Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-22
PARISIANS REJOICE
AT REPORTED SAFETY
OF RHEIMS TEMPLE
r estoration Possible,
T h ough Bombardment
Broke Windows and Ruin
ed Decorations.
PARIS. Sept. q.

PARIS, Sept. %.
Widespread rejoicing was caused In
Paris today by reports indicating that
the famous cathedral at Rheims had
escaped irreparable destruction under
the German bombardment Of the town
and can be restored, though seriously
damaged
The magnificent windows are all
smashed, according to officers who ar
rived from the front, and ruin has been
spread in the lnte rior by bursting shells,
but the walls stand unbroken. though
Scared in many places.
Among the superstitious hope Of ulti-
mate French victory In the war Ia in
creased by the fact that the statue Of
Jean of Arc, which stands before the
facade, escaped serious damage.
LONDON, Sept. o.
That there is an intention on the part
IF the German military experts to en-
deavor to raze the entire city of Rheims
Is believed here. It is claimed the Cen
era Staff now realizes the great strategic
mistake made when the Germans with
drew from that city, and that they are
willing to go to any length to retake 1t.
In describing the conditions in Rheims,
the Daily Telegraph correspondent says
that there is hardly house in the neigh
borhood of the cathedral that escaped
damage. Continuing, he says:
The masonry of the cathedral Is
Clipped and many of the carved fig
ures and garEoyles have been broken
off. In the doorway still stands the
crippled beggar-crippied in 1S70-who
III
rain of flying splinters and dust.
pebbles and glass. Fifty shells found
lodgment in the interior, but the stone
work withstood the concussion of their
explosion.
The building can probably be restored,
according to this correspondent as the
shell fire seems no longer to be directed
toward it, but, of course, it's priceless
decorations are ruined for all time.
ROME. Sept. % CBy way of Paris
When informed of the destruction of
the Cathedral of Fheims, Pope Benedict
XIV said he could not believe it possible
In such a civilized epoch as the 10Th
century to be plunged back to the time
of Attila."
The Pontiff requested that Cardinal
Ferrata ask Cardinal Annette, Archbishop
of Paris, for full particulars. as tele-
grams for Rheims are not accepted.
PARIS, Sept. 70
A graphic description of the lombard
ment of the cathedral was given to a
correspondent by Thomas Slidel, a New
York lawyer. who said:
on Saturday shrapnel began TO
smash through the cathedral win
dows about noon, and four nuns and
three prisoners were killed. About 10
Germans were closely packed inside
They were wounded by their own
shells
When I left, the great rose window
over the main entrance was not much
damaged, but all the wonderful 18th
century glass on both sides was
ruined. The statue of the Virgin was
broken In two. while that of Joan of
Arc, just outside, still stood, though
its pedestal was smashed. The noise
or the exploding shells was like a
thunderstorm.
The attitude of the French IN the mat
ter of reprisals is expressed by Gustave
Herve. the Socialist leader:
When we are before Cologne with
our 75-millimetre guns our soldiers
will not need the reminder that CO.
loSne contains one of the seven Won
ders of the world, which must not be
touched
And at Munich, Dresden and Ber-
lin a guard of honor must be placed
before every library, museum and
art gallery We would not send
masterpieces of German art to Lou
vain to replace those DESTROYED
there. but would rebuild her uni
versity out of funds contributed by
every country hut Germany, and
stock 1t with treasures from every
land but Germany. and found
chair of international law to be filled
by Belgian or English jurist who
would each year deliver lectures on
international law and respect for
treaty rights.
The Paris press editoriaIly calls for
he same conservation Of art treasures
the Allies enter Germany.