The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-13
Strasburg To-day.

Happening to be on my way from
Germany to the Vosges Mountains ON
the eve of the date September p,
which the Germans celebrate as the
Anniversary of Sedan-though the sur
render of the Emperor Napoleon in
reality took place twenty-four hours
faterI determined to break the journey
to Strasburg and see for myself how the
celebration was kept in the capital OF
Alsace. Frequently as l had passed
through Strasburg since 1870 | had
never had an opportunity of staying in
the city; and the consequence was that
Efound upon reaching the Palace de la
Cathedrale, or rather the Dom Platz, as
it is now called, that Strasburg has.been
changed almost beyond recognition.
Not that much difference is to be OBJ
served in the center of the city, save that
the names of the streets-but not as a
general rule of the shops been
Germanized. The cathedral itself, in
spite of the bombardment and the more
recent fire. stands where il did, and at
the hour of noon the chimes still strike
With the accompaniment of strange
figures. The principal buildings such
as the Prefecture, the Generals resi-
dence, and the Town Hall, Iare unchanged
in outward appearance, though the city
has no longer Mayer, that functionary
having been dismissed five or six years
ago, and no other appointed in his
place. The change is greatest in the
outskirts, for the military officers have
at cost of ESQ, 900, most of which has
been extracted from the inhabitants in
the formj of local taxation, leveled to
the ground the old ramparts and taken
in nearly as much land again as that
upon which the city formerly stood. The
reason why this enlargement has been
made is beyond doubt strategic
one, for the population is notincreasing,
despite the advent of thirty-five thousand
Germans into the city since 1871. The
German immigrants have, however,
failed to fill the places left vacant by the
French who emigrated from StrasbHrg
rather than remain under German sway.
and though i darcsay that in time much
of the land that has been taken in will
be built over, it. at present has very
deselate appearance. Butas measure
of defense there can be no doubt that it
is very excellent one, for by skillful
use of the water which is so abundant
around Strasburg the Germans have
added enormously to the strength of
their position. The circumference of
the Notifications is now little short of
fifteen miles, while outside the ramparts
themselves there are twelve forts. Six
of these forts on the Baden side of the
city are six miles distant from the RAM
parts, while the six others, on the Alsace
side, are not more than half that dis
lance. These twelve forts are now COM
pleted, and with its garrison of fifteen
Thousand men, or twice as many as were
kept here by the French, Strasburg is
regarded, and probably rightly so, as
being almost impregnable. As place
of arms tits certainly worthy to compare
even with Metz, and, surprising as Is
the fortune of war, it seems hard to
imagine that Strasburg can ever be
carried even by siege, much less by a
coup de main.
No wonder if the French inhabitants
OF Strasburg are little inclined in these
circumstances to fraternize with the
Germans, but it must in bare justice be
said that the latter have spared the
French the humiliation. of seeing the
hateful anniversary of Sedan celebrated
under their very eyes. confess that /
was not prepared to find this the ease,
for more than once / have read in
French papers severe structures upon
the Germans, for not having the good
tast to spare the inhabitants Of the an
nexed provinces this bitter trial, ]
could not suppose that the "bitter trial.
was pure effort of the imagination,
and that Erenchman walking about
the streets of Strasburg from the morn
ing to the evening of September the I'd
would see no sign Of rejoicing among