The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-19
Famous Cathedral City Only a
SmOuIdering Mass.
Germans Have Fired Over 100,-
600 Shells Into City.
CATHEDRAL IS NEARLY GONE
Forty Paris Firemen Have
Worked Against Fire.
Cathedral One of Oldest and
Most Magnificent.

Paris, April 19.-Rheims, which has
been on fire for a week. is now nothing
but a great pile of smoking ruins
During the past week :he Germans
have fired more than 100000 shells
into the heart of the city, according
to the correspondent of lie Matin and
flames from the burning buildings
ozn be seen by aviators sixty and
seventy miles away.
There are no traces of streets and
tforofares which have disappear
from view under the accumulation of
debris. Ancient buildings in the
Place Royale and the market and the
Musician house which date from the
sixteenth century have been reduced
the famous Rheims cathedral, the cor
respondent says. is falling and soon
there will be nothing left of the edi-
flee but the west front and the pillars
Shells are still bursting all around the
building.
Not withsta nding the terrible bonn
bardment. forty Paris firemen are still
in the city working to save the furni-
ture and portable effects of the inhab-
itants Some of them have lost their
lives. With the Paris firemen are
some local firemen. one of whom, Ser
geant Eloi has been on duty in
Rheims since the outbreak of the war
and has been wounded fourteen times.
HstH y Victim OF German ftaIc.
-Rheims. before the war a city of
more than 100000 souls. has slowly
but none the less surely been falling
a victim to German hate and spite
fitness. In their first advance in the
fall of 1914 the Germans held Rheims
for several days. but the battle of the
Marine stopped their advance aud they
fell back to a line a few miles north
and northeast of the city. Since then
the big German guns have been bonn
harding the city and its famous cathe-
dral.
few months ago was less than $4,000,
but these persons lived in dugouts or
in cellars and the city was virtually
dead
Most Magnificent Edificc.
The cathedral was one of the most
magnificent examples OF early Gothic
architecture and was begun in 1912.
The swest facade had three portals
which contained about $50 statues.
Above the portals was the gorgeous
rose window forty feet in diameter
and one OF the finest specimens of the
art of stained glass construction.
I'D to November 1, 1915 the Ger
mans had fired thousands of shells in
70 the city, 1000 of which had struck
tne cathedral Since then whenever
the German troops met with reverses
the enemy guns took up the lombard
ment anew. Until the latest lombard
Inent the cathedral had suffered great
ly-and the rose window had almost
been destroyed.
Kaiser Has Forgotten Promise.
In January, 1917, Emperor William
inssresponse to a request from Pope
Benedict. said he would permit re-
pairs 20 be made to the cathedral in
LIS enIeavor ITO preserve from the
teFFors of war venerable places of re-
liEious worship and monuments OF
art which are considered as the com
mon property of humanity"
The German military authorities
have attempted to excuse the bonn
bardment of the cathedral on the
ground that it was being used for
military purposes by the French. This
claim has been denied repeatedly by
archbishop Lucon, who until a few
weeks ago. made his home in his
residence beside the cathedral, I'M
mindful of German hatred.