The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-09-24
HISTORIC RHEIMS
IS LAID IN RUINS
Famous Cathedral Where Clovis
Was Crowned And Joan of
Arc Triumphed Badly
Shattered.
ARcHpuKE FREDERICK or AUSTRIA.

Bordeaux. Sept. IA detailed ac-
count OF the German lombard
ment Of Rheims relates that the
,cannonading has lasted for a. fort
nights The Germans are said to
have used petroleum shells, and the
.citySWas set on fire ia many places
and wholesbl6ekB OF houses reduced
to smoking ruins. The part Of the
population which was unable or
unwilling to leave the city was
without food for several days. The
people took shelter in cellars. Some
We're injured, but little or. no loss
OF life has been reported.
Rheims, the first capital of the
ancient Remi or Frank foundation of
the French race: the seat OF the corona
ton Of CloYis, first king OF France. and
Joan of Arcs Triumph and the home
of the most admired cathedral in ali
Europe. is today under fire Of the
Germans.
Crumbling walls is all that remain
OF the once magnificent cathedral, dis
patches from the front say. In addition
the museum, the hospital, and all
the great public buildings of the city
are In flames. However, despite the
terrible havoc that has been wrought,
the Germans have been unable to re-
take Rheims, though one of the chief
aims of the armies on the western end
of7the battle line has been to hold the
city, which they desire so as to COM
mand the railroads leading to Charlie
vile, Verdun. and Chalons. The allies,
it Is reported have repulsed the Ger
man attacks and made several impetu-
Gus counter movements regardless of
the terrible hail of shrapneL
The Germans have made an especial
mark of, the ancient cathedral of
phaEr0H nnWy AHaH - VI4z. - 49, -
ing to break. the spirit of the French,
who have a deep and abiding love for
the ancient example of early Gothic
architecture, which has been Il center
of things French since the origin of the
nation. r
An official statement just issued at
Berlin says: " Rheims was in the bat
tie line OF the French. and the Ger
mans were obliged to lombard Il. We
regret the necessity, but the fire of
the French came from that direction.
Orders have been issued to save the
cathedral. -
Rheims is one of the leading manu-
featuring and commercial cities of the
north OF France, beside being a mecca
for art lovers and tourists the year
around. 1t has a population of los, $50,
and Is an export center for champagne.
WOODEN mills form a chief means of
~sustenance for the inhabitants. :
The cathedral has been the place of
coronation for most OF the greatest
kings OF France. 1t is a magnificent
structure The west front has twin tow
ers, a great cathedral rose and three
magnificent canopied portals, covered
with 18th century statues and reIiefs,
OF such excellence that they can defy
comparison with the classics.
1t has also. been the seat of an arch
oishopric n the meeting place of
many church councils. Joan OF Arc
War Old To Rheims. ;
Many times has the city been sacked.
In 1880 six lofty spires were de-
stroyed by fire. Capetian and Bourbon
monarchs from Phillip II to Charles. x
have been crowned, In the cathedral
crowned Charles VII at Rheims In 1929.
Napoleon defeated the Russians near
Rheims ] n 1914. 1t was the headquar-
tiers of William OF Prussia in Septem-
Der, 1870.
The French foreign office has for
warded to neutral governments a pro-
test against the German bombardment