The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-01-12
sTRAssBURG, CAPITAL
OF ALSACE-L0RRAINE
A R GERMAN BORDER

Washinson. Jan. 1.-THE National
Geographic society today gave OUT
the following description OF stros-
burg, the capital Of Aisace-Lorraine
''strashurE is a fortress OF utmost
Importance. Win Metz u guards the
western frontier OF the German m
pirc, and the Germans have consid'
cred no cost too great in their efforts
10 make Il i~mpregnable. stu. the
visitor would never suspect Strashurg
OF being strategic ground. for il II
one OF the Fathcrlnnd's beautiful
cities and has all the kiudlinrss and
ease Of ann usual ia South Ger
man places Moreover. beyond con-
| t%inuous streams of military upon h
streets, there II little other evidence
OF a great fortress, either within the
city or upon IT, outskirs.
"Srasburg Is the capital Of Alsace-
| Lorraine. Uallfe its sister fortress
| Metz. Il j. q a city ~ Importance.
having maintained the prosperity
won IN rs days as a free imperial
ciiy through all the vicissitudcs Of
| war. Sovereignty and natural uphcat-
alg, Strasburg has suffered from are.
siege and earthquake. and. like %
own san Franclsco. IL has replaced
whatever was lost With structures,
! parks and avenues more costly ana
more beautiful 10 has. however, re-
tanned many Of ~ mcdowell rharac-
| tcrifucs-narrow. tortu0uE c0hhlc-
stoned streets, n houses. rich with
the exterior wood carvings OF the
middle ages. whose mauadrd roofs
are 90 steep a. 10 make % dizzy 10
look no at them.
The cathedral Is the architectural
pride at the cts, u differs from
| ether German Gothic muenstors in
possessing a great,r width in proper
tiou 10 its height. II stands In nearly
! the enter OF the city. ON the site nt
f. church originally fouuucd In 'o4'
ana il is one ct the most harmonious
OF an the great Gothic masterpieces
Which. scattered over Europe. go a
long way toward compelling us &"
modify our opinions concerning the
texture OF the darkness Of the dark
tngcs. The present cathedral Vas he
sun in it7e and was completed tu
1853. The exquisite facade, with rs
hcwn cmbruidcrics and superb rose
window, over 40 feet IN diameter. II
lyric thought lu stone and glass. The
structure ~ famous for is beauty
wherever there are arr lovers.
There b. % rich Industrial and
commercial ne boz th" Alsatinu city
II sufficient importance Co support in
comfort H. 10000 iuhnbitants Tan
lining urowinp, printing. the manu-
fracture of musical Instruments. pa
per soap, furniture, gloves ttcr|
goods and tobacco workings are me
chief Industries. StrafhurE ulsu hd'
"a lurrr busiucsa bon the agriculture
products of AlslCc. n has won lu'
teruntloual rcuowu Tor its pttcs d'
ole grss. for the preparation col
which the poorer classes in ane
around the city nticp geese in greu0
numbers.
"strasburg tics two miles west col
the Rhine on "a fruitrl plain at th'
Junction of the ~ ana the Brousoh
Il b. so miles east Of the Frcuci
frontier and ai0 miles suuthvrs'
from Berlin. n Oh about go mile
north of Basel switzerland, and tina
part of the French frontier which d
opposite Co. Nulhuuscn a present oh
lcctlyc of French invading Aishce
THE tItv b. guarded boy 90 strong RIM
Of detached forts, sweeping iu "a ian
uko radius between four % HeN'l
miles from the city, In pence time
the fortress-clty has % garrison q
more than 10000 men, composing ul
arms Of the service. n huuutH hun
drcds Of university students cncI
wear ~ ~ university o. uNorahl
known throughout the empire Straf
burg h an exceptionally adNanis
geous place for the residence of un
married maids. FOR this cits haf a dis
propOrtionate surplus Of uulttnche
young men, of AN Kinds aud condi
tions. from which Goo choose
Il