New-York tribune., 1914-11-01
Besiegers Renew Attack
with Violence After
Ammunition Comes.
DAMAGE TO CITY
IS $200,000, 900
Country Maze of Trenches
in Which French Are
Holding Their Own.
BY c. INMAN BARNARD.


dwlndled TO n few shells a day. The
Kaiser's troops were short of ammuni-
tion, outstanding every round for
possible attack. Two lays ago, how
ever, fresh supplies arrived. At 4
O'Clock this c!orning ! was awakened
by the thunder OF guns all along the
line. Every instant i deepencd in IN
tensity. When | got out at 3 o'clock
in the pitch black night mot 4 single
street lamp is lighted in Rheims dni
not lightcj window is Gllowed) the
battle was raging all along the line.
Shells were shooting over the town
with a long drawn ghizz, followed by
the shattering SOUND o. the explosion
as they burst. The outlying section
of the town and the Poimery cham
psgne factory chiefly suffered.
About o'clock the bomhardment
ceased Is suddenly as. , began. The
French troops suffered but little, as
they are now as strongly intrenched
as the Germans. Their advanced lines
are nov within tour hundred yarcs OF
the German trenches, and "a the sue
cessive lines Of French intrenchments
are connected by telephone IL is pos
sible, in case of sudden alta 20, for
the front line 10 cali for help from the
second and third lines. The trenches
are connected by means Of success
sion of galleries which allow rein
force nents TO reach the fighting line
without coming under The enemy's fire.
Rheims III Midst of Maze.
The district around Rheims is now
q German Plevna, which could not be
raised without fearful loss, as the fate
of the German STmy there will b. de-
cided by the result of the tremendous
battle now going on IN the north.
There is no reason for doing anything
more than hold the enemy in his pres
ent position. The spade work done On
both sides is almost incredible; Rheims
is simply the centre of a subterranean
maze. At least hundred miles Of
trenches have been dug on either side,
with transverse galleries and bomb
proof 3 elters.
spent couple of hours studying
the whole position with "A powerful
field glass, and though the furthest
line of defences was hardly five miles
away, the landscape seemed as quiet
and peaceful as if there was not a Ger
man within hundred miles. Yet,
within q mile from where | was seated
10000 men were lying, each watching
his adversary with his finger on the
trigger. 1t was only when the dull boom
of a German six inch gun rang out, FOL
lowed by the rush Of the shell, that one
could realize that the distance between |
the trenches represented the fire zone
into which no human being could enter /
and live.
Horror Shown at Night.
But il is ut night-for the relentless
struggle goes on night and day-that
one realizes the tragic horror Of it.
All over the battlefield searchlights
are flashing spasmodically, while the
long lines Of trenches are edged with
spurts Of flame from the rife fire. Oc
cssionally the Germans discharge
succession OF firebails which momen-
tarily light up the landscape and often
precede bayonet attacks.
Every day each side digs itself in a
little more, constructs more bomb
proof shelters, plants more barbed
wire entanglements and generally in
creases the existing position of stale
mate. Every morning ambulance
wagons roll into Rheims with their
dead and wounded, giving proof Of the
relentless nature Of the struggle. |
never believed that the French soldiers
would accept this form of warfare, so
foreign to their dashing fashion of
fighting, as they have done.
The cheerfulness of the men In the
trenches is beyond all praise. On one
bombproof shelter soldier has put up
th3 notice: Desirable residence to let
for the October term. Batterie de
Cuisine. No charge for soup pot" |
should explain that soup pot is what
the French soldier has christened the
big German shells. His confidence in
the victory of the Allies is mistaken.
1t is, however, shared by General
Joffre A highly placed parsonage, who
met him two days ago, told me the
generalissimo was radiant. As General
Joffre is one of the least expansive OF
men such an attitude speaks volumes
for the success of the Allies efforts.
Reducing Town to Ruins.
But the prospect of ultimate success
of the Franco British arms does not
do much to console the people of
Rheims for their present suffering.
To-day is the forty-seventh day of the
bombardment of Rheims, and the city
is slowly, deliberately and methodically
being reduced TO ruins The damage
done already is estimated at 5000, ,000,-
900.
The population, which three months
ago numbered 10000, has to-day fallen
to less than $4,000. More than seven
hundred people have been killed and
more than one thousand wounded by
German shells, and every day the list
of victims increases. Since SUNDAY
twelve people have been killed and
twenty-three injured by German guns.
Curiously enough. thousands of peo-
pie who had taken refuge in the cellars
Of houses have now left those refugees
and come out TO live in rooms. People
get accustomed 70 everything, even
bomhardment with siege guns. Il is
astonishing TO see the courageous in.
difference with which people 90 about
their business. This morning | saw a
young girl riding d bicycle. A she'll
went streaming overhead, but she did
not trouble TO turn TO look after H.
She rode on as if nothing had hap
pened Many inhabitants go out daily
70 q small eminence just outside the
town. taking with them baskets Of pro
visions. and spend the day watching the
duel between the French and German
guns.
Champagne Business Stopped.
OF course. al, business, except that
of few butchers and bakers neces-
sary Tor feeding the population. is at
standstill The great champagne
houses have not sent away a single
bottle for seven weeks. Pommerys
famous establishment, where over l00,-
100000 bottles are stored in twelve
miles Of cellars. has suffered most.
Shells have fallen in and around the
buildings by the hundreds. The dam
age done to the buildings is estimated
at nearly 100000.
What the population eXpccts and