Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-29
HUNS RUIN PROTESTANT
PROPERTIES IN FRANCE
Proof of Wanton Destruction of Churches and Par
sonages Brought Back to America by Army
Chaplains and Workers.

rroof Of the wan;on destruction by
ne Germans OF scores of French
even suggested had been used tor mill
;arN purposes has been brought to this
country 10y Chaplain Daniel courc, OF
the French army. Il recon; visitor TO
Richmond. where he spoke several times
in ST. Paul's Episcopal Church. and
Fey. Henri Anoi. ID. D.
neeh collected; II Was announced lay
the lntcrchurch Committee for Chris
!ian RELIEF in Franco. and Belgium. 2S.
Fourth Avenue. New York. TO show that
1870 Protestant churches were under
enemy fire or otherwise wrecked dur
ing ,ho war. 1t is estimated by the
he needed to repair the damage and
Civ" the CONGREGATIONS now start
The impoverished people. who. with
characteristic French attachment ~
their native villages. have gone back
10 live in the ruins Of their former
homes. arc now worshipns ia rrivat"
houses or any place of assembly over
which the invading foe has left a roof.
The artillery. narhsmcm and inccn-
distinction OF creed. While they found
their most conspicuous targets in splcn-
did ca;hedr rails. such MS those at Rheims
and scissors. they were equally assidu-
piled 20 modest rural churches and
pastoral residences that harrcned 10
be within the range Of their opera
t;ous.
DESTROY PROTESTANT
PASTORAL RESIDENCES
BESIDES the wrecked churches. many
o! which were OF small dimensions and
plain architecture the Germans de-
Stroyed or seriously damaged twenty
Protestant pastoral residences. They
uProotcd the fruit trees and every
to these homes and carried away
everything portable which could he
Of us" TO their army or 10 German
In the cities and towns the loss was
heavy in proportion. The damage to
tho rheims Reformed Church and the
ph.finrn ','1rn%a 10 It, which were
csiimated at So oo" The o. Tmfeis, n, IS
.,nn nod a, 81 Quentin was damaged
y; Nerdun, Chateau hicrry and Hart
court there was general wrcckacr ar
buildings used for religious purposes.
IN" minute details Of destruction
ing with church property are shown
by the foliowin. extract from letter
n copy of which has been received Nv
IN" committee. 1t was written hv
Madame T., tho wife Of pastor in
IN" Marnc region, to on" Of her
remnants Of her former homo after
tho invading host had been driven out:
FINDS HALE or VILLAGE
REDUCED To ASH HEAP
Md do YOU know what We found"
\ village: half az which is reduced Ia
an ASH hcap. while tho other half
with our church and mansc. has h"cm
so torn up by shells that il has he
com" collection Of ghas,ly ruins. hir
notes in roof and walls shattered
doors and windows. horrible heaps OF
gardens. The interiors Of our homes
ar" more shocking Still: broken FUR
mliur": soilcd linen plates and dishes
ihll OF m"ldy remains of Hun rcasts
nr"k"n bottles. telling of orgies: Gun
boards and bureaus cmpticd OF every
,,hinS thai could hc carried away. tho
fi"ors thick with sticky MIXTURE OF
grease. oil. SCOT and mud
Letters, photographs. family SOU
Non!rS which the barbarian did no,
care to take. arc torn, trrmplcd. scat
tered My S"ta has IT'S Two from; lovs
hlnpu'atcd. and in its fallen, helpless
attitude seems Ia II" begging for.
mercy. All my chairs have broken
backs or missing legs. velvet coverings
nay" been torn off - clean boots. Aly
hFHttN drawing room table has re-