New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-13
Cathedral Only One of
1000 Buildings in Town
Left Intact.
CITIZENS PERISH
IN BURNING HOMES
Gallant Garrison, 0utnumbered
10 to |, Makes Long but
Futile Fight.


Termonde. Sept. 12.-Further details
are now to hand Of the sacking OF
Termondc. The population of Ter
monde. roughly, is 10000. There are
some 1000 buildings in the town. OF
these. there are not half dozen that
have not been burned out, The work
Of ruin is terribly complete. The
beautiful Roman Catholic cathedral.
with its wonderful paintings, Rubenses
and Van Dykes, towers untouched
above The ruins, however. Bot this
cathedral is the only exception.
A few soldiers were guarding the
town from pilfercrs as the corrcspon-
dent entered over planks thrown haz-
ardouslv across a blown up bridge. The
first thing that struck the eye was a
German Red Cross motor car, care
fully attended By couple OF gen
DANES. Next an enormous pane OF
glass, advertising brand OF clRar-
ett"s, which looked as new as the day
it was put up. Then, as the eye wan
dercd around, gradually the brain took
in the scene. lp and down the street
enc gaZcd on the Charred pieces OF
brick work which once were houses
Here and there perhaps half house
would be standing upright. Elsewhere
mass of bricks were strcwn across
the street.
Searching for Bodies.
4 little further on in the town sol
dicrS were searching the ruins for the
bodies of those left behind in the mad
rush for safety. Outside the town
large mound marks the last resting
place Of those roasted to death. For
the last two days soldiers have been
engaged in the grewsome task of find
ing the charrCd bodies Of their fellow
countrymen.
Particularly diabolica was the
method by which the Germans COM
plcted their work Of destruction. In
the ruins were found petrol bombs.
" HIGH the Germans had thrown into the
houses. These bombs are composed o.
aluminium and filled with petrol, and a
wick protrudes from the ends. This
wick is lighted and fares up. Than
the bomb is hurled into a building with
devastating results. There were per
haps six citizens in the town who had
dared return after the deluSe. One
was all old woman, who had dragged
q few household articles into the street
and sat forlornly among them. She
epitomized the tragedy OF thousands.
BY the courtesy of a priest the tower
of the cathedra! was assembled, 400 feet
in air. where one looked down on the
ruins OF what a week ago was beau
tiful city. A gale was rising and the
wind shook the battered remains OF the
houses, which tOttered and then TELL
with a crash into the street. Two
women passing escaped barely with
their lives. As the descent into the
street was made other houses fell.
Opposed by 10 to l.
A, the outskirts OF the town the
commandant Of the forces was met. lie
told a wonderful tale Of herOism on
the part of the garrison which de-
Tended Termonde against the Germans.
For six hours this gallant little force
held It's own against a force which out
numbered it ten to one while the citi-
Zens escaped. Then, gradually fighting
every inch desperately, they retired
Their numbers were decimated, hut
still they fought on. Finally the Ger
mans brought up heavy artillery, and
discretion became the better part of
valor.
Among soldiers along the road from
Tcrmonde 10 Client there is an air OF
suppressed excitement. On all sides
are heard expressions that a general
movement is to be made on Brussels.
The Belgians are merely waiting until
,he Germans have retired sufficiently
to the south before they make their
triumphant entrance into their capital.
TaCre are at present 10000 Germans
within six miles of Termonde who are
going southwark.