Strapped Ammunition. See [Ordnance, Ammunition for].
Straps. Are decorations made of worsted, silk, gold, or silver, and worn upon the shoulders, without epaulette.
Strasbourg, or Strassburg. Formerly a fortified town of France, and capital of the department of Bas-Rhin, but in 1871 ceded to Germany, and capital of the province of Alsace, not far from the left bank of the Rhine, 312 miles east from Paris by railway. During the Middle Ages it was subject to the German emperors, and was the capital of Alsace, but along with that province it was ceded to Louis XIV. in 1681. Subsequently its defenses were greatly improved under the direction of Vauban. Strasbourg was invested by the Germans, principally from Baden, during the Franco-Prussian war, August 10, 1870. Gen. von Werder assumed the command of the besiegers, and the bombardment began August 14, and a vigorous sally was repulsed August 16. Gen. Uhrich, the commander, declared that he would not surrender except upon a heap of ashes. After a heroic resistance, and when a breach had been made and an assault was impending, notice was given September 27, and the place surrendered at 2 A.M., September 28; at 8 A.M. 17,150 men and 400 officers laid down their arms. The German loss was said to be 906 men, of whom 43 were officers. The Germans entered Strasbourg, September 30, the anniversary of its surrender to the French in 1681 by a surprise. Uhrich received the grand cross of the Legion of Honor, October, 1870. About 400 houses and the invaluable library were destroyed, the cathedral injured, and 8000 persons rendered homeless.
Stratagem. In war, is any scheme or plan for the deceiving and surprising an army, or any body of men.
Stratarithmetry. The art of drawing up an army, or any given number of men, in any geometrical figure, or of estimating or expressing the number of men in such a figure.
Strategetics. The science of military movements; generalship.
Strategic, or Strategical. Pertaining to strategy; effected by artifice.
Strategic Point. Any point or region in the theatre of warlike operations which affords to its possessor an advantage over his opponent.
Strategical Fronts. The portion of the theatre of war in front of any position occupied by an army as it advances, is termed the [front of operations]. That part which is directly in front of an army, or which can be reached in two or three days, forms simply a [front]. When the whole extent lying between the two hostile armies is considered, the term strategical front is applied.
Strategical Lines. See [Lines, Strategical].