The monument, about which no troops were massed, towers above the rest
of the town; to avoid it, in view of the uselessness of destroying it
and because it was serving as a hospital, would have been an easy
matter. The entire quarter of the city situated between it and the enemy
is destroyed, including the Episcopal Palace, which contained the
Archaeological Museum, the Episcopal Chapel, and what was known as the
"Apartment of the Kings." This quarter also contained the principal
commercial houses.
"Blind Rage" Causes Attack.
It would seem that the only explanation which can be offered was blind
rage upon the part of the besieging army.
There are two monuments of almost equal importance to the world which
are in jeopardy of the same fate as the Cathedral of Rheims, viz., the
Cathedrals of Noyon and Laon. That these will be respected is to be
hoped, in spite of the ruthless and miserable attempt to reduce the
glorious monuments of Rheims to ruins.
On Friday, Sept. 25, the Germans further shelled the Abbey of Remy at
Rheims, one shell exploding in the interior and destroying an immense
quantity of glass. The civil hospital, which occupies the cloisters of
St. Remy, received as its quota nine bombs, one of which killed four of
the patients in the beds, and another one of the attendants.
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