Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-21
FRANCE PROTESTS
TO US. AGAINST RUIN
OF RHEIMS TEMPLE
"NWanton Vandalism in
Destruction of Beautiful
Cathedral Is Charged.
German Order to Save
Building Too Late.

beautiful Cathedral at Rheims by the Ger.
mans was cabled to the French Embassy
BY Foreign Minister Delcasse at Bor.
deaux today, to be transmitted to the
State Department. The official statement
reads:
From the Minister Of Foreign Affairs
of the French Republic to the French
Ambassador. Washington.
"Bordeaux, September 20, 1914.
without the possibility of even the
shadow of a military necessity being in
voked, and for the mere pleasure OF
causing destruction, the German troops
have submitted the Cathedral VI Rheims
to a relentless and systematic lombard
nent. At the present moment this ia
maus baslllca Is nothing but a heap OF
ruins.
ut is duty for the Government Of the
French Republic to submit to the JudG-
1nent of the world such revolving act or
vandalism. which, while consignins to the
flames this sanctuary Of French national
history, deprives mankind of unique
part Of It's artistic patrimony.
(SlgneD "DELCASSF'."
Ambassador Jusserand conveyed this
message to the state Department today.
TEMPLE ORDERED SPARED.
BERLIN ,By way of The Hague.
Sept. 81
The bombardment Of Rheims was
necessary because the heaviest French
FIRE was coming from the direction OF
the city, an official statement Issued by
the War ONCE today declared. 1t Is
stated that orders were issued that the
artillery should spare the Cathedral of
Notre Dame which dates back TO the
18th century and which is reported de-
stroyed.
BORDEAUX, Sept 21.
President Poincare today directed
formal protest to all neutral Powers
against destruction OF the historic
cathedral Of Rheims by the German
artillery. The bombardment is declared
TO have been conducted "for the sol4
pleasure of destroying"
The protest of the French Government
states:
The German troops. without mill
tary necessity but for the sole pleas
ure of destroying. subjected the
Rheims cathedral TO a systematic
and furious bombardment. The Ia
nous basilica Is now a mass OF
ruins.
The Government denounced the re
voting act of vandalism" and declared
1t should arouse the indignation of the
world.
Destruction of the historic Cathedral
of Notre Dame, officially announced by
the Minister OF the Interior, Louis J.
NAVY, has stirred France, and the
Government Is preparing to make pro-
tests to all the Powers against the de-
struction OF ancient buildings.
Other historic edIhces destroyed or
ruined are the 18th century Church Of
St. Jacques, the 18th century Arch
bishops palace and the City Hall
erected in the 18th century.
On Thursday the Germans were throw
ing shells into Rheims from batteries
stationed six miles north of the city.
Then they moved TO the eastward. get
ting an elevated position commanding
the city.
The cathedral Of Sotre Dame had heen
turned into a hospital and a Red Cross
flag was flying from the roof. Inside
were about 500 wounded German prison.
ers.
The first shots shattered the windows
and fragments Of glass fell In showers
upon the wounded soldiers, who lay on
bundles OF straw in the aisles.
II soon became apparent that the Ger |
mans were making target OF the ca.
thedral for the shrapnel began crashing |
through the roof and walls AZ regular
intervals.
OF the wounded prisoners inside. at !
least 100 suffered further wounds as !
result OF the bombardment Of the building. |
100 REPORTED DEAD.
-Four hundred inhabitants OF the town |
are reported TO have been killed by Ger
man shell fire.
Al times the city would be on fire in .
a dozen different places and at nigat il /
made a grand but awful sight 10 watch .
the shifting glare OF red above the town /
and the flaming shells, soaring like I
into the burning city, Al times
ms shrapnel struck a burning building, I
millions OF sparks would Aoat upward /
through the smoke,
The population began to fee on Thurs
day. Rheims being big city Of 1000
souls. Al day Friday, Saturla" and sun
day the exodus went on. The fugttlEss /
carried their portable effects and most OF
them we're IN tears az the thought or
leaving their homes at the mercy OF the
German artillery.
Although the historic edIace hsd been
pounded by shells all day Friday and
Saturday, Il did not catch fire until yes
terday. More than 800 shells fel. around
the ca thedral yesterday,
Buildings In different quarters Of the
city We're flaming and ting wind was car
Tylng the ire from street 10 street when I
a shrapnel set fire 10 some soaffodiug on
the eastern end 0f the church where
workmsn mad been making some repairs,
soon the whole network of poles and
planks was burning brlskly.
Then the old Oaken timbeTs of the roof
began flaming and the nave and transePts
began TO burn.
Within a short time the upper part ot
the cathedral was roaring furnace. I
Blazing pieces OF carved woodwork were
dropping to the floor, setting fire 70 the
straw upon which the wounded German
soldiers were lying. Then the panelug
and altars caught fire. Next the psWs
and other furniture were ia flames.
The German wounded, practically all ~
whom were too weak 10 rise 10 their feet,
began calling pite0usly for help
Save usl Save u.s. cried the wounded
men, struggling weakly 10 crawl from
their perilous position In the straw
The French doctors and nurses at once
began the work of carrying these help
less captives from the building. Some Of
the Germans were still I'm uniform.
Outside Of the cathedral was a knot Of
and soldiers When they
,aught sight of the German uniforms they
,ro<a into furious cries of denunciatiOn. .
ssLruI tbauntff cried the angry French .