The Sun. — 1870-09-02 (London, England)

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER -2, :870.  THE WAR.  AFFAIRS IN PARIS. WEDNESDAY.  To-day's sitting of the Chamber has opened with an exciting episode. M. Keller said that he bad received some statements of the condition of affairs at Strasbourg. The details were both glorious and sad. A quarter of the town had been burned, and the Cathedral and hospital were destroyed. The Bishop of Strasbourg had requested the cessation of the bombardmenf, but he was informed that there was no time to make a siege. The Germans expect to conquer the population through fear. French peasants are compelled to work in the trenches and were thus exposed to the French fire. M. Keller added that such conduct had roused the indignation of all Europe. Strasburg had'deserved well of the country and desired to remain as a French town. The departmeat of the Lower Rhine was:ransacked, not only by Prussian troops but by Baden peasants, who were unarmed. This could only ,occur because the authorities had refused arms to the French people. These unarmed ; populations were deserted by those who should have be en their support. At Colmar the municipal authorities had destroyed a great deal of powder by throwing it in the water. In other places they arrested citizens who were fighting, and refused to furnish means of!transport to old 1 soldiers who wished to rejoin their regiments.  This dismal newsifilled the Chamber with the utmost indignation. There were great murmurs of horror when M. Keller announced-that the Germans hoped to murder the people into subjection, and long and loud were the cries when he added that the inhabitants had been driven into the sewers for shelter. The Chamber rose in honour of the brave Strasbourg people who thus preferred death to the triumph of the foe. But the talk about arming the people gave rise to the old tumult. The Left applauded the speaker and denounced the Government ; the Right interrupted M. Keller an 4 denounced the Left. " It is treason," cried the Republicans, when M. Keller said that the depredations of the Baden peasants were due to the neglect (or designed refusal) of the Ministry to supply weapons ; but the Right ferociously came to the rescue of its leaders. It is the old difficulty. The Government will not arm the people. No matter what may befall the country, it will not take a step which may lead to its own overthrow. The easy progress of the Germans is in great part to be attributed to the determination of the powers that be to trust to no armed men except those in the regular army. _ _ _  The expulsion of foreigners from Paris has become a serious reality. They are departing in crowds. The following notice has been issued :—" The foreigners who are directed by the recent decree of the Governor of Paris to leave the capital, and who consider themselves included in the favourable exceptions made by the said decree, are informed that by appointment of the Governor of Paris the Prefect of Police is commissioned to decide upon their claims. Each claimant must therefore present himself at the Prgecture of Police, furnished with a written demand, in which is stated his name and Christian name, his age, his nationality, his profession, the time of his sojourn in France, and all the circumstances which would justify the ssue of a special and exceptional permission to remain. This claim must be supported by the written declaration of well-known persons who will be guarantees for the claimant."  The Prefect of Police has addressed a circular to the Commissaries desiring them to see that the decree is strictly enforced in their several districts, and desiring them to scrutinise most rigidly the antecedents and position of any foreigner who claims to be exempted from it, and of his sureties, making immediately a special report on the subject. Still there is no news, though all Paris is on the tip-toe of expectation. There are rumours of battles, but that audacious paper, the Pairie, says that the march of MacMahon upon Meta is going on with the most perfeet safety, conditions so favourable, in fact, that we may soon hear of complete success !