In the day time great numbers of the population would leave the city and
go out in the suburbs on the safe side to watch the combat, returning at
night to their homes to see what destruction had been occasioned and, if
possible, to get a night's rest. I had a large quantity of tobacco with
me, which was received by the troops and by the civilians with great
joy, for they had seen none for a month, the Germans having taken
everything.
While the commercial part of the city had been absolutely destroyed, in
other parts one would find places where stray shells had fallen, doing
great damage. It all seemed absolutely ruthless and useless. The cure of
the cathedral told me that the Germans during their occupation had
established an observation post in the north tower with an electric
searchlight. This they took away with them, and some of the French
officers, during the first days of reoccupation, occasionally went up
there to have a look, but the cure had strongly objected and they had
given it up.
I know that the two days that I was there nobody but myself went into
the tower and I did so unbeknown to the authorities, being very careful
not to show myself, as I was assured it would draw fire if the Germans
saw anybody moving about on it.
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