MICHELIN & Cⁱᵉ, CLERMONT-FERRAND, FRANCE.
MICHELIN TYRE Cº Lᵗᵈ, 81 Fulham Road, LONDON, S.W.
MICHELIN TIRE Cº MILLTOWN, N.J. U.S.A.
Hotels and Motor-Agents at Lille
Information extracted from the MICHELIN GUIDE (1919)[1]
Key to Arbitrary Signs
ⒽⒽ Comfortable hotels, with modern or modernised
installation.
Ⓗ Well-managed hotels.
=[CC]= Central Heating.
=[L]= Electric Light.
=[B]= Bath-room.
=[WC]= Modern W.C.'s.
=[T] 104= Telephone number.
Ⓣ Telegraphic address.
Gar. =[6]= Accommodation for automobiles, and the number of
cars which can be accommodated.
Box Private lock-up compartments.
Att Adjoining the hotel.
=100 m.= About 100 yards from the hotel.
=Compressed Air= Depôt for "bouteilles d'air Michelin" for inflation
of tyres.
Ⓡ Repair shop.
_Agt de_ Manufacturer's agent.
=[3]= Garage and number of cars it will accommodate.
=U= Inspection pit.
=[E]= Petrol can be obtained here.
=E˝= Electric plant where accumulators may be recharged.
=[A·A]= Agent of "Automobile Association" of England.
* * * * *
HOTELS and MOTOR-AGENTS
ⒽⒽ Hôtel Bellevue, _35, rue Jean-Roisin et 17-19, Grande Place_.
Lift =[CC]= =[L]= =[B]= =[WC]= Gar. =100 m.= =[20]= Ⓣ
Hôtel Bellevue =[T]= =12-98=.
ⒽⒽ Hôtel de l'Europe, _30-32, rue Basse_. Lift =[CC]= =[L]= =[B]=
=[WC]= Gar. =[15]= =U= =[T]= =4·75=.
Ⓗ Hôtel et Restaurant de la Paix, _46, rue de Paris_. =[CC]=
=[L]= =[B]= =[WC]= Gar. att. =[T]= =1539=.
Ⓡ STOCK MICHELIN =(Compressed Air)=, =Garage Dulieux=, _36, rue de
l'Hôpital-Militaire_. Annexe: _rue de Fontenay_. _Agt de_:
Corre la Licorne. =[30]= =U= =[E]= =E˝= =[A-A]= Ⓣ
Dulieux-Automobiles =[T]= =14·04=.
-- STOCK MICHELIN =(Compressed Air)=. =Agence Renault=, _141,
boulevard Carnot_, La Madeleine-lès-Lille. =[30]= =U= =[E]=
=E˝= =[T]= =19.78= (réseau Lille) Ⓣ Renauto.
-- STOCK MICHELIN, =Louis Vallez=, _5, rue du Palais-Rihour_.
=[40]= =U= =[E]= =E˝= =[T]= =22·70=.
-- STOCK MICHELIN, =Grand Garage Farcot=, _68-70, rue Meurein
(219, rue Nationale)_. =[80]= =U= =[E]= =E˝= =[T]= =20·20=.
-- STOCK MICHELIN =(Compressed Air)=, =Succureale des Automobiles
Berliet=, _197, rue Nationale_. =[100]= =[E]= =E˝=
Autoberlie-Lille =[T]= =16·96=.
-- STOCK MICHELIN, =Sté des Anciens Etablissements Panhard et
Levassor= (Succᵉ), _187, boulevard de la République_ (new
boulevard), La Madeleine-lès-Lille. =[40]= =U= =[E]= =E˝=
Ⓣ Panhard-Levassor =[T]= =5·83= (réseau Lille).
-- STOCK MICHELIN, =Agences Hotchkiss=, _1 bis, rue de la Chambre
des Comptes_. =[20]= =U= =[E]= =E˝= =[T]= =26·83=.
-- STOCK MICHELIN, Repair Shop for motor-cars, =Emile Faure et
Cie=, _avenue Verdy et rue du Ballon_, La
Madeleine-lès-Lille. =[20]= =U= =[E]= =[T]= =14·27= (réseau
Lille).
-- STOCK MICHELIN, =Kalflèche et Bachmann=, _147, boulevard de la
République_, La Madeleine-lès-Lille. =[10]= =U= =[E]= =E˝=
=[T]= =24·18= (réseau Lille).
-- STOCK MICHELIN, =E. Bouriez et Cie=, _50-52, rue Jean-Bart et
239, boulevard de la République_, La Madeleine-lès-Lille.
_Agts de_: Peugeot =[10]= =U= =[E]= =E˝= =[T]= =3·88=
(réseau Lille).
-- =Sociéte Anonyme des Autos et Cycles Peugeot= (Succursale de
la), _62, boulevard de la Liberté_. =[T]= =20·84=.
-- =Kœchlin=, _27, rue Colson_. =[30]= =U= =[E]= =E˝= =[T]= =18·30=.
-- =Marcel Villette=, _5, rue St-Augustin_. =[10]= =U= =[E]= =[T]=
=26·81=.
-- =John et Henry Sergy=, _240, rue Nationale_. =[15]= =U= =[E]=
=E˝= =[T]= =27·24=.
-- =Succursale Th. Schneider et Cie=, _3, rue St-Genois_. =[30]=
=U= =[E]= Ⓣ Theiderco =[T]= =2·92=.
-- =Usine Pipe=, _56, boulevard de la Liberté et 5 bis, rue de
l'Orphéon_. =[50]= =20= boxes =U= =[E]= =E˝=.
-- =Mannessier=, _rue Nationale_. =[E]=.
[1] _The above information dates from March 1st, 1919, and may no
longer be exact when it meets the reader's eye. Tourists are therefore
recommended to consult the latest edition of the "Michelin Guide to
France" (English or French), before setting out on the tour described
in this volume._
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| The MICHELIN MAPS |
| |
| _Invaluable to Motorists and Tourists._ |
| |
| FRANCE. |
| |
| _(Scale--1:200,000)_ |
| |
| Published in 47 Sections. |
| |
| Beautifully printed in |
| Five Colours. |
| |
| [Illustration] |
| |
| The |
| BRITISH |
| ISLES. |
| |
| _(Scale 3·15 miles to the inch.)_ |
| |
| Published in 31 Sections. Beautifully |
| engraved and printed in six colours. |
| |
| Price of Maps (English |
| or French) per Section: |
| |
| On Paper - =1/-= or post free =1/1½= |
| On Canvas - =2/-= " " =2/2= |
| |
| MICHELIN TYRE CO., 81, Fulham Rd., S.W.3 |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| The "Michelin Wheel" |
| |
| BEST of all detachable wheels |
| because the least complicated |
| |
| [Illustration] |
| |
| _Elegant_ |
| |
| It embellishes even the finest coachwork. |
| |
| _Simple_ |
| |
| It is detachable at the hub and fixed by six |
| bolts only. |
| |
| _Strong_ |
| |
| The only wheel which held out on all fronts |
| during the War. |
| |
| _Practical_ |
| |
| Can be replaced in 3 minutes by _anybody_ |
| and cleaned still quicker. |
| |
| It prolongs the life of tyres by cooling them. |
| |
| AND THE CHEAPEST |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| IN MEMORY |
| OF THE MICHELIN EMPLOYEES |
| AND WORKMEN WHO DIED GLORIOUSLY |
| FOR THEIR COUNTRY |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
LILLE
BEFORE AND DURING THE WAR
Published by
MICHELIN & +Cie+
Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Copyright by Michelin & Cie 1919
_All rights of translation, adaptation or reproduction (in part
or whole), reserved in all countries._
LILLE
ORIGIN AND CHIEF HISTORICAL EVENTS
The marvellous tales of _"Liliane"_ and the forest rangers _Phinœrt_
and _Lyderic_, which take Lille back to the days of Julius Cæsar, are
mythical. The first mention of Lille in history dates back to the 11th
century, when the town was divided into the _"castrum"_ or entrenched
camp of the Counts of Flanders (where Baudoin V. erected the Basilica
and Forum in about 1050), and the _"forum"_ (to-day the Grand' Place),
where the church of St. Martin already existed.
The _"forum"_ grew rapidly in the 12th century; the suburb of Fives,
with its two churches of St. Saviour and St. Maurice, being enclosed
within the new wall. There were no further changes of importance until
the 17th century, when the Vauban fortifications to the north further
enlarged the town. It was only in 1858 that Moulins, Vazemmes and
Esquermes were included in the southern portion of the town, leaving
the important suburbs of Fives and St. Maurice outside the ramparts.
Its situation on the frontier embroiled Lille in all the great wars.
In 1213, _Philippe-August_ took it twice from Count Ferrand, burning
it completely the second time, to punish the inhabitants for having
received their former chief. _Philippe le Bel_ took it in 1297, and
built the Château de Courtrai to commemorate the event. The _Flemish_
conquered it in 1302, but were defeated in 1304 at Mons-en-Puelle by
Philippe, who forced them to abandon the town after a month's siege.
Then, for half-a-century, Lille belonged to the Kings of France,
but the marriage of the Duke of Burgundy, _Philippe le Hardi_, with
the Heiress of Flanders, in 1369, restored it to the counts. When
_Maximilian of Austria_ espoused Marie of Burgundy, daughter and Heir
of Charles the Bold, last Duke of Burgundy, Lille became part of his
dominions.
At the head of his armies, _Louis XIV._ besieged and took it in 1667
after "nine days of trench fighting," and the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
confirmed the capture.
As an advanced citadel, it defended the northern frontier, but in
1708, the _Spanish_ were before its gates, and Marshal de Boufflers,
after exhausting his supplies and ammunition, was obliged to surrender
to Prince Eugène and the Duke of Marlborough. After a five years'
occupation, the Treaty of Utrecht gave it back to France in 1713.
In 1792, it was besieged by 30,000 Austrians under _Albert of
Saxe-Coburg_, who bombarded it day and night for nine days. The famous
_Lille gunners_ beat off the enemy, who raised the siege, and the
Convention having decreed that "the town deserved well of the country,"
a commemorative column was erected in the Grand' Place _(p. 26)_.
In the Franco-German War of 1870-1871, Lille remained outside the
battle area, and the only local souvenir connected with that struggle
was a visit from _M. Antonin Dubost_ (now Président of the French
Senate) in October, 1870. Leaving Paris, which was besieged, in a
balloon named "The Universal Republic," he landed between Rocroi and
Mézières, going thence on foot to Belgium, and from there to Lille. He
was received by the Commissary of the Government for National Defence
(Mr. Testelin) _(p. 50)_ and General Bourbaki, who had escaped from
Metz, and harangued the people from the steps of the Grand' Garde
_(Place de la Bourse, p. 29)_.
In 1914, the victorious Germans were at its gates, and the Capital of
Flanders was destined to suffer a four years' occupation.
[Illustration: THE NORTHERN FRONTIER]
LILLE AND THE GREAT WAR
Importance and Military Situation of Lille in 1914
Lying between the rivers Lys, Escaut and Scarpe, in the plain before
the hills of Artois, Lille forms an isolated advance-post between
_Maubeuge_ (which guards the Pass of the Oise), and _Dunkirk_ (which
commands the region of the Dunes). _Vauban_ had fortified the place,
but the treaties of 1815 and 1871 deprived France of her essential
points of support, and rendered these defences valueless. In 1873,
_General Séré de Rivières_, Director of the Engineering Section at the
Ministry of War, commenced a comprehensive scheme which aimed at the
reorganization of the entire northern frontier, whereof Lille was one
of the pivots.
Situated in the centre of France's richest coalfields and allied
industries, Lille has justly been called "the Key to France's
Treasure-House" (see _"Le secret de la frontière,"_ by M.
Fernand Engerand, 1918). To enable it to withstand a surprise attack
and hold out against a long siege, the city's intermediate defences
were increased to such a degree that Lille became the point of support
of the French frontier between the rivers Sambre and Lys. By thus
protecting the Arsenal of Douai, it became possible to assemble a
reserve army within the entrenched camp of Lille, 31 miles in length.
The total cost of these works was 126,000,000 frs.
But, as in Vauban's days, a reactionary movement set in against
defensive works, and it was demonstrated by their opponents that
besieged towns must fall, and that in future the destinies of nations
would be decided in the open battlefield. In 1880, the works of Séré de
Rivières were abandoned.
[Illustration: NAPOLÉON BRIDGE DESTROYED BY THE RETREATING GERMANS
_(see p. 52)_]
In the meantime, the great cities of the north, with Lille at their
head, had become industrial centres of primary importance, thanks to
their wealth of raw materials (coal, iron and steel). To protect them
from the horrors of war, it was considered only necessary to make open
towns of them. The fortifications of Lille were among the first to be
condemned, as being of no real value, and a Bill to this effect was
passed by Parliament.
Collaborators of Séré de Rivières gave the alarm in March, 1899,
pointing out that the neutrality of Belgium was insufficient
protection, that its violation was inevitable, that the Pass of the
Oise was an open road for invasion, that with Lille outflanked, the
Forest of Saint-Gobain (which Laon and La Fère, whose dismantling the
Bill provided for, would no longer be able to protect) would fall, and
that the enemy would be at the gates of Paris within a few days.
Finally, the fortifications of Lille were not dismantled, but were
allowed to fall into disuse.
On the other hand, the eastern frontier was considerably strengthened.
It was in vain that the _Belgian General Brialmont_, who had just
completed the forts of Antwerp and Liege, pointed out that the
abandonment of the northern frontier would inevitably cause a violation
of Belgium's neutrality. Like her peaceful neighbour, France relied on
the sacredness of treaties, and made it a point of honour to leave that
part of her frontier practically unprotected.
At that time, Germany was neglecting the East, and making all her
railways converge towards the Pass of the Oise. In other words, a
frontal attack against the East being considered impracticable, Germany
decided to turn it from the north. The fortifications of Lille were
again condemned in November, 1911, and it is a curious coincidence that
this was the year of the _Agadir Incident_ and of the first tangible
German threats of war.
In July, 1914, 3,000 artillery-men and nearly a third of the guns had
been removed from the fortifications. On August 1st, the Governor,
General Lebas, received orders to consider Lille an open town, but on
August 21st his successor, General Herment, increased the garrison
troops from 15,000 to 25,000, and later, to 28,000 men, taking units
from each of the regiments in the 1st region. At this time, the
armament consisted of 446 guns and 79,788 shells, to which were added
9,000,000 cartridges, 3,000 75 mm. shells and 12 47 mm. guns sent from
Paris.
How Lille fell in 1914
_(See Maps on pages 3 and 6)_
At the beginning of the battle of Charleroi, _General d'Amade_ was
in the vicinity of Lille, with territorial divisions extending from
_Dunkirk_ to _Maubeuge_. The 82nd Division alone held the entire space
between the Escaut and the Scarpe, with advance posts at Tournai and
Lille. It was manifest that these troops were insufficient to offer
serious resistance. However, the first care was to defend the town. For
two days, trenches and shelters were made, and the troops sent to their
respective positions.
On August 23rd, the British, defeated on the previous day at Mons,
retreated, leaving Tournai unprotected. The Germans drove out the 82nd
territorial Division and entered the town. Elsewhere, they advanced
as far as Roubaix-Tourcoing, blowing up the station of Mouscron. The
French territorials counter-attacked vigorously, and units of the 83rd
and 84th regiments reoccupied Tournai during the night.
In the early morning of the 24th, _General de Villaret_, commanding the
170th Brigade, organized the defence of the bridges over the Escaut,
where sharp fighting took place. However, his troops were obliged to
fall back about noon, before the numerically superior enemy forces.
While these events were taking place close to Lille, the Mayor
requested that the town should not be needlessly exposed to the
horrors of a siege. A meeting of the principal civil authorities
(town councillors and members of both Houses of Parliament) was
held, at which it was decided to petition the Government to declare
the town open, and withdraw the military. At 5 p.m. on the 24th,
a telegram arrived from the War Minister, with orders to consider
Lille undefended, and to evacuate the troops between La Bassée and
Aire-sur-la-Lys.
On the 25th, the right wing of the German army was reported to
be advancing, protected by about three divisions of cavalry with
supporting artillery. Patrols reached the outskirts of the town soon
afterwards.
General Herment executed the orders he had received. Moreover, he knew
that the neighbouring town of Maubeuge was holding out with 45,000 men,
and that the Belgian army was intact at Antwerp.
On September 2nd, enemy detachments entered Lille, disappearing three
days later. The town was only occupied by patrols, who had orders to
secure the German right (Von Kluck's army), which was executing its
famous flanking movement. Then came the _Victory of the Marne_. After
the German retreat and the indecisive _Battle of the Aisne_, the enemy
began their northward movement known as the "Race for the Sea," the aim
of which, on either side, was to turn the adversary's wing.
On October 3rd, Joffre joined the 10th army under _General de Maud'huy_
to reinforce his left and prevent its envelopment. The 21st Army Corps
arrived from Champagne, and the 13th Division detrained to the west of
the town.
On the morning of the 4th, battalions of Chasseurs, belonging to the
13th Division, received orders to take up positions to the north and
east of the town. After spending the night at Armentières, they passed
through Lille, where they had an enthusiastic reception.
[Illustration]
The 17th Battalion, which was to occupy the suburb of Fives, was met
with a sharp fusillade as it left the ramparts. Organizing promptly, it
drove the enemy from the railway station and fortifications, capturing
a number of machine-guns and prisoners. To the north of the town, the
French troops came into contact with German patrols near Wambrechies
and Marquette, while the 7th cavalry Division had skirmishes in the
neighbourhood of Fouquet.
Meanwhile, the garrison, consisting of territorials and Algerian
mounted troops, took up positions to the south of Faches and
Wattignies, in liaison, at Ronchin, with other units of the 13th
Division. The enemy attacked at this point, and reached the railway.
On the 5th, after a sharp counter-attack, the French took Fives,
Hellemmes, Flers, the Fort of Mons-en-Barœul and Ronchin. To the west
of the town cavalry engagements took place along the Ypres Canal. On
the 6th, the 13th Division left the outskirts of the town, following
the 21st Corps in the direction of Artois. Only two battalions of
Chasseurs were left in Lille.
On the 7th, the two battalions of Chasseurs rejoined the 13th Division,
the defence of Lille being left to the territorials and Algerian
troops. On the 9th and 10th, the 2nd cavalry Corps engaged the enemy
near Estaires-Merville (between Aire-sur-la-Lys and Armentières), but
was unable to open the road to Lille, which was then left to its fate.
At 10 a.m. on the 9th, the first enemy aeroplane appeared, and dropped
two bombs on the General Post Office. In the afternoon, all men from 18
to 48 years of age were ordered to the Béthune Gate, with instructions
to leave Lille immediately.
[Illustration: AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT: A FALLING HOUSE IN THE RUE DE
PARIS]
A crowd of people from Lille, Tourcoing, Roubaix and the neighbouring
villages, left on foot for Dunkirk and Gravelines. Several died on the
way of exhaustion, others being taken prisoners by the Uhlans. The last
train left at day-break on the 10th. At 9 a.m., the first enemy shell
burst, being followed by many others which fell in the neighbourhood
of the station, and on the Prefecture and Palais des Beaux-Arts. The
afternoon was quiet, but at 9 a.m. the bombardment began again, lasting
until 1 in the morning, then from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 10 a.m. to
6 p.m. On the 12th, when the garrison capitulated, 80 civilians had
been killed and numerous buildings destroyed by the bombardment. That
part of the town near the railway station was almost entirely destroyed
_(see plan, p. 25)_.
The Rue Faidherbe, Café Jean, Grand Hôtel, Grande Pharmacie de France,
part of the Rue des Ponts-de-Comines, and the whole of the Rue du
Vieux-Marché-aux-Poulets, were in ruins. The Hôtel Continental in the
Parvis-St.-Maurice Square, was a mere heap of rubbish. The Rue de
Béthune, Rue de l'Hôpital-Militaire and Rue du Molinel were partially
destroyed. In the Boulevard de la Liberté, the premises of the "Belle
Jardinière" Stores were wiped out _(p. 38)_.
At 9 a.m., on October 13th, while hundreds of fires were still burning,
five companies of Bavarian troops entered the town, followed throughout
the day by Uhlans, Dragoons, Artillery, "Death Hussars" and Infantry.
The occupation had begun.
[Illustration: The Manœuvre of Marshal Foch
_This map shows the successive advances of the Allies, from August 1st
(1/8) to October 18th (18/10). On October 16th (16/10) the line reached
(shown by thick dots) threatened Lille with envelopment, and forced the
enemy to retreat along a wide front._]
The Deliverance
For more than three years the inhabitants of Lille had heard the guns
thundering almost at their gates, as for a long while the front was
bounded by Armentières and Lens. In _December, 1914_, the Battle of
Artois partially cleared Arras. The offensive of _May-June, 1915_, was
marked by the capture of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Ablain-St.-Nazaire,
Carency, Souchez, stopping at Vimy Ridge and hemming in Lens on the
south. The victory of _September-October, 1915_, cleared Lens further
to the north, by the capture of Loos. In _March, 1918_, a powerful
German offensive from Armentières, forced the Allies back for several
months, until the successive and correlated offensives of the Allies,
under Foch, beginning on July 18th, finally liberated the French soil,
town by town, and village by village. In August and September there was
an advance along the whole front from the Argonne to the Artois, while
in October, the Artois-Picardy front also burst into flames.
While the _French_, in the centre of their line of attack, crossed the
Oise at Mont-d'Origny, to the south-west of Guise, the _British_, north
of Douai and east of Lens, encircled Lille more closely on the south,
and approached Séclin, Aubourdin and Quesnoy-sur-Deule.
At the other end of the front, on the left, _Belgian_, _British_
and _French_ forces under the _King of Belgium, Albert I._, took
the offensive, and on the 14th, 15th and 16th. of October, in
spite of the rain and mud, took Roulers and Thourout. Meanwhile,
the 2nd British Army captured Menin, crossed the Lys 9 miles from
Lille, taking from the rear the northern defences of the latter. In
possession of Menin and Bouchain, the British continued to encircle
Lille and Douai, and approached the two ends of the important
Menin-Tourcoing-Roubaix-Cysoing-Orchies-Somain-Cambrai railway.
On the 14th, the Germans, who were preparing to evacuate Lille,
destroyed the railway behind them, and on the 15th, burnt the goods
station of St. Sauveur, after hurriedly plundering it.
At 4 a.m. on the 17th, the inhabitants were ordered to form up and
march towards the British lines.
At 5 a.m. on the 17th the last of the Germans left Lille, after blowing
up all the bridges and a number of locks on the canal.
At noon, on the 1,536th day of the war, the 5th British Army entered
Lille, after a four years' occupation.
Although they had organized powerful defences to a depth of 12 miles
around the town (barbed-wire entanglements, concrete trenches, etc.),
the Germans made only a faint show of resistance. To console the people
at home, the newspapers _(Strassburger Post)_ announced that _"retreat
was the only way to preserve the elasticity of the front and prevent a
break-through at all costs."_ (See opposite, map showing, step by step,
the advance of the Allies, from August 1st to October 18th, 1918.)
The joy of the liberated population may best be expressed by the words
with which the _Mayor of Lille_ received _Président Poincaré_ on
October 21st: _"For four years we have been like miners buried alive,
listening for the sound of the rescuers' picks; then all at once the
dark gallery opens and we perceive the light."_
In Paris, the news was received with singing and cheers. In the Place
de la Concorde, the Statue of Lille was decorated with the French
and British colours and flowers. The Fourth National Loan, named the
"Liberation Loan," opened under the most favourable conditions.
[Illustration: FRENCH AND BRITISH PRISONERS
_(Rue Faidherbe and Place du Théâtre, before the ruins of the Café
Jean)_
_(Most of the photographs in the "Occupation of Lille" portion of
this Guide, were taken by M. Hazebroucq, engineer, in spite of enemy
prohibitions and threats.)_]
[Illustration: BRITISH TROOPS DEFILING IN THE RUE LÉON GAMBETTA,
OCTOBER 21ST, 1918
_(A portrait of the King of Belgium is seen in one of the shop
windows)_]
[Illustration: THE KAISER IN MOTOR-CAR, IN THE PLACE CORMONTAIGNE]
THE GERMAN OCCUPATION
The German occupation began on October 13th, 1914. From the 13th to the
28th of that month it was _Major-General Wahlschaffe_ who directed the
operations, levied the War Contributions and chose the hostages. His
successor, _Artillery General Von Heinrich_, was appointed Governor on
October 25th, and held the post until December 27th, 1916, when he was
made Governor of Bucharest. _General Von Graevenitz_ was Chief of the
Kommandantur, which occupied the premises of the Credit du Nord bank in
the Rue Jean Roisin.
[Illustration: THE KING OF BAVARIA AND THE KAISER IN THE PLACE DE LA
GARE]
The Hostages and War Contributions
=Sixty hostages= were chosen from among the most notable persons in
the town, and included the Bishop _(Mgr. Charost)_, the Prefect of
the North _(M. Trépont)_, _MM. Delory_ and _Ghesquière_, Members of
Parliament, the Mayor _(M. Delesalle)_ and deputy mayors. In groups
of ten they were made to spend the night in turns at the Citadelle
_(photo, p. 51)_.
From December 31st, they were required merely to sign a presence-sheet,
but were later again forced to spend the whole of their time (day and
night) in the Citadelle, this time in groups of five. Finally, they had
to sign a presence-sheet each morning and evening until October 5th,
1915, when this formality was dispensed with, _i.e._ after the Census
operations had been completed.
In November, 1914, began exorbitant exactions in the guise of =War
Contributions=. On the 4th, Von Graevenitz demanded a million francs
to be paid on the 10th; then two millions on the 17th, and three
millions on the 24th, in addition to the expense of feeding the troops,
which alone amounted to 10,000 frs. daily. After much negotiating the
Governor finally agreed first to give more time, then to reduce the
amounts of the contributions.
To ensure an effective control, a very strict _census_ of the
population was taken on August 27th, 1915. Particulars of the persons
in each house were constantly posted up, and after September 1st
=identity-cards= with photographs were obligatory. To be found in
the street or even standing on one's doorstep without this card, was
punishable by fine (3 to 30 marks) or imprisonment (one to three days).
[Illustration: M. JACQUET'S IDENTITY CARD _(see p. 16)_.]
Passes
In January, 1915, the Kommandantur drew up rules for the granting of
passes, a fruitful source of profit to the Germans, and of annoyance
to the population. A scale of prices provided even for the shortest
journeys. Funeral processions going to the South Cemetery were also
required to have passes (free), to go through the Porte des Postes, and
were escorted by soldiers, both going and coming, to prevent the people
from leaving the ranks.
[Illustration: DISTRIBUTING PASSES IN THE RUE JEAN-ROISIN _(see plan,
p. 25)_.]
However, little by little, the people took up their occupations again.
Forty schools for boys and girls reopened early in November. Of the
remainder, five had been destroyed, two turned into hospitals and ten
into barracks. The higher schools and, later, the Lycée reopened, as
did also the Conservatoire, whose pupils were exempted from having
passes. The only newspapers allowed were the _Bruxellois_ and the
_Gazette des Ardennes_, both under German control. On November 15th,
1915, at the request of the Kommandantur, the Municipality started the
bi-weekly _Bulletin de Lille_, which appeared on Thursdays and Sundays,
and contained the Proclamations, Birth and Death notices, etc.
[Illustration: REQUISITIONING BEDDING IN THE RUE RATISBONNE.]
Next came the =Requisitions=: saddles and bridles, bicycles,
photographic apparatus, telephones, bedding and horsehair (photo
opposite). The Germans relentlessly seized all bedding, including that
of the old people, some of whom died of cold from sleeping on bare
stone floors. Neither sickness nor old age could soften them, and when
at last Lille was relieved, very few houses contained any bedding.
Famine
The town now began to be threatened with =famine=. Since 1914, bread
had only contained one-third of wheat flour. At the request of the
Military Authorities, the Mayor sent an =urgent appeal= to Switzerland
for help, to save the women and children from starving, and cited the
case of Strasburg generously revictualled by her in 1870. In March,
1915, a _Commission of Swiss Officers_ visited Lille, but was unable
to conclude arrangements. On April 19th, after lengthy negotiations,
the _Comité National Belge_, under the patronage of the _Ambassadors
of the United States and Spain_, obtained permission to revictual the
famine-threatened town.
In the meantime, recourse was had to various expedients to eke out the
stocks of food. In December, wheat flour was mixed with rye, Indian
corn and rice. In April, potatoes were added. On the 11th, bread
cards were inaugurated, fixing the daily ration per head at 9 oz. The
inhabitants were divided into two classes, the ration being distributed
every other day.
[Illustration]
The gold, silver and copper coinage disappeared, and was replaced by
cardboard pennies and paper "bons" (photos above and below).
[Illustration]
[Illustration: THE KAISER AND THE KING OF BAVARIA IN FRONT OF THE RUINS
IN THE RUE DE TOURNAI (PLACE DE LA GARE).]
THE REIGN OF TERROR
=Prohibitory Decrees= followed in quick succession, in an endeavour
to terrorize the people, who were forbidden to possess arms, approach
the prisoners, import Belgian tobacco, or sell their wares in the
streets, breaches being punished often with vindictive severity. Two of
the first =victims= were the Prefect _(M. Trépont)_ and his secretary
_(M. Borromée)_, the former accused of treason, the latter of stirring
up revolt against the German Authorities. Their "crime" was that, on
August 24th, in conformity with their duty, they had mobilized the
French citizens, within sight of the enemy. They were roughly handled
at the time by the German soldiers, and would probably have been shot,
but for the intervention of one of the University professors _(M.
Piquet)_, who, acting as interpreter, managed to smooth matters over.
After being closely watched and spied on, they were =arrested= on
February 17th, 1915. M. Borromée was tried by Court-Martial on March
13th, and sent to =prison= at Alrath. Nine months later (December 27th,
1915), his release was obtained through diplomatic representations. The
Prefect was sent as =hostage= first to Rastatt, then to Cellaschloss in
Hanover, and his liberation was only obtained on January 17th, 1916.
In April, 1915, a system of Roll Calls was inaugurated, to prepare the
way for the wholesale =deportations= which followed. At a given time
and place, the people were required to present themselves, with a small
quantity of baggage. Absentees were first fined, then imprisoned, the
penalty increasing in severity with each succeeding "offence."
=Domiciliary searches= were carried out at all hours of the day and
night, for hidden soldiers, arms, carrier-pigeons, smuggled French
newspapers, and the like.
Then, as if fines, imprisonment and starving were not punishment
enough, the Germans started =shooting=.
[Illustration: NOTICE
The undermentioned persons were tried by Court-Martial and shot to-day
at the Citadel:
_Wholesale Wine merchant:_ +Eugène JACQUET.+
_Second-Lieutenant:_ +Ernest DECONINCK.+
_Shop-keeper:_ +Georges MAERTENS.+
_Workman:_ +Sylvère VERHULST.+
(1) For hiding the British aviator who landed at Wattignies on March
11 last, supplying him with food and lodging, and helping him to reach
France and get back to the enemy lines.
(2) For assisting members of the enemy forces, helping them to remain
in Lille and neighbourhood in civil dress and procuring their evasion
to France.
In conformity with the Proclamation of the Governor, dated April 7,
1915, these two cases are considered as espionage, and are brought to
the notice of the public as a warning.
Lille, September 22, 1915.
+The Governor.+]
The Case of the Four
When, on October 12th, 1914, the small garrison which was holding
Lille, surrendered, several hundred French soldiers escaped capture and
hid themselves in the town. Until evasion should be possible, it was
necessary to feed and shelter them, and this _M. Jacquet_, a wholesale
wine merchant, undertook to do. A good organizer, his coolness and
courage fitted him well for the task. He was assisted by his daughter
_Geneviève_ (who, later, narrowly escaped being shot), his friends
_Deconinck_ and _Georges Maertens_ and a Belgian, _Sylvère Verhulst_.
[Illustration:
The Citadel, Lille, September 22, 1915.
My Beloved Wife and Children,
At the moment of starting for the place of execution, I tenderly
embrace your dear image for the last time. My last kiss, from the
bottom of my heart, here for you. Farewell! Long live France!
+E. Jacquet.+]
On March 11th, 1915, a British aviator was forced to land in the town,
after having bombed a German telephone station. Hidden by Jacquet,
he eventually escaped to Belgium, guided by Melle. Geneviève. A few
days later, he again flew over the town and dropped notes reading
as follows: _"Lieutenant Mapplebeck sends his compliments to the
Kommandant of the German Forces in Lille, and regrets that he was
unable to make his acquaintance during his recent pleasant stay in the
neighbourhood."_
The joy of the inhabitants and the rage of the Kommandantur may be
better imagined than described in print. Orders were immediately given,
and the "Polizei" set to watch. Previously, on March 16th, notices had
been posted up all over the town, threatening with death any person who
should hide "any member of the enemy forces."
_Hostages_, including the foremost persons in the town, were
=imprisoned= in the Citadelle, while the liberties of all were severely
curtailed. Passes to and from the surrounding villages were stopped,
and "lights out" was sounded at 5 p.m.
Being unable to imprison the entire population, the Kommandant deprived
them of =liberty= and =air= in mid-summer.
Meanwhile _Jacquet_, who knew that he was suspected, made light of the
danger.
=Arrested= several times under various pretences, all efforts to
incriminate him failed. However, a =spy= was at last found, who
undertook to do the business. Passing himself off as a French prisoner,
he asked Jacquet and his friends to help him, and then betrayed them to
the "Polizei." A new search enabled the Germans to lay hands on 2,000
frs. in gold, but they could not find any incriminating documents (the
list of the soldiers in hiding, 200 in number, was in the upholstering
of an armchair at Deconinck's house).
[Illustration: THE MOAT OF THE CITADELLE _where M. Jacquet, his
friends, and Trulin were shot_.]
In consequence of the spy's information, Deconinck's house was watched.
Informed of the recent search of Jacquet's premises, Deconinck was
looking round for a safer hiding-place, when his next-door neighbour,
who was in the secret, suggested that the armchair would be safer in
her keeping. The offer was well-meant but unfortunate, as the Police,
who were on the watch, seized the chair, smashed it and found the
list. Returning at once to Jacquet's house, they arrested him and his
daughter, and locked them up in the Citadelle.
At the same time, Deconinck, Maertens and Verhulst were arrested.
Jacquet's daughter, Melle. Geneviève, owed her life to lack of evidence.
The four men were tried on September 16th and sentenced to death.
They were shot on the morning of September 22nd, and died bravely,
"standing, their hands free, and their eyes unbandaged." Their last
words, shouted together, were: "Vive la France, Vive la République."
Their names are inscribed on the Roll of Honour of the Army, and the
_Journal Officiel_ of December 8th, 1918, announced that the Legion
d'Honneur had been conferred on M. Jacquet.
Execution of Léon Trulin
When the war broke out, Léon Trulin, a Belgian subject, aged 17, was
living at Lille. Intensely patriotic by nature, he burned to serve his
country against the hated invader. With the help of a few comrades,
among whom were _Raymond Derain_ and _Marcel Gotti_, he got together
various documents and succeeded in bringing them to the Allies across
the Dutch frontier. In 1915, he decided to go back to France and enlist
in the Belgian Army, in company with his friend Derain. On October
3rd they arrived at the frontier. For three hours, in the dark, they
burrowed under the "live" wire entanglements, when suddenly the alarm
was given. Lights flared up, shots were fired, and Trulin and his
companions were taken. The documents found on Trulin proved to be his
death warrant. His friends Derain and Gotti were condemned to penal
servitude for life.
On his way to the place of execution on November 8th, Trulin's nerve
(he was 18) gave way for a moment, but recovering himself quickly, he
walked to the post with a firm step, and so another name was added to
the long list of the victims of Kaiserism.
[Illustration: TRULIN'S PASSPORT.]
[Illustration: TRULIN'S LAST LETTER TO HIS MOTHER _(pp. 20, 21)_.]
[Illustration: (TRANSLATION)
November 7, 1915.
My dearest Mother,
I am very sorry for all I have done since I left home on June 30.
I suffered greatly during July, often homeless, then in September life
changed, I was a little happier, I had a pleasant time in Holland
and England for a month, then came back to Belgium, when suddenly
misfortune overtook me. By ill luck I was caught within half a minute
of Dutch territory.
I beseech you not to despair, live for René, who would be an
unfortunate orphan, also for my brothers and sisters, set them an
example of resignation and lift up your head, your son has given his
life for the Fatherland (Long live little Belgium).
I embrace you with all my heart, courage, mother, we shall see each
other again some day, kiss my brothers and sisters for me and tell them
your son knew how to die.
Now I am going to lie down, it is already late, to be ready for the
execution to-morrow.
I forgive everybody, friends and enemies, I pardon, because they do not
pardon me.]
[Illustration: (TRANSLATION)
You will find a note-book, in which I have noted my last wishes.
I ask you to forgive Denèque for what he has done, I have forgiven him,
it is the request of a doomed man.
Your son, who causes you much suffering and is deeply grieved.
+Léon Trulin.+
* * * * *
I have put 5 marks in the note-book which is in my bag, for one or two
masses and an indulgence, I have given the rest to the Priest for the
same purpose.
November 7, 1915, the last day before my death.
Excuse me, if I do not write very well, I am writing on a garden table.
Courage, dear Mother, courage, brothers and sisters, live in peace,
without hatred.
I die a good Christian.
+Léon Trulin.+]
The Explosion of the "Dix-huit Ponts"
On January 11th, 1916, at about 2 o'clock in the morning, a terrific
explosion shook the town, hurling huge stones and débris in all
directions for a distance of several miles. An ammunition depot
situated in the south-east portion of the ramparts, between the Gates
of Valenciennes and Douai, about 400 yards distant from the railway
station of St. Saviour, had blown up. It was an enormous underground
vault, commonly known as the "Dix-huit Ponts," because of the 18
massive stone arches which formed the entrance.
It will probably never be known how many thousand shells and tons of
explosives blew up, as the greatest secrecy was observed by the German
Authorities. All the soldiers who were there were killed. The damage
was tremendous, whole streets and numerous factories, including two
large spinning-mills, were entirely destroyed.
[Illustration: "LILLE IN TEARS."]
At the funeral, which took place on Saturday, January 15th, 1916,
there were 108 coffins, but this figure does not include the numerous
persons who were literally pulverized by the explosion. The noise of
the latter was heard at _Breda_ in _Holland_, nearly a hundred miles
away, and houses as distant as the Rue Jeanne d'Arc, Place Philippe le
Bon and Rue des Postes were destroyed by the flying stones. In general,
the catastrophe was stoically borne by the inhabitants, one citizen
remarking: "There were enough shells to have massacred whole regiments.
Better we should mourn our dead, than the precious lives of so many of
our soldiers."
One huge stone, weighing more than a ton, fell in the studio of
the sculptor Deplechin (Rue de Douai), Director of the Ecole des
Beaux-Arts, who carved the bas-relief _"Lille in Tears"_ on it _(see
Itinerary, p. 36, and photo above)_.
The Deportations
In 1916, the prohibitions increased in number, the people being
forbidden to leave their houses after 6 p.m., or before 7 a.m.; to
criticise the news published by the authorities, to remain at their
windows, or to stand on their doorsteps, under a penalty of 5 to 10
days' imprisonment. They were also forbidden to use the trams without
a special permit. These measures paved the way for the =deportations=
of April-May, 1916. During Easter week, under the pretence that the
revictualling of the population was difficult, the Governor decided
to deport the inhabitants of Lille, Tourcoing and Roubaix into the
country, and make them cultivate the soil. Rumours to that effect had
been rife for several days previously, but the people would not believe
it. However, all doubts were cleared away on April 20th, when posters
warned the people to hold themselves in readiness with about 70 lbs. of
luggage. The 21st was a day of painful suspense. On the 22nd at 3 a.m.,
German soldiers hemmed in the Fives Quarter, and placed =machine-guns=
at the corners of the streets. House by house, street by street, amid
blows from the butt-ends of their rifles, the Germans forced the people
out of their houses. They were counted like cattle, and the number
checked with the sheet posted up on each house. Those who were to go,
mostly girls, were forcibly taken from their parents and led away
between fixed bayonets, then loaded into cattle-trucks and sent to an
unknown fate. Girls were taken from mothers and wives from husbands,
with coldblooded indifference. It was in vain that the Mayor and the
Bishop indignantly protested, the former to the Kommandantur and the
latter from the pulpit. Methodically, this abomination was perpetrated.
[Illustration: THE HÔTEL-DE-VILLE BURNING _on the night of April 24th,
1916_.]
For ten days the people lived in mortal suspense, asking themselves if
and when their turn would come.
On Easter-Sunday night, the 64th German Infantry Regiment surrounded
the Vauban Quarter, the horror of the scene being intensified by the
Hôtel-de-Ville in flames.
Each night, until April 30th, 1,800 to 2,000 persons were wrested from
their homes.
Although greatly depressed, the deported people recovered their courage
as the trains left the station, and to the amazement of the Germans
sang the _"Marseillaise"_ in a mighty chorus.
Twenty-five thousand persons, mostly women and children, were forcibly
taken from their homes and made to cultivate the soil, break stones,
build bridges, make sand-bags, turn shells, etc., their only food
consisting of a little black "bread," nauseating soup and broken scraps
of meat.
As soon as the French Government learned the facts, a Note was sent
to the Neutral Powers, protesting against these inhuman deportations,
which were ordered by _General Von Graevenitz_, and executed by the
64th Infantry Regiment, commanded by _Captain Himmel_.
Five months later, thanks to the intervention of the King of Spain,
Alfonso XIII., these unfortunate people were allowed to go back to
their homes.
For several months in 1917 things went better, but in 1918, the German
Authorities recommenced deporting. A first batch of men and women
was interned at Holzminden, while on another occasion the women were
sent to Holzminden and the men to Jewie, near Vilna (Lithuania). The
Official Records, to which the reader is referred, contain full details
of these inhuman crimes and of the abominable treatment to which the
exiles were subjected: privations of every kind, humiliation, torture
and degrading occupations.
On September 30th, 1918, the Kommandantur ordered the evacuation of
all males from 15 to 60 years of age, but the German soldiers carried
out their instructions in a half-hearted way, and many escaped. The
approaching sound of the guns and the lax discipline of the soldiers
announced the Allies' Great Victory and the coming deliverance to the
war-weary people.
On October 17th, the British troops entered Lille.
[Illustration: M. JACQUET'S GRAVE _in the East Cemetery_.]
The Ruined Industries of Northern France
Before the war, Northern France was one of the most flourishing
industrial centres in the country.
The metallurgical firms of the North produced annually over a million
tons of =steel=, representing nearly a quarter of the country's total
production. This steel was transformed locally into finished articles.
The exceedingly prosperous =textile= industry was carried on mainly at
Tourcoing, Roubaix, Rheims and Sedan.
The =flax= industry was also concentrated around Armentières, Lille and
Halluin.
The =cotton= mills of Roubaix, Tourcoing and Lille were extremely
prosperous and important.
The following general figures give an idea of the industrial importance
of this region, which contributed one-sixth of the country's total
taxes. Before the war, the annual industrial production was estimated
at 4,000,000,000 frs., of which the textile industries accounted for
2,500,000,000 frs.
[Illustration: TRULIN'S GRAVE _in the East Cemetery_.]
The industries of Northern France have been =ruined=, not so much by
the war, as by the systematic =pillaging= and =destructions= carried
out by the Germans.
Official documents left behind in Brussels by the routed enemy brought
to light the existence of two German Organizations: the ="Abbau
Konzern"= and the ="Wumba Waffen und Munitions-Beschaffungs Anstalt."=
The mission of the =former= was to cripple France industrially, by
methodically destroying her factories and mills, while the =latter's=
agreeable and profitable task was to sell stolen French machinery and
tools to competitive German industrial concerns.
[Illustration]
VISIT TO THE TOWN
_To enable tourists to visit the town quickly and thoroughly, we have
drawn up 4 itineraries, each of which starts from and returns to the
Grande Place._
1st Itinerary (pp. 25 to 35).--=The Centre of the Town. The Ruins in
1914.=
2nd Itinerary (pp. 36 to 48).--=From the Grande Place to the "Dix-huit
Ponts." The Ruins in 1916.=
3rd Itinerary (pp. 49 to 54).--=From the Grande Place to the Citadelle.=
4th Itinerary (pp. 55 to 58).--=The Old Town.=
FIRST ITINERARY
_Quarters destroyed by the bombardment of 1914_: =Rue de Paris=, =Rue
de Tournai=, =Rue Faidherbe=, etc.
_Monuments seen on the way_: =The "Bourse,"= =Town Hall=, =Palais de
Rihour=, =St. Maurice's Church=, =Tournai Gate=, =Theatre=, "=New
Bourse=."
_Starting-point_: The Grande Place.
[Illustration: _Starting from the =Grande Place=, follow the streets
indicated by =thick lines=, in the direction of the =arrows=._
_The blocks of buildings shown by the blank spaces were destroyed by
the 1914 bombardment._]
[Illustration: THE OCCUPATION: PARADE OF GERMAN SOLDIERS IN THE GRANDE
PLACE
_Left: Column commemorating 1792; right: Corner of the Bourse._]
The Grande Place