The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-21
sTRAsBOURG IND PARIS.
A German Military Writer on their
Powers Of Resistance.

The following extract from letter of the
well-known military writer, Julius Won Wick
EIDE. has special interest in connection with
the news from Strasbourg and Paris:
We are now besIeging and bombardng
Ssrasbourg and Metz. beyond all doubt the
two strongest fortresses Of France These i'm
mense strongholds have menaced the peace
and security of Germany, particularly the
former, and 1t is therefore deemed of the high
est importance that they should be- captured
and remain In our permanent possession. A.
fair number of heavy sege-guns have already
arrived before Strasbourg. The Prusslan
24-pounders are excellent and very efTec-
tive; they have wide range, and as soon
as the distance has been correctly ascertained
(which is generally the case after two or three
trial shots,j their fire Is as accurate and telling
as can be reasonably desired. In regard to
upon an immediate captulation. General
Uric, the commander of the fortress, was
formerly in the Imperial Guard, and is an
officer OF the highest military abnity-one who
will do his duty to the last, and without any
particular regard for the Inhabitants of the
CITY he is called upon to defend. became
personally acquainted with him at Varna, dur
Ing the Crlmean war, when we passed our les-
ure time in conversing about military matters,
&c
playipg q game of dominoes. / remember we'll
enough that we repeatedly touched on the posi-
bility of our confronting each other as enemies.
The brave general did not then imagine that the
strongest army which the Second Empire
could bring into the held would be repeatedly
beaten by us within fortnight, and that we
could 80 soon commence the siege of the two
most important French fortresses. The idea
that the Germans would carry the war into
the French territory seemed TOO preposterous
TO the French, who thought 1t an easy task to
drive the Prussians beyond the Rhine, and
never expected to meet any serious resistance
until thev would reach Mayence and Cobentz.
All their preparations show that this was their
preconceved plan.
BuL to return to the siege OF Stras5onrg.
Although the commander Is man OF undouDt-
ed talent, energy and bravery, and although
the garrison is composed o. select troops,
who will fight and defend the city 10 the last,
I do not believe this fortress will prove
another Sebastopo The numerous pupula-
tiOn of the city, amounting 70 more than s9.-
600 Inhabitants will be serious check 10 lhe
movers of resistance and endurance OIL the
garrison, and will necessitate speedler capt.
ilIation than could otherwise be anticipated.
II is more than probable that our rcpeaGeuiy
expressed opinion that large ana popuuious ppu
cities are not ct places LOT iorIresses N.Y. %ln uu
,cipal objection against them is the difficulty,
or rather impossibility. Of provisioning them
for long siege. OF What use are. the strong,
est walls and great number Of guns when
once famine, with It's appalling consequences,
spreads amoug.a population Of $4,000 souls
and how can the most energetic COMMANDER
prevent it, and protect his army against It's
ao,e1tInorallzlng influence? It is utterly lmpos-
we nave read many reports about the I'M
mense fortlncations around Paris, and had an
occasion to examine these strongholds few
years ago; and We readily confess that they are
iormidaole, and were 50 previous 10 the