y
troops, who, although fagged, seemed to be in very good condition, and
we arrived at Rheims at 4:30, proceeding directly to the cathedral,
where I remained until dark, talking and visiting the monument with the
Cure Landrieux and the Abbe Thinot, who had been in charge of the
cathedral from the commencement.

The next day I was again at the cathedral, from 7:30 in the morning
until 4:30 in the afternoon, visiting it in every particular,
endeavoring to realize the damage done, whether intentionally inflicted
or not. The following is as near as I am able to ascertain the different
phases of the bombardment:

Four Bombs on First Day.

On Sept. 4, when the Germans first entered Rheims, there was a first
bombardment by their guns, interpreted by the Germans themselves as
either a mistake or caused by the jealousy of some corps not allowed
that privilege. Four bombs fell upon the cathedral--one on the north
transept--doing but little damage, however.

On Sept. 14 and 15, after the Germans had evacuated the city and the
French had entered, the bombardment recommenced, but without touching
the cathedral. On Sept. 17 two bombs struck, one on the apse and the
other on the north transept.

On the 18th the cathedral was again hit on the southern flying
buttresses and on the roof, killing a gendarme and several German
wounded.

On Sept. 19 the cathedral was fairly riddled by bombs during the entire
day, and at about 3:45 the scaffolding surrounding the north tower
caught fire. This fire lasted about one hour, and during that time two
further bombs struck the roof, setting it also on fire. The cure claims
that one of these bombs must have been incendiary, otherwise it would be
impossible to explain the extraordinary quickness with which the fire
spread throughout the roof timbers.

The fire from the scaffolding descended until it reached the north door
of the main facade, which caught rapidly, burned through and
communicated to the straw with which the floor of the cathedral was
covered. This straw had been ordered on Sept. 12 by the German Commander
in order to prepare the cathedral to receive 3,000 German wounded but
the evacuation of the city by the Germans had prevented the cathedral
being used for that purpose.

When the French came back the straw was gathered together with the
intention of removing it, but on the 17th the French General ordered it
to be re-spread, the flag of the Red Cross hoisted on the north towe