The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-17
AMIENS CATHEDRAL
CAN Be RESTORED
Daily Smelling by Germans
Failed to Wreck Famous
Structure.
CITY rs BADLY DAMAGED
Few of Civil Population There
as Thanksgiving Ser
vice Is Held.
~ PERRY ROBINSON.

~ PERRY ROBINSON.
Special Gable Despatch to The Sun from the
London Times Service.
Copyright. 1918: oil rights reserved.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE
Aug. ,16.-Amiens Cathedral has seen
many great ceremonials. but none more
impressive than the simple service when
took place there to-day. The service
was held to commemorate the Feast OF
the Assumption. and at the same nme
the deliverance OF the city from inc
threat of German armies. Many win
dows Of the cathedral had been broken
and the floor was Uttered with splinters
Of wood and fragments Of masonry
Mass was celebrated by q single priest
and music was furnished by a small
temporary organ. played by French
soldier. The choir consisted OF about a
dozen French soldiers. The congregation
was made up almost wholly OF French
and BE tisn soldiers and Red Cross
nurses, Gut in the side aisles there were
small groups OF civilians. some OF whom
had remained In the city during the bonn
bardments., -..:
The German offensive was Launched
on March 81, and tn 70 days later
Amiens was in danger. Enemy aVia'ors
dropped several bombs. causing consid-
cradle damage. On the morning OF March
rs the civilian population began to move
out, and the exodus was encouraged by
tha WI n
of nervousness, but no panic. as the
crowds streamed into the railroad sta
ton and upon the roads leading west
ward. Some of the stouter. IL less pru-
dent. OF the Inhabitants remained behind.
Germans Bomb CITY.
The southeastern part Of the city,
where the railroad yards are located,
suffered most from the enemy shells. this
section Of the town being nearest TO the
approaching Germans. As reports OF the
advance continued many places OF busi-
ness were closed. and on the evening OF
March 20 virtually all the storekeepers
prepared to move the next morning.
That night walked eastward In the
town, in the direction Of Querrieu. and
saw some OF the first shells from the
German guns fall in the suburb OF
Rivery. That evening the second most
serious bombing took place. the aviators
this time attacking the central part OF
the city. Many Of the bombs fell In
close proximity to the leading hotels and
in the densely populated area around
the Central Square.
Not many Of the people were above
ground that night and few slept. as the
German aviators flew over the city al
most all night and the uproar from the
antl-alrcraft guns never ceased. The
British war correspondents slept in q
hotel in which all the windows were
broken. Three persons were killed In the
street Immediately outside. '''+.
In those days the widest rumors
quickly gained circulation, and 1t was
suspected at the time that German
agents were at work trying to foment
panic among the people. Tuesday after
noon 1t was reported that a despatch
rider had met enemy cavalry and ar
mored cars pushing eastward In the
direction OF Douiiens. and that the In
habitants had escaped only by hurried
fight, AS a matter of fact the Germans
were never destined to penetrate within
eight miles Of the point where they were
said to have been seen.
Early Wednesday morning. when
most nerves were shaken badly by the
experiences OF the night, the rumor flew
that enemy armored cars and troops
were already this side Of Villlers Bre-
tonneaux. pushing toward the city along
the main road. Panic would have been
excusable in view Of these wild reports.
but the civil population behaved ex-
tremely well.
Few Civilians Remained.
The wisdom OF encouraging the or
# hn 40
was apparent The British soldiers did
all they could to help the people get
their possessions out OF the city. and
on the evening OF that day Amiens vir-
tually was deserted. In the centre of
the city some of the shopkeepers had
the hardhood to hold out a few days
longer.
particularly remember an English
chemist and a we'll known barroom
character opposite the Hotel Des Rhin.
There were. I believe, many Others The
last meal / had in Amiens, after having
slept in q more peaceful neighborhood
the three previous nights, was the eve
ming OF Saturday. March, 80, when I
had tea In a Y. NJ. c. A, hut which
continued for three. days more to serve
the British who were compelled TO re-
main In the city.
From that time onward the Germans
shelled the city steadily every day.
Their regular routine was to subject the
city to two half hour Smelling periods
every day. at irregular intervals. Under
this pounding the city began to disinte-
crate, and each time I passed through
its appearance was more desolate.
While the cathedral has been dam
aged badly there dQrs not seem to be
much wrong with II structurslly. and
helieye II can he rspaired Most of the
glass NJ the windows Is gone. and the
fine carvings are damaged. though not
seriously. Some OF the minor deface-
rents undoubtedly will be allowed to
as perpetual reminders of Ger
man savagery.
l. was estimated by the French au-
thori,ies weeks ago that one house In
seven In Amens had been more or less
damaged Twenty-seven houses were
totally wrecked. The damage to the
city is scattered but for the most part
he rnOairn1