Year: 1870




SrRAsBoURG, Sept. 29.-That StrasbOurg has
been captured could taken OF your readers by
surprise passed into the possession Of the Ger


mans through the medium OF capitulation must have ap-
peared matter OF all who have carefully fol-
lowed and who have prOftably read the reports de-
scrbing the progress Of the siege What did not and
could not well know heretofore the exact posi-
ton which Gov Uhrch held with regard TO the city over
which he military ruler. II was supposed that
he had entirely dsregarded the feelings and desire of the
inhabitants and had prolonged resistance which they
were desirous terminate. On the authority OF MEM
Der Of the Council Of Defense 10 whom the whole truth
was wel known state without fear OF contra
dicton that Gov Uhreh wac always in perfect accord
with the Inhabitants and that r. in their opinion, he
erred at ALL it in captulating premsturely Soon
after the siege began earnest he received deputaon
from the Council formed for the defense OF the city
Opinions freely and frankly inerchanged between
the GovernOr-6ommandant on the one hand and the
coupc on the other The former admitted the difficulty
OF making successful defense The latter enlarged on
the dangers OF prOlongng hopeless resistance The
result was that understanding was arrived at
II was unanimously resolved by the council TO strain
every nerve 10 prevent the city from falling into the
hands OF the besegers Uhrch, his part pledged
himself to the calamity of expoeng the city 70 the
horrors and the consequences Of assault As soldier
who had determined to do his duty Gen Uhrch reserved
10 himself the right determine when the critical
moment had arrived. He would neither treat nor con-
sent TO listen any proposition TO surrender until 1t
had become actually impossible TO continue the defense
Many persons thought that the decisive moment had ar
rived long before Gov Uhrioh had become either weary
or disheartaned When the fortress longer tena-
ble and when two breaches OF formidable kind had
been made the Governor determined to fulfill his pledge
and in conformity Herewith the white hag which, as
write flies from the topmost gallery Of the cathedral
wac hoisted Strange say though the inhabitants had
suffered severely reduced to great straits the
resolve Of Gov Uhrch not only took the majority by
surprise but upset certain schemes Of the most repre-
hensbe character to which the majority hoped 70 g1Ve
effect before German soldier entered srasbourg a.
victor. The explanation Of this shall give hereafter
AT present shall content myself by putting on record
an outline OF the facts which preceded the unconditional
captulation Of Strasbourg the 27th OF September


At o'clock Thursday morning was on my way
toward strasbourg Passing through schtgheim, saw
tokens every quarter Of the severity OF the fire from
the fort.hcatiOns. Hardly house was untouched
large number had been burned 10 the ground and many
were converted piles OF ruins by the explosion OF
shells The direct road 10 rasbourg had crossed by the
parallels and 1t was necessary walk along the first
parallel for nearly mile before coming 10 the pathway
along which access TO the city alone possible The
destruction OF the Austerltz railway station lying out
side the city thorough Soon after the siege began
this station captured by the besegers Near this
place more fight occurred when the gar
risou made sortie The fire from one OF the mortar
batteries concentrated upon this station, and the
numerous carriages which stood Oh the line had
been converted into heaps OF chared wood and twisted
iron On approaching the Porte Saverne saw countless
marks indicating the severity OF the fire which the be-
siegers had directed toward this spot Between this and
the Porte des Pieres the walls have been preached In
two places.


After had passed through the gate the spectacle OF
destruction which witnessed one shall not soon
forget On the right, az far as could see the whole
quarter WAS a pile Of rubbish There were few marks
Of fire Cannon shots and shells had destroyed house
after house The ruined houses literally piles OF
rubbish and unless had known that houses had once
coyered the spot should not have supposed that the
rublish had ever taken the form OF shapely
dweIlinrs In front of nearly every shop window
were sloping planks arranged with a view 10 ward
of the falling shot. All the openings made TO
admit air and light the cellars were covered over
with a mass OF earth aud straw. The deprivation OF
lt and air and the presence OF noisOme smells, which
those who occupied the cellars must have had 10 endure
must have been most detrimental to health One house
standing at a corner propped up lest should topple
over cannon ball had swept large piece out OF the
corner and had cut through OF the beams when sup
ported the two upper floors On reaching the Place
Keber one Of the largest and finest open spaces IN sra
bourg the signs Of destruction were most striking The
handsome building which filed the northeastern side OF
the square, and n which valuable museum OF
ancient and modern works art represented by
empty walls Nearly every house has been pierced with
/ shot OF shell.


lost time visiting all the points Of interest and