The Washington herald., 1914-09-27
RHEIMS BURNING
Was ACCIDENTAL
British Writer Clears Ger
mans of Intentional Attempt
to Destroy Cathedral.
PRIEST SAVED GERMANS
French Wanted to Kill Wounded En-
emies. but Able Camu Forces Way
to Safety Through Mob.
by HERBERT TEMPLE.


London, Sept. "a correspondent OF
| The Times, who has just returned &c
London from Rheims, declared today that
the Germans may at once be acquitted Of
the charge that they willfully destroyed
| the Cathedral of Notre Dame inn
Rheims. II it had been their intention to
destroy the historic edifice, he said, II
could have been accomplished in a few
minutes. The fact that the cathedral was
full of wounded, left by the Germans
themselves. indicates that what damage
occurred to the cathedral was uninten-
tonal rather than designed.
A description of scenes in the cathedral
during the German bombardment is con-
tanned in a dispatch received by the Daily
Mail from its Rheims correspondent. The
story is told in the form of an interview
with Able Camu. who was helping the
Red Cross care for the German wound
ed. 1t follows:
Caught Sparks as They Fell.
1T was all over in an hour There
were two seperate fires. We put out the
first one with four buckets Of water We
had no more water when the second fire
started. We rushed to the roof but could
do nothing. The fire drove US down again
Through the holes in the ceiling sparks
began dropping. There was a great pile
Of straw on the floor.
we tried to catch the sparks in our
hands as they fell Some OF the Germa n
wounded helped us. Soon a spark fell
upon the pile. In a moment 1t was blaz-
ing. All our thoughts turned to getting
out the wounded.
Screams Were Terrible
Their screams were terrible Soma
shrieked in delirium. Some prayed in
German. Others with eyes already set
in death, cursed the fate which had
sent them to war.
Some were able to walk. Those who
had slight wounds. helped their com
rades. We got all out but thirteen.
They were burned to death.
When l came out l found the wound
ed huddled near the door. An angry
crowd of French surrounded them.
Men and women cursed these helpless
captives. Some OF the French soldiers
were about to dispatch the wounded
Germans for revenge.
What are you DOING I shouted.
Wanted Them Buried Alive.
The leader of the mob replied: They
back into the cathedral. II they don't
go we will shoot them
Some of the Germans understood
these threats and they looked toward
me with appeal in their eyes.
You are mad 1 shouted at the
mob. You know not what you would
do. You will not dare harm these men.
All the world will know the crime the
Germans have committed here. II you
shoot these men the world will know
that France has been just as criminal
That argument apparently had no
effect. Murmurs of rage ran through
the crowd. A civilian shouted an oath.
but a French soldier who was a good
Catholic struck him.
Priest BaIks Angry French.
II you shoot you must kill me
first I cried.
The French soldiers lowered their
guns. There were six German officers in
the group captives. 1 asked II they
would do all bade them.
We will obey your orders, father.
replied one who seemed to be Of high
rank.
Then l lined them up in a solid body.
put myself at the head and We started
for the city hall. 1t was a mournful
procession. Around US crashed the shells
OF the Germans. Above our heads roared
the flames. On every side hostile eyes
glared at US
Although the soldiers had refused to
shoot. the civilians barred our path. The
crowd pressed close. Blows from fists
and clubs were rained upon the German
wounded. Never have l seen anything so
dreadful as that scene. Faces distorted
with rage peered at me and warned me
not 10 try to save the wounded soldiers
One weakened soldier was torn from our
crowd, The maddened mob began kick
ing him. Some jumped upon him. l
pushed my way into the crowd and
managed to rescue the German.
officer would Not Help.
He was past speech. He thanked me
with his eyes.
Can't you help me?' shouted to
French officer.
He looked coldly at me. Then he
looked al the mob which was swarmlnG
about US
You will never reach the city hall
he replied with a shruG OF the shoulders
Il was in despair. There was the gate
OF a private house at hand. l put my
shoulder TO the gate, but il held fast. The !
angry men cf the mob saw my purpose /
and hoWled fresh threats. Two German !
soldiers who were not badly hurt save !
me the help Of their shoulders The lock |
gave. Through the gateway crowded the |
wounded Germans The mob tried TO fol- I
low. but We pressed shut the gate and |
barred it, The wounded were kept in that |
private house during the day and night. |
The experience is q nightmare in my rec