The New York herald., 1870-09-07
strasbours as a German Fortress.

In view of the crushing victories Of Prussia
over France the fall of Strasbourg, heroically
defended as 1t still Is, seems to be inevitable.
Once within the grasp of Prussia this re-
nowned and 0rst class place de gUerre win not
readily be relinquished. Capital Of tho de-
partment of Rhin, and situated on the
rivers Bruche and nl-the latter being
the distance of about mile-Strasbourg, or
Strassburg, as its name must soon be spelt,
numbers nearly hundred thousand inhabit-
ants. The city was founded during the reign
Of Augustus, in order to defend the frontiers
Of the Roman conquests. Taken by the bar
bariaus and ravaged by Attlla 1t fell into the
hands Of the Francs in the sixth century.
After having been comprised In Austrasia It
became free city or republic, and remained
suoh until the end of the seventeenth century.
In 1851 Louis XIV. united 1t to France and
made it one Of the principal strongholds of his
kingdom. Although nearly two centuries
have since elapsed 1t still retains, in its aspect
and In the manners and language Of its In
habitants. the general characteristics Of
German town. It stands on level ground, Is
nearly six miles in circuit, and is surrounded
by wall, with bastions, bitches and out
works and strong citadel constructed BY
Vaubau. It is entered by seven gates LIS
arsenal is capable Of containing an enormous
amount Of war materials. 1t has q cannon
foundry and military hospital which can
accommodate eighteen hundred patients. Il
has also school Of artillery and eight bar
racks large enough to lodge ten thousand
soldiers. It boasts Of numerous edifces of great
architectural value.- Of these the chief attrac-
ton for tourists is the splendid cathedral In
the midst of the city. This historical monu-
ment was erected on the ruins of a church
founded by Clovis and reconstructed by Char
lemagne. Originally built In 504, II was
nearly destroyed by lightning in 1907. The
present building was begun In 10l5 and COM
pleted in 1889. Its length is three hundred
and fifty seven feet, the length of its transepts
one hundred and forty feet, the breadth Of Its
nave thirty-fve feet and the height Of its
ceiling seventy-nine feet It's wost front,
richly adorned with sculptures, statues and
bas-reliefs, rises to height of two hundred
and thirty feet and has a circular window
forty-eight feat In diameter. Its spire, four
hundred and sixty six feet high, is the loftiest
in the world. The grand pyramid Of Egyptis
only six feet higher. Its interior offers among
Its many marvels superbly colored glass
windows, stately columns, the organs Of
Silberman, its unique astronomical clook,
baptistry Of the fifteenth century, the tomb Of
Conrad, the pulpit Of Jean Hammerer, several
fine paintings by old masters and a number Of
curious chapels. During the actual siege It is
reported that this magnificent cathedral has
been seriously injured. A despatch dated
Carlsruhe, September 3, states that on the day
previous the cellars of Strasbourg had been
inundated by the rising of the river Rhine,
causing great suffering and destruction. A
despatch from Mundelsheim, September Q,
alludes to savage artillery duel between the
! besiegers and the besieged at Strasbourg early
that morning and to an Intellectual sortie Of
the French, adding that the second parallel Of
the siege Is nearly finished. The fall Of Stras-
bourg, we repeat, seems now to be inevitable.
| And as this great stronghold has been most
important base of operations and most con-
yenient outlet for o French invasion Of Ger
many, so it will be almost impregnable as a
| German fortress against such an invasion in
future. In fact If Strasbourg shall thus be-
come German fortress, and if Alsace and Lor-
raine shall be wrcsted from Franc the French
will lose for long time, if not forever. their
only defensible frontier on the Rhine.
MAYOR HALL yesterday received despatch
| from the Prefect of Paris Announcing the pro-