10:30 A. M.; 12 from 4 to 5 P. M.; 40 from 9 to 11 P. M.).
31 Bombardment continued, 34 shells from 9 to 11 P. M.
September, 1917
1 Bombardment continued, 107 shells (83 from 1 to 4 P. M.; 24 at
8:30 P. M.).
2 Bombardment continued, 12 shells (2 at 6:30 A. M.; 7 from 10 to
11:15 A. M.; 3 at 6 P. M.).
3 Third anniversary of the first bombardment of September 3, 1914.
Bombardment continued, 10 shells.
Postscript
The present chronicle stops at the third anniversary of the first
bombardment. On September 2, 1914 the French army evacuated Reims. The
bombardment actually began on September 3, 1914 by the dropping of two
bombs by German aviators. It was an unexpected preface to the formal
bombardment of the next day, when the Germans sent 176 shells into
Reims, although actually in possession of the city. September 3, 1917
thus completes three full years of the bombardment, which has
accomplished nothing save the ruin of the city and the destruction of
its great cathedral.
After a city has been besieged for three years; after it has, for that
time, been subjected to the agony of modern artillery warfare, it would
seem quite time to review such details as are obtainable and survey the
results achieved by the besiegers. The daily summary given in the
foregoing pages shows exactly what the Germans have done and what they
have accomplished. Day after day, particularly in 1917, they have thrown
innumerable projectiles into Reims, and wrought the utmost damage they
could. But the outstanding fact to the French is that the Germans are
still bombarding Reims. The siege did not stop with the end of the third
year, but it is still going on as these pages pass through the press.
This is the triumph of Reims, that it is still French, bent and broken
as it is, bowed as its vast church is with the great trials to which it
has been subjected, the city and its cathedral are still French! Before
this ruined heap of stones--for Reims is scarce more than that, this may
yield small comfort. Yet Reims is still France, knock the barbarian ever
so fiercely.
It is, perhaps ominous that while detailed figures of the German
missiles thrown in Reims have been published in the local newspapers
rather freely, no word as to the destruction they may have accomplished
has been uttered. The veil that covers Reims has not yet been lifted,
nor can the full measure of her agony yet be reckoned.
[Illustration: THE HÔTEL DE VILLE]
The Buildings of Reims
THE CATHEDRAL OF NOTRE DAME
This magnificent church was begun May 6, 1211, the foundation stone
being laid on that date on the site of an earlier edifice burned in
1210. The work was pushed so rapidly that the choir was completed and
occupied September 7, 1241. The architect was Jean d'Orbais, to whom the
initial conception is due, and who continued in charge to 1231. He was
succeeded by Jean Le Loup (1231-1247), who completed the choir and about
1240 undertook the façade of the north transept. Gaucher de Reims
(1247-1255) apparently began the west portals towards 1255, before the
nave was completed. Bernard de Soissons (1255-1290) built the five west
bays of the nave and the great west rose window. He was succeeded by
Robert de Coucy, who died in 1311, to whom is attributed the towers and
the upper parts of the west front. The roof and upper parts of the
cathedral were heavily damaged by fire in 1481, but repairs were
speedily carried out. Restored several times in the nineteenth century,
new restorations were in progress until the time of the first
bombardment.
The cathedral is a vast and splendid church, with a nave of nine bays,
transepts with aisles, and a rather short choir, surrounded with five
chapels. There are no nave chapels. The decorations are of great
magnificence, the external sculptures, especially those of the great
west portals and the portals of the north transept, being most
elaborate, and including some of the finest mediæval sculptures in
France. The interior is noted for the arcaded screen applied to the west
end of the nave, surrounding the central doorway, consisting of a series
of niches with statues. The foliated capitals of the nave piers also
deserve mention. The glass of the windows, which suffered some
unfortunate changes in the XVIII century, was of extraordinary beauty
and interest, and ranked among the finest in France; most of it was
destroyed in the bombardment. The cathedral had a superb collection of
tapestries, fortunately removed to Paris before the fire. The Treasury
of the cathedral contained many rare and beautiful objects.
Notwithstanding the numerous and heavy bombardments to which the
cathedral has been subjected, the statue of Jeanne d'Arc by Paul Dubois,
erected in the open space before the cathedral (Place du Parvis) in
1896, has not yet been touched by shells. The sculpture of the west
front and of other exposed parts were heavily protected by sand bags
immediately after the first bombardment.
Palais Archiépiscopal
Immediately adjoins the south transept of the cathedral. Repaired and
rebuilt many times. The oldest surviving portion is the chapel called
the "Chapelle Palatine," built in two stories, and attributed to Jean
d'Orbais, the architect of the cathedral. It lost its roof early in the
bombardment. The great hall of the place, called the "Salle du Tau" was
built at the end of the XV century; it contains a Gothic chimneypiece
dating from 1498. The apartments of the King consisting of five rooms,
restored in 1825, were richly decorated. The palace was totally
destroyed in the bombardment.
THE ABBEY CHURCH OF ST. REMI
One of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in northern France. The
larger part of its structure dates from 1005 to 1049, having been built
in three efforts within that time. The choir, with its fine circlet of
radiating chapels, was built between 1170 and 1190. The south transept
front was rebuilt in 1506. The church has been many times repaired and
its form and structure modified. The west front was so completely
modified after 1840 that only the two lower stages remain of the earlier
building. The building is of vast size, and the upper windows contained
some remarkable glass. The tomb of St. Remi, the bishop of Reims who
baptized Clovis, and which for centuries was a famous place of
pilgrimage, was built in 1847, replacing an earlier monument destroyed
in the Revolution, which, in its turn, replaced an earlier memorial.
ST. JACQUES
Of the church begun in 1190 and continued in the first years of the XII
century, only fragmentary parts remain. It was partially reconstructed
at the beginning of the XIV century. The choir and its chapels date from
the XVI century. The lantern of the crossing replaced a Gothic spire
removed in 1711, and the north transept and other parts were rebuilt in
1854.
ST. MAURICE
The choir, dating from 1627, is flanked by a beautiful flamboyant chapel
built towards 1546. The nave is modern.
MODERN CHURCHES
_St. André_, built between 1857 and 1864.--_St. Thomas_, built in
1847.--_St. Geneviève_, built in 1877.--_St. Clotilde_, built in
commemoration of the fourteenth centenary of the baptism of Clovis
(496-1896).--_St. Benoît_ and _St. Jean Baptiste de la Salle_ are very
recent churches.
HÔTEL DE VILLE
The fine Hôtel de Ville was commenced in 1627 on the plans of a native
architect, Jean Bonhomme. Begun with the left pavilion, the main façade,
with the central pavilion and its tower, were completed by 1630. Left
incomplete for nearly two centuries, the right pavilion was added in
1823-1825 by Serrurier, also an architect of Reims. Great additions and
new buildings around a central court were added between 1875 and 1880.
The relief of Louis XIII in the central pediment by Milhomme, placed in
1818, occupies the place of an earlier one by Nicolas Jacques, placed in
1636 and destroyed in the Revolution. The building contained the Museum
and Public Library of Reims. Destroyed by fire, May 3, 1917. The more
valuable books of the library, and the departmental archives had long
before been placed in safety elsewhere.
BUILDINGS OF NOTE
The _Place Royale_, begun in 1757, is closed on one side by the _Hôtel
des Fermes_, a stately edifice with a central pediment supported by
columns. In the centre of the Place is a statue of Louis XV by
Cartellier, replacing an earlier statue by Pigalle, inaugurated in 1765
and destroyed in the Revolution. Two allegorical groups by Pigalle for
the pedestal survived.
_Maison des Musiciens_, dating from the time of St. Louis, has a
remarkable façade of large twin-windows alternating with trilobed niches
containing seated statues of musicians, larger than life size. Purchased
by the city and by public subscription in 1905.
Reims contains two other dwellings of the XIII century. A larger house
in the Rue de Tambour, with a completely modernized interior, offers a
façade of much interest, notwithstanding a repair in 1832.--Another
house, in the Rue de Sedan, is a simple artisan's dwelling, retaining
almost intact its gabled façade of the end of the XIII century.--A
Gothic building in the same street, transformed into a school in 1890,
retains parts of the XVI and XVII centuries.--A house in the Rue de
Vesle has a façade of the XIV century, destroyed and burned by the
bombardment of September 19, 1914.--Fragments of the former priory of
St. Bernard remain in the same street behind a modern store front.--A
house in the Rue de la Grue is an interesting type of the end of the
XVII century; ruined in bombardment of September 19, 1914.
_Hôtel de Bezannes_, a large dwelling of the middle of the XV century,
was probably built by Pierre de Bezannes, lieutenant of the inhabitants
of Reims (1450-1467), whose arms remain on the buildings of the court.
It became a school in 1901.
_Hôtel Le Vergeur_, a large building retaining fragments of all styles
since the end of the XIII century.--The _Maison du Long-Vêtu_, the
birthplace of Colbert, the celebrated minister of Louis XIV, has a
façade of the middle ages, and another of the XVII century.--A hotel of
the XV century, in the Rue de Pouilly, was the dwelling of an uncle of
Colbert's. It is now the house of the Soeurs de l'Espérance; a part of
the façade was demolished in 1908.--_Pavilion de Muire_, built by
Nicolas Noel, lord of Muire, towards 1565, a remarkable structure in the
style of Henri III.--_Hôtel de Montlaurent_ of the XVI century, has lost
much of its interior interest, but the court offers some of the
primitive decoration.--_Hôtel de la Salle_, the birthplace of J. B. de
la Salle, is one of the most beautiful types of domestic Renaissance
architecture in Reims; the façade bears the date 1545.--_Cour Mopinot_
has a portico of the XVI century.--_Hôtel Thiret de Prin_ was built
under Henri IV; Richelieu lived in this building during his sojourn in
Reims in 1641.--_Maison de l'Ecu de Reims_ bears the date 1652.--_Maison
de Jean Maillefer_, built in 1651.--_Hôtel Lagoille de Courtagnon_ has a
façade of the XVII century.--_Hôtel Rogier_, built towards 1750; sold at
public auction, in January, 1914.--Two wooden houses with pointed gables
of the end of the XV century, are in the Place des Marchés.--An
inscription on the _Hôtel de la Maison-Rouge_ states that the father
and mother of Jeanne d'Arc were lodged in this building at public
expense in 1429, at the coronation of Charles VII. It was then known as
the _Ane Rayé_.--The Société des Amis du Vieux Reims maintained an
extensive collection of objects relating to Reims in the former _Hôtel
Coquebert_.
The _Porte de Mars_, a Roman triumphal arch of three arches, is the most
considerable monument in Reims dating from Roman times.
EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS
_Grand Séminaire_, occupies the buildings of the former abbey of St.
Denis. The original parts are of the time of Louis XV; they were
considerably modified and added to in 1822, when the seminary took
possession of them. It later served as the Musée des Beaux-Arts,
inaugurated in 1913.
The _Lycée_ occupies the buildings of the University or college founded
by the Cardinal of Lorraine in the XVI century, and rebuilt in 1676.
Although greatly changed, the interior court, half wood, half masonry,
retains the original aspect of the XVI century. Much new construction
was added at the end of the last century.
HOSPITALS
_Hôtel-Dieu_ [Civil Hospital], founded by archbishop Hincmar in 848, was
transferred to the buildings of the abbey of St. Remi in 1827. Repaired
and rebuilt at various times, they retain few vestiges of the middle
ages. They were partly renewed after a fire in 1774. Burned in the
bombardment of August 13, 1916.--_Hôpital General_, occupies the former
college of the Jesuits, the older parts dating from the XVII century.
The former library, now the linen room, is an apartment of some
magnificence. It adjoins the church of St. Maurice.--_Hôpital St.
Marcoul_, or home for incurables, dates from about 1650; it was added to
in 1651, 1869 and 1873.--_Maison de Retraite_, a modern foundation due
to bequests and munificent gifts.
OTHER BUILDINGS
_Palais de Justice_, built in 1845, on the site of the old Hôtel Dieu; a
new façade was recently added.--_Théâtre_, built between
1866-1873.--_Chambre de Commerce_ occupies the former Hôtel
Clicquot-Ponsardin, in the style of Louis XVI.
The Destructions of the Buildings of Reims
While the material for a survey of the destruction of the buildings of
Reims is not yet available, the following notes may be found of interest
in forming a judgment on the effects of the bombardment, and its
military uselessness. The record is manifestly incomplete, for
practically the entire city has been destroyed.
THE CATHEDRAL
1914
_September 4._ The window glass in the aisle of the north transept was
broken by a bomb falling in the adjoining street. Other shells fell
directly on the cathedral, striking the gable of the north transept; the
upper nave windows were pierced, and the rose window over the central
west portal. Some of the portal statues, including the Virgin of the
group of the Visitation, and an apostle of the south porch were broken.
There were various external indications of projectiles and minor
injuries.
_September 17._ Three shells fell on the cathedral, striking the stone
gallery and roof of the north transept; the chevet was subjected to
similar injury, and the glass of the choir chapel windows was destroyed.
_September 18._ Thirteen shells fell on the cathedral. The windows of
the south aisle of the nave to the transept were broken, many being
emptied of their ancient glass. The buttresses on the south side were
mutilated in their lower parts, and many of the pinnacles broken off or
destroyed. The flying buttress at the angle of the choir and north
transept was entirely destroyed. The stone gallery surrounding the base
of the nave roof was ruined in many places, and parts of it thrown onto
the roof created other injuries and broke windows.
_September 19._ The day of the fire. Sixteen shells on the cathedral,
one on the summit of the north tower. At 2:30 P. M. (the exact hour
varies in different accounts) an incendiary bomb set afire the
scaffolding erected in May, 1913, for the repair of this tower. Although
not the first catastrophe, it was the most serious. The fire spread with
great rapidity, the great roof, with its magnificent internal woodwork
of the fifteenth century, was wholly consumed. The "Clocher à l'Ange",
at the furthest extremity of the roof, and which dated from 1485, fell.
Its name was derived from a copper angel formerly on the summit, removed
for security in 1860. The carillon on the low tower at the crossing of
the nave and transept, and which had been re-established by the Académie
Nationale de Reims, was destroyed. Much of the old glass in the upper
windows, dating from the thirteenth century, was destroyed, as well as
much of the external sculpture. The internal injuries were also very
grave. The cathedral was filled with straw, requisitioned by the German
command for the use of wounded German soldiers it was proposed to place
within the church, but who were only taken there after the evacuation;
some of them lost their lives in the fire. The greater part of the
interior furniture was destroyed, including the eighteenth century
woodwork of the choir, together with the stalls and the archiepiscopal
throne. A tapestry of the coronation of Charles X was lost. The
remarkable sculptures surrounding the interior of the nave doorway were
ruined.
_September 24._ Three bombs struck the cathedral, one of which fell on
the vault of the crossing, bared by the fire of September 19. One struck
the third buttress on the south side of the nave.
_October 12._ A bomb of large calibre fell on the high gallery of the
chevet, ruining eight metres of the arcading. Two gargoyles of the
chevet were broken off.
_October 13._ A shell fell on the north side of the cathedral at 3 P. M.
_November 11._ A bomb fell near the cathedral, enveloping it in thick
clouds of smoke.
_November 12._ A shell exploded on the roof, demolishing a pinnacle on
the south side of the chevet, and damaging some sculptures. Shrapnel
fell within near the high altar.
_November 22._ Two shells fell on the superstructure, accomplishing no
great harm.
1915
_February 26._ Two shells fell on the cathedral.
_March 28._ A Taube dropped a bomb on the cathedral apse.
_June 1._ The "Communiqué Officiel" of this date, for 3 P. M., says the
cathedral was particularly bombarded. This is not mentioned in the local
reports.
_June 15._ Several shells fell on the cathedral.
1917
_April 15._ 15 shells fell on the cathedral. The chapel of the Cardinal
ruined.
_April 19_. 20 shells on the cathedral. The north tower, vaults and
transept injured.
The cathedral was subjected to other injuries on April 20 (2 shells),
April 21 (8 shells), April 22 (3 shells), April 23 and April 24. The
angle of the south transept and the chevet was particularly hurt on the
date last named.
PALAIS ARCHIÉPISCOPAL
Burned on September 19, 1914, in which the cathedral was so seriously
injured. The building was almost wholly destroyed. The chapel lost its
roof and glass. The library and collections of the Académie Nationale
de Reims, which were housed in the palace, were lost, together with the
archeological collections, including the prehistoric collection
(Collection Posteaux) and the ethnographic collection (Musée Guillot).
ST. REMI
Injured in the bombardment of September 4, 1914. The vault of the south
transept fell through, the ancient glass of the apse triforium and of
the upper nave windows was broken, as well as the modern glass of the
apse chapels windows, and in other parts. The interior was ruined, the
losses including a painting "The Entry of Clovis to Reims" and one of
the tapestries of the "Life of St. Remi". The chapel facing the
baptismal font suffered some exterior injury.
A bomb destroyed the apse chapel of Notre Dame de l'Usine et de
l'Atelier on November 16, 1914. On August 13, 1916, the church was
menaced by the fire of the Hôtel Dieu (Civil Hospital). Flames attacked
the north transept, destroying the glass of the rose window.
OTHER CHURCHES
_St. André._ On September 19, 1914, a bomb fell on the left transept
portal, breaking the glass in near-by parts; painting of "The Baptism of
Clovis" lost. September 22, 1914, a shell fell on the church at 11 A.
M. April 15, 1917, it caught fire, and it was again injured on April 28.
_St. Jean Baptiste de la Salle._ 3 shells fell on this church in the
bombardment of December, 1914. The glass was broken and the interior
injured.
_St. Clotilde._ September 22, 1914, most of the glass ruined by a
near-by shell. January 4, 1915, injured by 4 bombs.
_St. Benoît._ 3 shells in January, 1915.
_St. Geneviève._ Injured in the bombardment of April 15, 1917.
CIVIC BUILDINGS
_Hôtel de Ville._ Lost the glass of the west side September 14, 1914.
Received several shells in the bombardment of September 19, 1914. A fire
started, but no essential injury resulted. It was gravely injured April
21, 1917, and was destroyed by fire on May 3.
_Palais de Justice._ Lost the glass of its main façades September 4,
1914. A shell fell through the roof on October 2, 1914, injuring the
interior; both façades were hurt, especially the newer one. February 3,
1916, some fragments of French shells fell on the building. September
18, 1916, a bomb fell through the roof and upper story.
_Hôtel Dieu_ [_Civil Hospital_]. Some shells fell on the buildings on
September 18, 1914; two patients were killed and another buried under
débris; two nurses were badly wounded. On August 13, 1916, the Hospital
caught fire in the bombardment and was destroyed save for two pavilions.
_Théâtre._ The lantern was destroyed in the bombardment of September 4,
1914, and the chandelier suspended from it fell down. A bomb fell on the
building on October 5, 1914.
_Musée des Beaux-Arts._ Injured September 4, 1914, by three bombs on the
west front. Much interior damage and many valuable paintings lost.
_Sous-Préfecture._ Burned September 18, 1914.
_Place Royale._ Many of the buildings surroundings this place were
burned in the bombardment of September 19, 1914.
_Hôtel de la Salle._ Injured by a shell in November, 1914.
_Gothic House in Rue de Vesle._ Wholly ruined in the catastrophe of
September 19, 1914.