The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-09-21
PROTEST FROM FRANCE
Invaders Claim Building Was in
Line Of Fire and They Gould
Not Save Il

London. Sept. 21.-The Nails cor
respondent :elegraphs:
The cathedral at Rheims, monu-
ment of universal fame, is now an
empty shell, with charred and black
ened walls. 1t is not yet known to
what extent the stone work has been
weakened by the flames or whether
it can later be restored, but it never
will be what it was before.
The fire started at 4:3O o'clock
Sunday afternoon. after shells mad
been crashing into the town all day.
More than five hundred shells fell be-
fore sunset.
The cathedral on Thursday had
been turned into a hospital for Ger
man wounded. which obtained for the
building the protection OF the red
cross flag. When the first shell
struck the roof everyone believed it
merely was a stray shot, but later in
the day a German battery on hill
four miles away began making the
great Gothic edifice it's particular tar
get
THE German wounded would have
been burned to death If French doc
tors had not removed them at great
risk"
Rheims Still Holds Out.
Chalons- Sur Marne, Via Paris,
Sept. 2l.-The Germans continued
bombarding the principal buildings of
Rheims yesterday, all day and night.
Debris and crumbling walls is all
that is left of the thirteenth century
cathedral, the most remarkable exam
pie that was left of early Gothic ar
chitecture.
In addition to the cathedral the
museum, hospital and the city were
for the greater part destroyed. Sew
eral inhabitants were killed.
In spite of the bombardment and
repeated attacks upon it the Germans
have been unable to take Rheims.
which they evidently desire to obtain
command of the railways leading to
Charleville. Verdun and Chalons.
The allies repulsed the German at
tacks and made several counter at
tacks. in which their infantry charged
with magnificent bravery, regardless
of the terrible storm of shrapnel.
Will Create Controversy.
London, Sept. 21.-Rheims, where
the ruins of the famous cathedral are
still smoking, is likely to prove the
object of controversy long after the
G,, ha fol haNa
ceased to contend for its possession.
The Germans claim the cathedral was
i'm the line of fire and IL was impossi-
bic to save it, I'm spite of their in
structions to spare the building.
Used Petroleum Shells.
Bordeaux, Sept. 21-The cannonading
of the city of Rheims lasted a fort
night. The Germans are said to have
used petroleum shells and whole
blocks of houses were reduced TO
smoking ruins. Little loss of life is
reported The people took shelter In
cellars.
France Sends Protest.
Bordeaux. Sept. 2l.--The foreign
office has forwarded to neutral govern
ments protest against the lombard
ment of the cathedral of Rheims. The
protest says the famous basilica has
been reduced to a heap of ruins for
the emre pleasure of destruction
Washington. Sept. 2l.-The French
ambassador has presented the protest
of his government against the de-
struction OF the cathedral at Rheims
| by the Germans.
Had to Bombard Rheims.
Berlin. Sept. 21.-An official state
| ment last night said Rheims was "
the battle line of the French and that
the Germans were Obliged to bombarC
IL.