New-York tribune., 1918-08-03
Miracle Church
OF Rheims Laid
In Ruins by Foe
Historic Structure of ST.
Remi Sacrificed to Ger
man Vandalism
By Wilbur Forrest
Especial Cable to The Tribune)


Copyright. 1918. by Tho Tribune Association
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES, Aug.
2.-St. Remi Church, the miracle edi-
flee of Rheims, which was fred by Ger
man incendiary shells on Wednesday,
is to-day a smoking heap of ruins.
The "Martyred City of Rheims"-a
phrase used by almost every writer
since the famous cathedral was ruined
by the enemy-is now martyr in
every sense of the word.
For four years st. Remi Church, one
of the last remaining of the priceless
structures of Roman architecture in
France, has stood unscathed. Even
while the beautiful cathedral was be-
ing shattered by deliberate German
bombardment no scratch marred the
walls of this precious pile of stones,
the first Of which was placed in posi-
tion in the year 1915.
Hope clung in the breasts of those
who love art that peace might come
some day and find St. Remi Church the
same miracle of intactness that it has
been while years of destruction
wrought all around it,
Only Few Shells Needed
French officers and others in an OBJ
servation post on the Mountain Of
Rheims late Wednesday afternoon,
with the city laid out to the north
meath them, saw incendiary enemy mis-
allies strike the famous church repeat
Sdly Columns of white smoke and
dust rose into the air, and the OBJ
servers, among whom were Catholics,
gasped.
Some of the latter reverently made
the sign of the cross, and all knew they
were watching priceless monument
of worship sacrificed to German van
dalism. All felt they were living
through historic moments, for St.
lecture, began its career as q finished
edifce just 879 years ago.
1t required only few incendiary
shells from the German guns to reduce
the venerable temple with all it's his
tory and art to a flaming mass, merci-
fully hidden at moments by swirls Of
it's own smoke.
Named for Archbishop
St. Remi was an archbishop, born in
the ninth century. He baptized Clovis,
the first king of the Franks to turn
from heathenism to Christianity. He
later became a saint, and the edifce
now burned was erected in his memory
Robes worn by the archbishop, which
had been kept in the church throughout
the centuries, were saved by an in
trepid French soldier under heavy she'll
fire. Practically nothing else was
saved.
That the destruction of the edifce
was deliberate stands out. The Ger
mans know we'll that above ground
Rheims is deserted. The French SOL
diers live in caves, but hold themselves
in readiness to come out and defend the
city. The enemy lines so surround the
city that their observers are able to
see into every street. Thus, with COM
plcte command of the city, Smelling it
can serve no military purpose. The
guns are able at any moment to place
missiles where they will, and this is
why the French soldiers shun the sur
face.
From the sparing of st. Remi church
for four years it seems evident that the
eventual destruction of this monument
was result of the blind rage of defeat
and a parallel crime with the sacking
of Louvain, the killing OF Edith Caveli
and the torpedoing Of the Lusitania.
During the French Revolution ST.
Remi was one Of the richest churches
in France, containing wealth Of untold
value in jewels and plate. Who took
this wealth is one Of the mysteries still
locked in the smoking ruins-ruins
which crashed down Wednesday night,
covering the white marble tombs Of st.
Ampouge and Archbishop st. Remi him :
self.