Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-25
Helms HOLLOW SHE'LL;
SCENE OF DEs0LAT|ON
amous French City Is Rapidly Melt
Ing Under Forocity Of Ger
man Vengeance.
ATHEDRAL HEAP OF RUINS
ON juno IL to Juno 70 No Fewer
Than 1862 Shells Poured Into
Streets From Enemy's Big Guns.
Only 5000 People Left.
IBy Associated Press.l

FRENCH EkH RoesSei.ts ial rress.l p,.,n. .,
lifting. Tho big cathedral city Of tho
iampaEne district has the appearance
n hollow she'll which has collapsed
parts and Is rapidly subsiding into a
apeless mass. Not only the cathe-
al. but all the public buildings and
ivate dwelling houses have suffered
rribly In the last half year from the
gins vengeance Of the German gun
RS who have turned a rain of shells
10 the stricken city whenever their
mics have been defeated at any point
the front. These defeats have been
frequent since the allied offensive
gan this year that the city has rarely
.ssed moro than two or three days
lthout undergoing severe lombard
ent.
VIZ 5000 PEOPLE
LEFT IN WHOLE CITY
The extent of the undeserved pun
hment may be gathered from the
'ures relating the number of shells
all calibers poured into the streets
ID on the cathedral during a single
rtntsht from June Is to Juno %. The
tai between those two dates was no
wer than 1862.
There arc only 5000 persons left out
peace-time population OF about
5000. Among them arc q goodly
oportton OF women and children.
'rne Of tho younger women have con-
nued their work throughout. many OF
em being employed in tho champagne
Ia H.
'mparativoly safe from the German
a.
School Is still being carried on. tho
asses being held below tho street sur
ce. and tho municipal government is
so conducted In the bowels OF tho
nth.
A visit to Cardinal Lucon, Archbishop
/, Rheims. who has never for mo-
ent thought OF deserving his post
ose TO the cathedral. found him In
cry confident spirits and in full belief
lat the allied victory was assured. He
,ferred in course OK conversation to
lie great help he had received from
merica and from the other allies He
lid:
"My flock has suffered much. With
ie help placed at my disposal by
mericans and other sympathizers I
ave been able to relieve much distress
ut there Is still much to do. Many
ave lost their all. and should like to
ave at my disposal in readiness for
lie return OF the refugees a reserve OF
lankets and bedding. clothing and
Their essentials SO as to be able to pro-
lde at least some OF the urgently re-
uired needs OF my people when the
ermAns have been driven away, as they
ssuredly will be-
The American consulate, which has
OF been occupied since early in the
,ar. has not suffered greatly from the
onstant bombardmcnt.
In the cathedral Itself a great change
as taken place in recent months.
treat gaping holes show in the roof.
IL tho ancient stained glass has fall
IN out in millions of fragments onto
no stone floors. and as a consequence
the she'll explosions in and around
he building the statues OF saints are
rumbled; frequent craters show In the
DOR; all the woodwork has succumbed
o the flames. and at any moment a big
hell may cause the whole structure to
ollapse.
Nearly 700 shells have hit tho build
ne. One Of them-a tweIve-inch pro-
ect!le--did not explode, and it now
lands on Its base beside ono Of the
alars Of the nave.