Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-21
GERMANS CONTINUE
To FIRE ON RHEIMS
Kaiser's Forces Give Ground In
Hand-to Hand Battle With
French

Chalons-S Sur Marne, via Paris, Sept.
21, 1.20 A. M.--The Germans con-
tinued bombarding the principal
buildings of Rheims yesterday and
last night. Debris and crumbling walls
are all that is left of the thirteenth
century cathedral. the most remark
able example that was left of early
Gothic architecture. In addition to
the cathedral the museum, the hos
pitfalls and the city hall were for the
great part destroyed Several inhabi-
tants of the city were killed.
In spite of the bombardment and
| their repeated attacks upon it the
Germans have been unable to take
Rheims, which they evidently desire
so as to obtain command of the rail-
ways leading to Charleville, Verdun
and Chalons. The allies have re-
, pulsed the German attacks and made
several impetuous counter movements
in which their infantry charged with
magnificent bravery regardless of the
| terrible storm of shrapnel.
First Ranks Suffer
The first ranks suffered terribly. but
as fast as the men fell others rushed
up to take their places, and when the
enemys lines were reached there were
hand-to-h hand encounters, in which
the Germans were forced to give
SIOulu. tACtpl Oh inc hel6ulS VI
mon, which, owing to the overwhelIn-
ing fire of machine guns. the Germans
recaptured. At the same time the
French made a fierce assault on the
heights of La Pompelle, which they
carried at the point of the bayonet.
The struggle here was a desperate one
and after the retirement of the Ger
mans Turcos were found dead from
bayonet wounds with their arms
clasped in such vice-lil1e grips around
the necks of antagonists that they
literally had to be pried open.
Difficult to Describe
Persons who have returned here
| from Rheims say that 1t is difficult to
find words to describe these attacks
| and counter ttacks of infantry amid
showers of shot and shell and in
deluge of rain. The Germans, they
declare. seem in a desperate hurry to
| finish their task and are enraged at
| the stubborn resistance of the French.
| The Germans, they say, had all the
best of the position at the opening of
| the battle, but the situation is now
| changed, and the French have been
able to gain positions on high ground
that will enable them to fight on even
| terms and declare the Germans will
never be able to break their lines at
Rheims.
Covered With Mud
Soldiers are coming back here COW
cred with mud and drenched to the
skin by the heavy Fains which con-
tinue to fall. The chalky clay ground
north of Rheims has been so softened,
they say, that 1t will be impossible for
a retreating army to get away its ar
| tillery. To this fact they attribute the
desperation with which the Germans
are fighting.
| Floods caused by the continuous
rains are greatly impeding military
operations and especially in the east.
where the streams are beginning to
| overflow their banks. The river
| Sovaureuz already is out of it's banks
and some habitations are isolated.
While rescuing family NJ. Goublet.
the administrator at Belfort. was seri.
ously injured. He was mentioned in
the order of the day for bravery by
the general in command.