The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-20

THE SuN prints bcloiC the fuH report
Of whitney Warren. the American
architect on the damage done 10 Rheims
Cathedral bU German shells. Mr.. War
ren's report has Just been read before
the French Institute aud briet sum
mary OF Il has already been published
here By cable:
PARIS. Sept. 2s.--On Friday, Septem-
Der 25, received word from the en-
bassy that the French Government had
made arrangements to take me 20
Rheims In order that l might make a
report on general conditions and espe-
cially upon the cathedral. SO at
o'clock the next morning / started off
with two automobiles under the escort
OF Capt. Henri Charbonnel, accom-
phnied by two soldiers, one automobile,
conducted by Mr.. Hall of New York.
containing Major Morton Henry, Major
Cosby and Lieut.. Boyd of the embassy.
We followed the route direct to
Meaux, then to La Fertesur Jouarrc,
from there to Chateau-Thierry. where
we picked up third automobile con-
timing Capt. Perrin. with authority
from Gen. Joffre to conduct us any
where we chose TO go, providing 1t was
safe.
From there to Epernay. where we had
luncheon, and then to Chalons-sur-
Marine, where was stationed the chef
d'etat-major There they told us 1t was
possible to go to Rheims, although the
bombardment had been rather severe
I Il. - p..1
west and proceeded to Rheims passing
/ by Conde-sur- Marine and Very. Here
We passed many troops. who, although
tagged, seemed 10 be in very good con-
dtiou, and we arrived at Rheims at
4:30, proceeding directly 10 the cathe-
dral, where | remained until dark, talk
ing and visiting the monument with
the Cure LandrieuX and the Abhe
Thlnot, who had been IN charge Of the
cathedral from the commencement.
The next day l was again at tho
cathedral, from 1880 in the morning
until 4.30 in the afternoon, visiting It
/ in every particular. endeavoring to
realize the damage done. whether in
tentionally inflicted or not. The follow
ing is as near AZ | am able to ascertain
the different phases of the lombard
ment;
Four bombs on First Day.
on September a. when the Germans
/ first entered Rheims, there was "A first
bomhardment by their guns. Interpreted
/ by the Germans themselves as either II
mistake or caused by the jealousy OF
some corps not allowed that privilege
Four bombs fell upon the cathedral
one on the north transept. doing but
little damage, however.
on September IA and Is. after the
Germans had evacuated the city and
tho French had entered. the lombard
ment recommended, but without touch
ing the catneI-ral. On September II
two bombs struck, one on the apse and
the other ON the north transept,
on the 18th the cathedral was again
hit on the southern flying huttresses
and on the roof. killing gendarme and
several German wounded
on September 10 the cathedral was
fairly riddlcd by bombs during tho en-
tire day and at about 345 the scaffod-
ing surrounding the north tower caught
fire. This fire lasted about one hour
and during that time two further bombs
struck tho roof, setting It also on fire
The cure claims that one OF these
bombs must have been incendiary
otherwise 1t would he impossible TO ex,
plain the extraordinary quickness witt
which the fire spread throughout tn,
roof timbers.
The fire from the scaffolding descende,
until II reached the north door OF TN
main facade, which caught rapidly