Year: 1870


THE ESIEGERS-UNDERGROUND TELEGRAPli'
lPRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT


ACHERN, Sept. 6.-This pleasant little Baden
village has been visited by large numbers OF sgltsees
since the siege Of srasbourg began. From the mghts
behind Achern the city OF strasbog, Keh and the Ger
man batteries be distinctly soen Ihe we" ~ ccr
talny distant great deal is left to the imaR"
ton As a natural consequence, the versions gwen py
the several spectators differ materially. Some report
that damage done by the bombardment is very great
Others confess they distinguish nothing more
than few pufs Of smoke and hear reports, but that
they tell what has been the result The truth IS
that when bombardment fire is seen at distance
the predominant feeling is uncertainty ana the most
conspicuous object is smoke. My purpose in coming 10
Achern by rail not to get remote Wow OF the SIEGE
but to carriage order to proceed near as pos
sbe to the batteries the German bank OF the Rhine
had already witnessed the bombardment on the oppo-
site side The main body Of the attacking force Is as
sembed there while there too the more important siege
operations are being prosecuted Indeed the weakest
portiop Of the Notifications IL the side facing Asace
The Citadel is almost in front Of Kchl IL is considered
the key to the fortress If it could be destroyed or taken
the fall Of the remaining works would not De lohg ue
layed Considerable damage has been inflicted on the
outwors Of the Citadel but this has not materially oil
mnshed ts strength If for other reason than


TO arass the garrison is advisable to keep up as severe


fire upon the Citadel as upon the places which, being
weaker will probably be selected for assault by STORM
ing party.


After drive OF two hosrs and half reached Auen
helm small village close to the right bank OF the Rhine
Leaving my conveyance at Auenhem, walked In the
direction of the river Near this place the knzg falls


into the Rhine Down the Kinzig ia foated much OF the
timber cut in the Black Forest The logs are coecteo


in dam at point Of junction between the two rivers
and are there formed into the huge rafts which are an


liar sights TO all who ascend or descend the hlhe' VI
who stand either Of the rivers banks and watch the
| p1f., 1ar iG
from which to view the city OF strasbourg had barely
approached before was hailed by sentry and asked
for NV papers Having a written permission from Gen.
Werder 10 move about within the lines OF the army oe
fore strasbourg considered that no opposition woud
be made to my movements here. In this, however,
| was mistaken. The officer in command OF the detach-
mont at Auenhen had given orders to the patrols to al
low no civilian TO pass without an order signed Dy h
| self / went to him and stated my case. He not only
refused me the desired permission, but he declined U"
acknowledge the validity Of the order emanaIhS irom
| his superior, the general in command AS commony
happens when subordinate officers are clothed win
delegated authority he asserted his rights In the most
offensive STYLE He said that Special Correspondent
had no business whatever in such place. he rather
imprudently added that as new batteries were con
structng the spot to which wished 10 proceed he
was the more dsncned grant my request. 1t would
have been polite OF him to have gwen reusa
without assigning the Had been In quest OF
secret information, should have sufficiently attained
NV object by conversing with this officer Before
parted with him he emphaticauy assured me that IL
persisted in proceeding and fell into the hands OF MS
patrols the consequences would be most unpleasant


replied that hoped not to give him any further trouble
meaning by this that had determined upon denying
him the luxury of ordering TO be punished as dis
obedlent civilian and possible spy. Despite ths
| prohibition found real difficulty in accomplishing
my object drove the headquarters OF the force on
this side Of the Rhine. They in Neunmdhl small
| Nvar rniIes disfan
made no objection to passage Of who was going to
the officer In command OF the forces In Baden The ROAD
ran close the Rhine and had an excellent view Doth
OF the city OF Srasboug and OF the German batteries
Passing behind Kehl, the effects produced on tha
town by the French cannonade. One church appeared
have sustained injury but the greater portion OF the
town was heap Of ruins The fire from the Citadel was
very severe, yet that OF the German batteries was
heavier still to believe that the mystery
about the battery the Knzg dam consists in the act
that mortars of unusually large caiber were being
placed in it. Extraordinary results are anticipated from
the firing OF these mortars. Stories are current about
| extensive mining operations; but as could get no
authentic particulars shall not repeat them SOLDIERS
engaged in a siege know but little OF what Is doing They
are very ready 10 supplement their seany knowledge OF
facts with suppostons of what be intended and to
circulate tales which at once startling and vaueless


can the better dispense with such doubtful materials
because OF having learned undoubted authority what


is the general plan Of the beseged When strasporg was
frat invested the bombardment designed rather to
frgen the inhabitants than TO reduce the fortress The
scheme was nearly crowned with success the CITIZENS
nreed the Governor surrender. portion OF the gar


son was known TO regard the defense hopeless under
taking The remembrance OF the crushing defeats OF
weissenburg and Worth was then fresh Many OF Mac
| Mahon's soldiers had fed to Strasbourg In American
parlance the garrison demoralized Under the cir
cumstances he resorted to sratagem lie caused IaSe
teegams announcing the utter rout OF the Prussans at
1 ho al
Whether he forged this telegram was imposed upon
by false news has not yet been determined II may be
| asked, "How could he make tnem DeneVe
| that he had received telegram st
time when teegraphic communication was interrupted
by his enemiesp The answer have received ID that
which shall now give: StrasbOurg was connected with
Metz by an underground telegraph This was not known
here till within lthe past few days. At this moment
Frenchman who had been allowed to remain In Baden
and who had Joined the Sanitary Corps, is imprisoned in
Rasat on the charge OF sying taken improper adyan
tages of his opportunities in order to convey intelligence
TO the 1t possible that the accusation
ia not wholly groundess but it is certain that after his
arrest the inhabitants OF Strasbourg appeared to be as
well informed Then the suspicion OF an under
ground telegraph took it's rise. The day before yester
day the laid bare by atrenching party Thus the


inhabitants would think 1t perfectly natural fortnight
| ago for Gen. Uhrich 10 have received o telegram
| Misled by this telegram, the inhabitants and gar
rison withdrew their request and resolved to hold
| out under the belief that force would soon
| arrive and raise the siege. Having held the place
for some DAYS and, having found the task less dicnt
than they had expected they may now be as dsnchned
| to capitulate they formerly were to nght Az all
events the defense has increased rather than lost In
earnesness guns In Notifications are better served
and the sorties are made with greater vgor How long
the provisions win last is now the chief consideration
| In this particular the Germans have an immense
advantage They afford to walt till the garrison is
49, ham cd IN hos &fraan