The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-01-16
THE CITY OF STRASBURG.
something About Capital of AIsacc-
Lorraine, Where Fighting is Going
On.

washington, Jan. 12.--The Nation
al geographic Society today gave out
the following description of Strasburg.
the capital Of Alsace-Lorraine:
"Strasburg is a fortress Of utmost
Importance. With Metz, it guards the
western frontier of the German en-
pre-, and the Germans have consider
ed no cost too great in their efforts to
make 1T impregnable. Still, the visi-
tor would never suspect Strasburg of
being strategic ground, for it is one
of the Fatherland's beautiful cities
and has all the kindliness and ease of
manner usual to South German places.
Moreover, beyond continuous streams
or military upon the streets. there is
little other evidence Of a great fort.
ress, either within the city or upon
it's outskirts.
Strasburg is the capital OF Alsace-
Lorraine. Unlike it's sister fortress.
Metz, 1T is peace city Of Importance,
having maintained the prosperity won
in its days as free imperial city
through all the vicissitues of war,
sovereignty, and natural uphoavals.
Strasburg has suffered from fire,
siege and earthquake; and, like our
own San Fransicso, it has replaced
whatever was lost with structures,
parks and avenues, more costly and
more beautiful. 1t has, however, re-
tanned many Of it's medieval character
istics-narrow, tOrtuOus, cObble-ston-
ed streets; and houses, rich with the
exterior wood-carving Of the middle
ages, whose mansard roofs are so
steep as to make one dizzy to look up
ct them.
THE cathedral is the architectural
pride Of the city. 1t differs from
other German Gothic muensters in
possessing a greater width in proper
ton to it's height. 1t stands in nearly
the center Of the city, on the site of a
church originally founded in 5O4, and
it is one of the most harmonious of
all the great Gothic masterpieces,
which, scattered over Europe. go q
long way toward compelling us to
modify our opinions concerning the
texture of the darkness Of the Dark
Ages. The present cathedral was be-
gun in 117G and was completed in
1889. The exquisite facade, with it's
hewn embrOideries and superb rose
window, over 40 feet in diameter, is
lyric thought in stone and glass. The
structure is famous for it's beauty
wherever there are art levers.
There is a rich industrial and COM
mercial life in the Alsatian city, Of
sufficient importance to support in
comfort it's 10000 inhabitants. Tan
ming, brewing, printing. the manufac-
ture of musical instruments, paper,
soap. furniture. gloves, steel goods and
tobacco working are the chief indus.
tries. Strasburg also has a large
business in the agricultural products
of Alsace. 1t has won International
renown for it's pates de fcis gras, for
the preparation Of which the poorer
classes in and around the city fatten
geese in great numbers.
"Strasburg lies two miles west of
the Rhine on fruitful plain at the
junction of the ii and the Breusch.
1t is 80 miles east Of the French from
tier and $40 miles southwest from
Berlin. 1t is about 80 miles north Cf
Rasel, Switzerland, and that part Of
the French frontier which is opposite
to Mulhausen, present objective of
French invading Alsace. The city is
guarded by Il strong ring Of detached
forts, sweeping in n fan-lihe radius
betmeen four and seven miles from
the city. In peace times. the fortress
city has garrison of more than 16.-
600 men. composing all arms of the
service. 1t houses hundreds OF uni
rcrsity students each year rs its uni
VcrSity is faVOrably known through
out the Empire. Strasburg is IN eX-
ccptionally advantageous place for the
residence of unmarried maids for this
city has a disprOportnate surplus of
unattached young men, of all kinds
and conditions from which tO chose I"