New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-17
ARTICLE V

London. Jan. 3.-When in the fall OF
1914 the Allies and Germans settled
down to their long campaign of trench
warfare their lines ran close to Arras
and Albert and not many miles from
Amiens. The first two have suffered
badly in the war; Amiens thus far IS
practically unscathed. Our chief in
terest was in Arras and Albert, as they
are in British hands, though Amiens Is
interesting because the Germans passed
through it twice in the early days OF
the war and it is within easy hearing
distance of the Somme roar.
In pre-war times Arras had a popula-
ton of $4,000; now there are scarcely
anv inhabitants, and the few left are
hardly more than cave dwellcrs, seldom
going out in the daytime and in con-
slant peril of German "strafe.' II Is
a fine example of a "ghost' clty; the
skeleton is there, but the blood and
life are gone. If it remains IN its
present condition until after the war
tourists will do well to visit 1t.
Cathedral Tower Ruined
As YOU near it the first thing to at
tract your eve is the ruined tower OF
the cathedral, which has been target
for German shells so long that there
is hardly more than a pile Of stones
left. Why they have not completed the
Job is a mystery.
Nearby stands L'Hotel de Vile, or
rather there is enough o. 1t remaining
for one to understand why once 1t was
considered a piece Of architecture worth
going far to see. If you want TO see
the interior now you must be able to
climb like a goat or monkey, Tor
gigantic piles Of broken blocks lie
scattered about.
We ate our luncheon in what was
once one of the main streets OF AfraS'
In this tumbled down city, where the
only noise is made by guns barking
at German trenches or an occasional
German shell bursting over an already
strafed house-there is hardly single
building left undamaged-you see
many odd freaks.
For instance, at the corner OF fas-
teur and St. Nicholas Streets there IS
a four story house the front or whlch
was shaved off clearly en- July 10 OF
last
kitchen. The pots of jam, n bag OF
| Aour and numerous pots and pans
stand in the cupboard Just as they
wore when the shell hit the house.
! On the top floor "A sheet and a couple
Of pillow cases hang on line where
they we're put TO dry. Beneath the
nile of rubbish in front Of the house
| lie the bodies Of the tenants.
Live in Cheese Cellar
In one place there is a cheese stor-
| ing establishment, or was before the
war. Beneath the place IL long,
winding tunnel, dark and damp, ana
! smelling strongly of cheese, though
/ tbere is none there now. All about the
bouSes are badly demolished, but this
particular building has escaped.
There is "A French woman and her
father living In the cellar; her hus-
hand was killed in front OF the shop
nearly two years ago. We went down
| into the cellar. A fine, fluffy omelet
\ and some fried potatoes were on the
| table. lighted by a small oil lamp.
She gave US candles, and led the
| way down into the circling tunnel. She
| showed where she and her neighbors
| lived for two days, with only little
bread 70 feed them, while the Germans
strafed the city. She pointed TO a
break in the tunnel caused by shell
which had penetrated deep into the
street and exploded.
She wanted TO know where>we had
come from, and when we told her Eng
land" she exclaimed:
"Ohi Weren't you afraid Of being
torpedoed" And this from woman
who lived on the edge OF a volcanol
Where Tommies Were Captive
Time works great changes, as illus
trated by visit TO the old Citadel Of
Arras. We roamed about the old place