New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-04

! friend OF the cathedral" required lot
of coaXing before he told that he had
won both the first and second class
some time before, and elsewhere the
second for galloping his heavy howltzer
battery into action like field artillery
and by getting il TO work at close
range. "smearing" a desperate French
attack; first class for continuing 70
direct the fire Of his battery from the
roof Of building until it was literally
shot from under his feet the friend
Of the cathedral" IS also an expert
enced aviator, and when business IS
dull in the howitzer line around
Rheims kills time by aerial recon
NOTHING. "Be sure and send me a copy
of your paper" he laughed when beat
a hasty strategic :ctreat 70 the rear to
keep the Wilsonian neutrality from
being violated for after lunch French
shells have the haoit Of raining alike
on the just and the unjust.
Retreat to the Chateau Mumm.
The strategic retreat led through a
village where in farmyard was seen
one Of the most curious freak OF the
war. A French shell had exploded
here. and the terrific air pressure had
lifted a farm wagon bodily and depos-
tied il on the roof of the stable, where
il still perches.
Half mile beyond was something
/ even more curious "a subterranean VII
iage built in the woods by German
pioneers. and consisting Of many small
block houses Of fir logs sunk three
quarters Of the way into the ground,
/ the rest covered over with mounds Of
dirt and laid with sod. The idea. II
/ was explained, was 20 have a cosey and
/ safe place of retreat when the French
| batteries. as occasionally happened,
took the village ahead under FIRE.
/ Nv retreat ended at Chateau Mumm,
I well out of the firing zone, where GEN
eral Count Won Waldersee did the hon
ors in the unavoidable absence of the
o,.ner, said to be related TO a well
known brand of champagne. On in
ouirv, | learned that the champagne
cellars of Chateau Mumm were quite
empty. but the retreatine French were
said 10 have caused the vacuum. not
} the Germans. Chateau Mumm's abse.-
tee owner will be glad to learn that
/ his property is being well cared for,
%. nding his return. | was interested
/ TO note quite recent issues OF
i London Times" Daily Mail" and Lon
/ don Daily Telegraph" on the drawing
/ room table.
ats very interesting, you know, to
road what our enemies are s ying
about us" staff officer expl med.
Two other items 81 miscellaneous IN
terest were picked up. From wen
;rformed source | learned that az one
staoe Of the game the English Long
/ T|r1s" we're posted 10 good adyanta g
/ back of Rheims out of range OF the
/ German heavy artillery. Alth9ugh
! their Iyddite shells were AlIegeu ~
L. .N..lHn al
/ have been comparatively harmless ahD
/ did little damage. they we're neNeIthe
| less silenced on general prlnclpIe' auu
/ by a very simple eXpedlent. Every 'In'
; the Long Toms" were iired rev al,
swering shells were sent their way ana
/ o. course. falling short, dropped in'o
/ the city. This gave rise TO stories OF
"furi rs bombardment Of Rheims. DuV
also caused the withdrawal Oh the
/ "Lone Toms" 10 spare the city,
a general whose name IS famillar ~
everv reader Of The Tribune said'
81 could take Rheims with my corps
/ in twenty-four hours. -..,.
Rut there was no present advantage
I in storming il at this time. ana ceI
! tain disadvantages. for, IN ADDITION 10
/ certain strategic reasons, IL was ca
/ ,Jained the Germans would be saG
| oled with the burden Of having 10 q"
( minister and feed the large city.
The "battle for Rheims looked I"
ne very much like a put-up Joo' "
game Of trying 10 silence one an
etber's batteries. and nothing more A
hesyy artillery duel is essentially
contest between trained observers try
/ ing 10 get line on the Whereabouts
OF the enemy's guns. and, looking down
on Rheims from the German mus
even lay correspondent could sense
| the military necessity which would uiIYe
the French 10 make use Of the only
/ high spots in town from which you
could see anything for observation
purposes. and the equally grim neces-
/ sity for the Germans 10 dislodge them.
came away with the impression that
the world owes a real debt OF gfsu-
tude 20 "the friend Of the Rheims "a
1911 -