terms Of negotiation This the Cover
would not consent to do and the bombardmen; was
resumed NJ Keller read the following passages from
letter he had received in the morning:
"We shall soon be here nothing but heap OF ruins
For eight days now we nave peeH fonTt6 pa Of the
city is already burnt. The point aimed at Is tne cathe
stroyed. The platform has longer any balustrade,
and the spire is seriously damaged The new temple anu
the library only heap of ashes Even the hospital
speak OF the suburbs they are nearly destroyed The
population is reduced to hiding away in the sewers OF
the city. What here declare IS the simple, unexag
gerated truth. The Bishop endeayored to obtain ces
quarters The answer was that there was time TO
besege the city FORM and that they would force it to
surrender from terror The Bishop then asked leave for
the women and children to quit This request was re-
fused strasbourg has classmates for the popuation
hence the city must surrender to prevent the whole OF
the inhabitants from butchery. Not cannon has yet
been fired against the ramparts. The PTussians know
have no garrison for sallies.'
The honorable deputy was several times interrupted
by loud shouts Of indignation and cries of 1T Is afro
cious This is odious This is abonnabe :! NJ. Keller
cOntinued Thus gentlemen you see that 1t is against
the population that this bOmbardment is directed against
tn1 raf
uge while the the rampars and extinguish-
ing the fire. IdenOunc" = fects and hold them up to
the execration of civilized Europe have to add an
other mOnstrOsity greater still perhaps III Is thet the
enemy employs French peasants to construct the bat
teres and trenches around StasbOurg and thus our own
citizens are struck down by French buetscitizens who
could not obtain guns TO make war with our soldiers
This act on the part Of the Prussans s especially
denOunce to the indignation of Europe Well, do you
know what was the reply of the population af-
ter the step taken by the Bishop! Men, women,
children, all declared that they refused 10
Surrender, and would rather be buried alive I'M
der the ruins of the city. l demand a unanimous
vote of the Chambers that the heroic population OF
Srasbourg has deserved well of the country, and that
neyer-listen TO what say-never shall that city cease
TO be French" Amid burst of reclamation which was
several times renewed the entire House rose ana NJ
Schneider declared NJ. Kelers proposition carried unani
mOusly. The honorable Deputy then made another
statement to the effect That rowing Dands OF bauos
peasants and regular soldiers securing the depart
ment Of the Lower Rhine and the borders Of that of the
Upper Rhine laying every village hamlet and town under
contribution and that the Bados peasants who were thus
pagng the population had not even guns or UNIFORMS
but were merely armed with swords.
NJ Keller insisted energetically upon the culpable
course of the Government arming the populations
of Alsace and Lorraine and the other departments eH
posed TO these rruptions and the House visibly
in fay of "a submitted
the immediate appointment Of Commission TO hear tho
explanations OF the Government upon the position Of the
Department of the Upper Rhine, and that in conjunction
with one to be nominated by the Government and duly
invested with full powers 1t should forthwith Visit the
Departments OF the Upper and the Lower Rhine and
while encouraging the people to rise against thenvader
should seek the of alleviating their mseres The
propositon-the final consideration of which was taken
up in the evening sittngwas not adopted, the vote OF
urgency upon it having been rejected. The Minister Of
War declared that the Government had the matter
already under care and that these repeated attempts to
appoint Commissions Of this nature were so
many proofs of the desire Of their origina-
tors TO excite dstrust OF the Govern
ment which, however, would continue to do
ts duty irrespective OF these attacks The Minister also
announced he could affirm, upon the authority of the
Prssians themselves that since their entry into France
they had lost at least 10000 in the different battles
which have been delivered; and that the daily cost to
Prussia of the amounted to 2S0OO thalers, or TO-
5OOOOO francs As conclude all important battle
reaches NewYOrk by telegraph through London, from
Prussan sources, almost useless to record uno
fetal statements Notwithstanding that they are given In
the evening papers with affirmation Of their accuracy
We are informed by them that q serious engagement
has taken place between MacMahOn's troops and the
forces Of the Prince Royal which defeated aud cut
in two The Emperor present.