Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-11-19
Diary of Journalist Who Was in
the Besieged City.
Terrific gombardment Provoked by
Defense-PeopIe Stood In Streets
and Watched Homes Burn.

West Flanders. Belgium.-A jour
palist from Roubaix, who was shut up
I'm Lille from October 10 to ID, gives
in his diary the following account OF
the bombardment and German occupa,
ton of that city:
"Oct. 1O-About four o'clock this
afternoon four uhlans, followed by one
cyclist. emerged on the market place.
The cyclist made sign with his hand
and Immediately about sixty horse
men appeared. These had hardly ar
rived when several shots were fired,
One horse was killed and the rider in.
jured At once the lieutenant com.
manding the Germans assembled his
men and rode to the mayors office.
He summoned Mayor de La Sale and
warned him that, owing to the firing.
he and others would be taken into Gus
tody. While this was continuing
French mounted chasseurs arrived
and exchanged volleys with the uh-
lans, provoking a panic among the
bystandeFs. The Germans fled, pur-
sued by the chasseurs. At $50 a
shell fell on the roof Of the mayors
house. tearing great hole. Other
shells were thrown in the market
place. At p. m. the bombardment
became violent. The first aeroplane.
which was seen at five O'Clock, had let
fall a bomb with the intention Of dam
aging the police headquarters. A
woman and child were injured and a
passing riders horse was killed under
him.
"Oct. 1.-THE night was compare
lively calm, only few shells falling.
Then, after some hours respite, the
bombardment broke out again with
great violence. ceasing only at noon.
Beginning again at 8 p. m, II contin.
ued the entire night. Many families
sought shelter with their neighbors,
as their own houses were burning.
Among the buildings damaged was
the Museum of Fine Arts.
"Oct. 12.-Beginning at 6 a. m,
shells rained on the city, making a
terrible racket and destroying many
buildings The aspect of the town Ia
lamentable. Debris of different kinds,
such as glass, brick, stone and wood,
clutter the pavement. Families are
taking refuge everywhere, a prey to a
fully comprehensive terror and sad
ness. In the evening several new
blocks of houses were in flames, not
ably behind St. Michael's church. |
could hear our heavy cannon replying
vigorously in the distance to the heavy
German artillery. About 9 a. m. the
Germans sent messenger, who with
bandaged eyes and bearing white
flag. made his way to headquarters,
escorted by French horseman. We
did not know what had happened, but
toward night the bombardment ceased
and German troops of cavalry, infan-
try and artillery appeared in the cen
ter of the town. The bombardment
continued on the village of South
Lille until / a. m. the next day.
"Oct. 13.-After midnight noticed
that white flag had been raised
on the mayors Office. What has hap
pened? Have we surrendered and
have the Germans taken possession
Of the city? 1t is impossible to learn.
Rumor insisted that the town had sur
rendered and a few inhabitants i'm
medately risked issuing from their
houses to contemplate the sad spec
tacle of Lille in flames. About 2:3O
a. m the sound of volleys coming from
the center of the city caused every
one quickly to return home. The fir
ing lasted about three hours. Finally
about ten o'clock military music re-
sounded, accompanied by singing,
drumming and bugle blowing. The
German soldiers defiled through the
midst of the city, some smoking
cigars"
From the recital Of the same wit
ness it is possible to affirm that a
great part of the artistic and hand
some quarters of the town, including
the old Church of St. Maurice, could
not be saved from the flames. 1t
seems that since Lille was defended
the bombardment was unfortunately
necessity of war and in no way an act
of useless vandalism.