'MID THE SCREAM OF SHELLS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2403, 8 March 1915, Page 6

'MID THE SCREAM OF SHELLS

REIMS RESIDENTS LIVE IN CELLARS.

One of Sydney's large business houses received hy last mail the following interesting letter from Mr. Charles Marcel Heidsieck, one of the partner® in the big French champagne firm. In the course of his letter, M. Heidsieck writes: "We are not only very busy, but I must say that all one's thoughts go either to the ovorvday duty or to the good or bad news from the front. You have, no doubt, received word from my father who has remained in Reims, being a town councillor, and, "as you know, our town has been fired at every day and night for more than 120 days. Some quarters of- it are altogether burned or destroyed. Our cathedral is nearly destroyed. Luckily, my father has escaped every injury from bombs or otherwise. He lives in the cellars of my brother's private residence, our own having been greatly damaged. The workmen, their wives and children live in the cellars of our business premises. "As you see from the address, I,am not at the front. I left for the firing line at the beginning, but was .taken seriously ill. I am all right now, and leave for the front within one month, either as interpreter to the English Staff or to join my regiment. My brother, Robert, is commanding a company here, and my brother George leaves for the front in two months' time.

"Your British troops are fighting very well, and it is very line to see how society young men have enlisted in England. We look fwward to a very serious- advance within the next two months, and I hope that , next spring will see these barbarians over the Ehine. They have proved able and willing to commit any crime on women, ohildren, prisoners, and wounded,, and they shall be made to account for it. Lot us hope that the end of spring will see the Allies altogether victorious, will that a peaceful and prosperous era will arise, and that we may bo there to aee it."