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. %.

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 interior 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 is in
Joan of Arc. which stands before the
facade. escaped serious damage.
LONDON, Sept. %.
That there is an intention on the part
Of the German military experts to en-
deavor to raze the entire city of Rheims
is believed here. 1t is claimed the Cen
eral 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 it.
In describing the conditions in Rheims,
the Daily Telegraph correspondent says
that there is hardly house in the neigh
borhooo of the cathedral that escaped
damage. Continuing he says
The masonry OF the cathedral is
Clipped and many of the carved fig
ures and gargoyles have been broken
off. In the doorway still stands the
crippled beggar-crippied in ls70-who
has remained at his post through a
rain of flying splinters and dust.
pebbles and glass Fifty shells found
lodgment in the interior, but the stone
work wthstood 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. its priceless
decorations are ruined for all time
ROME, Sept, p 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 2Oth
century 70 be plunged back 10 the time
of AttiIa"
The Pontif requested that Cardinal
Ferrata ask Cardinal Annette, Archbishop
of Paris, for fun particulars, as tele-
grams for Rheims are not accepted
PARIS, Sept %
graphic description of the lombard
ment of the cathedral was given 10 a
correspondent by Thomas slidell, a New
York lawyer, who said;
on Saturday shrapue began 10
smash through the cathedral win
dows about noon. and four nuns and /
three prisoners We're killed About lE6 /
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 iust outside, still stood though
its pedestal was smashed The noise
of the exploding shells was like
thunderstorm.
The attitude Of the French in the mat
ter Of reprsals is expressed by Gustaye
Hcrve, the Socialist leakrr.
When we are before Cologne with
our 75-uillmetre guns our soldiers
viii not need the reminder that CO.
loEue contains one of The seven won
dcrs of the world, which must not he
touched
And al Munich Dresden and Per
lin "A guard of honor must be placed
before every library museum and
art gallery. We would not send
masterpieces NJ German ant Ia Lou
vain ro replace those DESTROYED
there but would rebuild her uni
vcgsiiy ont Of funds contributed hv
every country but Germany. ana
stock it with treasures from every
land hut Germany, ana found a
chair of international law 10 be- hled
by BELGIAN or Englisn jurist. who
would each year deliver lectures on
international law and respect for
treaty ri-Ets-
The Paris press cditoriauy calls for
the same conservation Of art treasures
II the Allies enter Germany.