The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-07-15
ART TREASURES
SAVED BY A BOY
Stored Away in Basement by Ef-
forts Of German Stadent.Sol-
der; Belsians are Rebuild
iug Their City
BY CARL W. AckERMAN.
United Press staff Correspondent


Louysin, Belgium. May f1-(By
mail to New York)-Louyain is full
OF surprises and filled with pathos.
One is surprised to find at least
seven tenths OF the city untouched by
the fire which the German army kin.
died to punish shipping warfare. One
Is surprised TO see the Hotel de Villa
still standing with not a 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 max
ing in cleaning and rebuilding their
ruined city.
But all this cheerfulness in city
that was thought to be dead is almost
covered up by the pathetic faces OF
the inhabitants whose homes were
ruined.
travelled through Louvain To-Day
by automobile. tramped through tho
center OF the city. examined the in
terror OF the cathedral and later rode
through the city on train and saw
the blocks and blocks OF brick walls.
pierced and blackened, but. which one
day were homes and stores Louvain
.s undoubtedly martyred city.
Col. Burmann OF the German army,
who was our guide. was one of the
first Germans TO enter Louvain. He
knows the history OF the fighting and
fires better than probably any other
soldier now in Belgium. No one pities
Louvain and its inhabitants mvse
than this big German officer. Im-
fire was started. he said. only as a
last desperate effort OF the Germans
TO stop the sniping warfare. Thou
sands OF Germans. he declared were
shot down as they marched through
the city In the cathedral alone he
said the Germans found 400 Belgian
rifles and many boxes OF ammunition
Today the art treasures of Louvaia
are securely packed in the basement
of the Hctel dc Vile. The art world
owes the safety of these priceless
works TO a young German art student
who was with the invading army
When this boy, who has studied in
Louvain university, heard that the
city wauld be set afire he rushed to
the commander, told him of these val
liable treasures. This youth then
mapped out the location of these
treasures and under his guidance they
were removed from the burning terri
tory to the basement of safety.
/ was, told that most of the paint
ings from the cathedral were saved
but as tramped about in the ruins
counted six large oil paintsings still
on the walls OF the church but entire
ly unharmed This cathedral appears
to be about half destroyed On one
side the paintings and beautiful black
and white marble affairs are untouch-
ed. On the other only the pare stone
walls yemain. The church chimes
have fallen from the loft to the cathe-
dral floor and broken into score of
pieces. f''S
But Louvain's ruins are guarded as
precious treasures by the inhabitants.
The only souvenirs travellers pick up
are postcards ana the dust on their
shoes.
Should you. wish birds eye view
of Louvain imagine city shaped like
large wheel with ten spokes run
ming from the axle or center. Picture
to yourself the cathedral, Hotel de
VILE and Louvain university around
the hub. The spokes are city streets
and between are the house and stores,
for Louvain was city of 10000 peo-
Pile. Imagine. then, that fire swept
away the houses between three spokes
and destroyed everything around the
hub except the Hotel de Vile and the
cathedral Then Won will see LOuyain