Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-23
GREAT HAVOC IN YPRES
CAUSED BY GERMAN Guns
Famous Market-Housc aud City Hall
Destroyed During Violent
Bombnriment.
BUILDINGS CENTURIES OLD
Both Situated Within Short Distance
BUILDINGS CENTURIES OLD
Both Situated Within Short Distance
OF Cathedral st. Matin-Fury of
blizzard Precludes Possibility Of
Action by Infantry. e.

Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch !
PARIS. November 2a.-The German
guns have destroyed the famous HRlles
inartes-house and City Hall of Ypres.
The French War Office Tonight made
I; this announcements, adding that the
| havoc WAS wrought as n result OF a
most violent bon,bardment Henvy
cannonadins also was reported at Sois-
CONS aud n. Nailly. on the, Aisne, but
the greatest damage was done at Tpres.
The historic market -housc was the
most considerable cditlcc OF Its kind
in Belgium. and dated from the year
1900. The three early Gothic fncades
of the lialles des Drapiers, or Cloth
Hail, proper were of three stories and
were hanked by corner turrets. II was
in the Cloth Hall that some of the
finest examples of the cloth making in
dustry. which, In ipres. dates back to
the eleventh century. were exhibited.
The east side Of the Halies was bound
cd by a charming Renaissance struc-
turc erected in l6a0-34.
, The Hotel de Willie Clown halD was
an 'unprctentious structure, da ting orig
located at the north end of the Cloth
Hall Both editices We're situated on
the Grand Place. and but n few steps
from Cathedral ST Matin.
DAY CONFINED ENTIRELY
TO ARTILLERY ACTIVITY
/ The day was one confined entirely TO
artillery, activity. The fury of the bliz-
yards, which have been raging in
Flanders and in France for the past four
days. precluded the possibility OF action
by.infantry, except trench work, which
was carried on under great difficulties
owing. TO the frozen condition OF the
ground.
No taI -,
noon stated that generally during the
Intermittent exchanges OF artillery fire
the French Sunners efforts were more
effective. and their activity more pro-
nOunced
several lines OF German trenches
| were demolished by the fire OF the
French big guns. and the occupants
driven out, being compelled to dig
themselves in along other lines In the
rear.
The troops in the trenches are gain
Ing some advantage from the enforced
lull in the lighting. Many OF the fight
ing units have been Worn almost. to
exhaustion by the terrific strain under
which they have lived and struggled.
Even though the rigors OF winter have
reduced to the minimum the chance Of
any rest being taken in comfort still
the troops have welcomed the chance
10 recoup their physical strength and
to ease. their nerves, which have been
under severe strain for weeks.
SUCCOR FOR WOUNDED
AFTER LONG DELAY
Thc dead and the wounded have been
reclaimed from the no mans land"
between the trenches, and great trains
Of the latter have been sent south
where the victims may receive succor
long delayed. The dead have been in
terred In long trenches, sometimes
made by blasting the frozen ground.
But behind most OF tho lighting lines
excavations for hurials have not been
found lacking. for the hostile shells
from. cannon and mortar have torn
great holes In the ground where they
struck.
In FLANDERS the hooded region has
become II great field or Ice, and the
German trenches have become unten-
able because OF the untold agonies the
troops arc compelled to suffer to oc-
cupy them. IN these bitches the ice
has had no chance to form, because of
the constant trampling, but the water
Is irigid. and many cases OF frozen feet
and limbs are reported to have de-
mandcd the attention OF the surgeons.