New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-20
EIGHT SHELLS HIT
RHEIMS CATHEDRAL
Wounded Germans Laid in
Nave and Geneva Flags
Hoisted on Tower.

London, Sept. 19.-The famous Cath
edral of Notre Dame at Rheims was
hit eight times by German shells IN
the three days bombardment Of the
town, according to "The Evening News
correspondent, who viewed the fighting
from the cathedral tower yesterday.
Directly the shells began to hit the
cathedral in the morning" says the
correspondent. "some German wounded
were brought in from the hospital
near by and laid on straw in the nave,
while Abbe AndrieuX and Red Cross
soldier pluckily went up to the tower
and hung out two Geneva flags.
81 believe a shell which hit the
building while / was there was a stray
shot. for the German gunners could
hardly miss 40 huge mass, towering
above the town, if they really wished
20 reach it. But the houses close by
we're not 80 spared. Shell after she'll
came whistling toward rs and smashed
into the houses, one Of them just
across the cathedral square.
Under the cold. drifting rain clouds
one whole Semi-circle of the horizon
edgCG By the heights on which the
German batteries were mounted three
miles away, was nothing but an in
.crno Of bursting shells. Those from
the Germans landed anywhere within
the space of 4 square mile. Some
times il was just outside the town they
fell. trying 20 find the French troops
lying there in the trenches, waiting to
go forward 20 attack the hills when
II cir artillery had prepared the way.
Sometimes Il was on the wool combing
MiliS OF an English company, whose
four chimney stacks made them con-
spicuouS mark; sometimes it was right
in the heart of the town itself.
"Once one Of them, screaming abom-
inabiy. crashed through the transcpt
roof OF the other end Of the cathedral.
! shall never forget the note Of hor-
riGcd surprise and indignation that
burst from the old sacristan when a
shell smashed a hole IN the house
close before our eyes. That's my
hcugen he shouted, as II for the Ger
man gunnerS tErcc miles away TO hear
his protest. Then his voice dropped to
a key O. bitter grief. 'Ah, The misery
Of IT, was all he said, and his face
remained unmoved. for none of the
li;tle group OF priests ard cathedral
officials showed either fear or emotion.
"'Ycu must remember we have had
.hrec days of this said one Of them.
"Thc Church Of St. Remi, the nest
ar r"ient ecclesiastical building in
Rheims, received two shells, and all the
vest rose window was blown out"
According TO this correspondent few
civilians were killed, because virtually
ever one was Under ground for three
days. The great champagne cellars
were nade barracks Of refuge. The
correspondent Visited the coadjuror
Bishop Of Rheims, who met him on the
cellar steps.
"You will ind Us underground nc
said with a smile on his wh.nalea-,
good kumored face. Two CraD.-',S
were with him. reading brevia-:c' y the
cellar by lampliSht.
Meanwhile" adds ne co. ,c.rr"E.rt,
"tre courtesy and good nature s. WI
70 the German wounded .lft ~ n. c.sy
was astonishiEC. While shells |arc
falling around the temporary hospita,
in the nave | found French officers
talking 20 them, bringing wine and CIV
ing them eTerv consideration. There
was only one subject the Germans
wanted 20 talk shout. WGs il not pos
sible. they asked, 20 get bigger Red
Cross iag 10 pus OF the tower:
I'VE started back 20 Paris through a
torrential rair and = w.nd 90 strong
hat they seemed 70 Dc trying 20 mi
tate The fury Of the mer o. the battle
lire. A she'll had fallen OF g rei!wa%
erban6mcat close by and KILLED a man,
refugee I. was miserable enough
for US; what must i have been for
those wretched homeless refugees,
whose burned out cottages We passed
for mile after mile of blsckened, ruined
and forsaken countryside ?"