The Washington times., 1915-07-15
CITY OF LOUVA|N IS
RISING FROM ASHES
Inhabitants, Working Under d.
rection of Mayor, Repairing
Damage Wrought.
By CARL w. ACKERMAN.

IOUyAIN, Belgium, May II (by
nail. .-Louvain is full of surprises and
Alled with pathos. One Is surprised to
and at least seven -tenths of the city un-
Acuched by the fire which the German
Axny kindled to suppress sniping war
fnre. One is surprised to see the Hotel
Ae Willie still standing with not trace
OF smoke, fire or shell. The beautiful
carved statued facade is as white as
paper. One is surprised, too, to see the
progress the Inhabitants are making in
cleaning and rebuilding their ruined
city.
But all this cheerfulness in a city that
was thought to be dead is almost COW
cred UP by the pathetic faces Of the in
habitants whose homes were ruined.
] travelled through Louvain today by
automobile. I tramped through the CEN
ter of the city, examined the interior
of the cathedral and later rode through
the city on the train and saw the blocks
and blocks of brick walls. pierced and
blackened, but which one day were
homes and stores. Louvain Is undoubt-
edly a martyred city.
Thousands Shot BY Snipers.
Colonel Burmann. OF the German
army, who was our guide, was one of
the first Germans to enter Louvain. He
fire better than probably any other SOL
dier now in Belgium. No one pities LOU
vain and its inha bitants moro than this
big German officer. The fire was start
ed. he said, only as a last desperate ef-
fort of the Germans to stop the snip
ping warfare. Thousands Of Germans.
he declared were shot down as they
marched through the city. In the cathe-
dral alone he said the Germans found
400 Belgian rifles and many boxes Of
ammunition.
Today the art trea sures of Louvan are
securely packed in the basement of the
Hotel de Vile. The art world owes the
safety Of these priceless works to
young German art student who was
with the invading army. When this boy,
who has studied in Louvain University,
heard that the city would be set afire,
he rushed to the commander, and told
him Of these valuable treasures THIS
youth then mapped out the location Of
the treasures and under his guidance
they were removed from the burning
territory to the basement.
Cathedral Half Destroyed.
I was told that most of the paintings
from the cathedral were saved, but
as tramped about in the ruins count
ed six large oil paintings on the walls
Of the church. but entirely unharmed.
This cathedral appears to be about
half destroyed. On one side the paint
ings and beautiful hlack-an white mar
BILE altars are untouched. On the other
only the bare stone walls remain. The
church chimes have fallen from the loft
a score of pieces.
But Louvains ruins are guarded as
precious treasures by the inhabitants.
The only souvenirs travellers pick up
are postca rds and the dust on their
shoes.
Should one wish bird s-eye view Of
Louvain. imagine a city shaped like a
large wheel. with ten spokes running
cathedral. Hotel de Vile. and Louvain
University around the rub. The spokes
are city streets, and between are the
houses and stores. for Louvain was a
a fire swept away'the houses between
three spokes and destroyed everything
around the hub except the Hotel de
Vile and the cathedral. Then you will
see Louvain today.
Trying To Rebuild City.
Now stand before the Hotel de Vile
and look TO the west. Not a house or
building is touched by fire or shell. a
short distance away read the sign:
Cafe de Wilson," Now turn to the left.
and you see more city streets untouched
and crowded with inha bitants. Business
going on as usual. Nearby you read
another sign: Hotel de American" In
a nearby restaurant you will find bread
as white as you eat in America, for II s
bread made from American wheat which
the Belgian relief commission is supply
ing.
Down the street which we travel en-
route to Brussels you will see workmen
piling up bricks from the ruined houses
for the inhabitants. headed by the
mayor. are trying their best to rebuild
the city.
Louvain is full Of surprises and flled
with pathos. But from what / saw to-
day. I do not believe it is a dead city.
il will rise some day out of it's ruins. for
with ssven-tenths of the city untouched
by fire or shell. with the beautiful Hotel
de Vile still standing to inspire the
people. 1t needs only peaceful, normal
times to grow and prosper.
arVea 0h'S Sarratorx,