The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-11
RHEIMS Devastated
BUT FREE At LAST
ncl-Tattcrcd Walls Of Ruined
Cathedral.
WORK OF SHELLS Is THOROUGH
Every Form Of Habitatton Flattened
or Pierced BY German Ffrc-Cavil-
ians Eager to Return to City.
By DAMON RUNYoN.

a~nS AAsSSA W AS&t0hAA w ~AsSs
BY DAMON RUNYON.
Amid the Ruins Of Rheims, Oct. 10.
inside the shrapnel bitten walls of
the historical old cathedral Of Rheims
today several souvenir-hunters were
already playing around among the
debris, seeking bits OF sapphire like
blue glass from the famous north
window.
Outside the battered streets echoed
10 the clump Of marching feet and
the grind Of wheels as French infan-
try and artillery rolled steadily for
ward in the wake OF the retreating
Germans.
Months ago. when Rheims was still
occupied by civilians, some convivial
soul apparently ordered up a round
Of drinks in little corner bar-room
not far from the cathedral. A Ger
man shell came along and peeled of
the front of the cafe, leaving the
interior gaping wide open. Five
glasses of wine stood on the bar this
morning, with the contents untouch-
ed It was windfall for big French
soldier riding by on a jogging wagon.
munching a hunk OF bread. He hop
ped down from his perch, drank off
Two of the glasses OF wine and then
hurriedly regained his seat. There
is scarcely a building in town. how
ever big or however small, that hasn' I
been touched by the torrent of shells
which fell over Rheims through long
years.
The whole city is like a great heap
Of rubbish, which has been showed
TO one side of the road to let the SOL
diers through. Blocks of houses have
~sA
ing the furniture and the pictures on
the wall--like stage setting Big
buildings that once housed magnif-
iceni stores are mere piles OF debris.
white with the dust from the stone
with which Rheims was built CEN
turtles ago.
Up to a few months ago the town
was well occupied by civilians. II
VAS here that little children west to
school in gas masks Their school Is
now a wreck.
Constantly throughout the war.
Rheims has been sprayed by gun fire.
Finally the Germans moved so close
that the city was completely evacu-
ated and until We entered 1t, after
the delverance of the ruins by the
tonverging drive of the Americans
and French. no civilian had been in
the place since May
One OF the richest and most beau
uful cities OF all France. Rheims was
greatly coveted by the Germans. Hut
they were never bic 10 take 1t. They
were only able TO ruin it 1t is one
Of the most complete OF their devilish
Jobs in France.
Baltimore or San Francisco, after
their great fires, were only slightly
damaged, compared to Rheims
Here every roof and tree, every
form of bahitation. has been fatten-
ed or punched through by giant shells
untii the whole thing amounts TO to-
tai destruction.
lowering not far t-ahind long line
Of soldiers and gums streaming
through the streets today are many
civilians who formerly lived in
Rheims. They are eagerly awaiting
the chance TO rush back to what is
left in the homes and places of bug
mess.
~ They. asI! not And g, much. Mary
left the town without waiting 10 pack
up any belongings. Tables stand all
set for meals that were never eaten.
Zig shells have popped through open
bed rooms and scattered the clothes
of men and women and children far
and wide.
Rheims was badly damaged early
in The war. but II managed to retain
some semblance OF what IL used TO be
until lately Now ii Is of piece
with the sad picture presented by Ar
ras and other small towns in northern
France.
The walls and towers OF the cathe-
dral are s,il standing. but the build
ing is hardly more than smoke
biAckened skeleton. Many shells have
fallen on the great saulted roof All
81 10 t.aA hA4
windows Long ago the secret Of
making this glass was lost That is
why it is so eagerly sought by the
relic hunters.
Many famous garEoyles have been
hipned OF and lie scattered around
the building. Several paintings still
hang on the walls. uninJurcd In
v.cA OF what has been done TO the
rest OF the town II is remarkable that
the Germans were unable 10 do even
more damage to the cathedral as il
presents evidence in the form OF shen
MARKS showing that no effort was
spared TO level il. The old Grand no.
tel, Just across the way. is smashed ,
40 IS nearly every building for blocks
around.
few French soldiers We're on
Suard at the cathedral today. \ few
O hers were quartered around the
town Throughout today the streets
rrsounded with the tramp of columns
marching through. Some soldiers had
secured copies of Paris papers along
the road and were reading as they
marched The men were laughing and
shouting to each other.
-Duy Liberty Bonds--
AMERICAN WHITE BREAD FOR
fTALY'S AiidNG CHILDREN