France.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 33, 25 September 1914, Page 5

France.

PLOUGHING WITH SHELLS.

IN REGION OF NANCY NO HUMAN BEING COULD HAVE ESCAPED.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received 8 a.m.) London, September 24. For miles in the region of Nancy, Geiman shells ploughed holes three feet in diameter and so close together that no human being could have escaped.

DESPERATE GERMANS.

MEN DRIVEN TO THE CHARGE LIKE BLIND MEN.

[United Press Association.] (Received 9 a.m.) Paris, September 24

Official.—The situation at the front is unchanged. The officers believe that the Germans would have retreated before now but for the condition of the load rendering impossible the transport of heavy cannon. The Germans arc fighting like desperate men, the officers sacrificing their forces without reason, and driving them again and again to a charge as if they were blind men. RHEIMS CATHEDRAL. THE GERMAN EXPLANATION BLAMES THE FRENCH. ~ London, September 23. An eye-witness describes Rheims Cathedral as not completely gutted. It is possible to restore the main features of the outline. The official German version states that "since the twentieth the white flag hoisted on the spire of the cathedral had been respected by our artillery. We then discovered that the French were using the spire as an observation post, and it was therefore necessary to remove the post, which was done by the field artillery, the heavy artillery not being allowed to fire, and the bombardment ceased immediately the post was removed. The French were alone to blame for misusing the white Hag."

FAMOUS TAPESTRIES SAVED.

Paris, September 23

The famous tapestries in the navo of the Rheims Cathedral were removed before the destruction.

"COULD NOT BE HELPED!"

Washington, September 23

Count Bernstorff says that/ Germany has won the Avar, and it is for the Allies to propose the terms of peace. The destruction of Rheims, he explains, could not be helped. If France and Britain are fortunate enough to invade Germany they will do likewise. CONDITION OF THE SACRED

EDIFICE.

BOMBARDMENT RENEWED.

(Received 10.30 a.m.) Paris. September 24

Tho facade of Rheims Cathedral, with throe doors, two towers, and the 'rose window" are intact. The bombardment of tho town has been renewed.

NEWS OF DESTRUCTION RECEIVED WITH ENTHUSIASM.

Times ano Sydney Sun Services. (Received 8 a.m.) London, September 24. Copenhagen reports state that the news of the destruction of Rheims Cathedral was received in Berlin with intense enthusiasm.

WOUNDED GERMANS.

ENORMOUS LOSSES WEAKENING THE FORCES.

[United Pkess Association.! London. September 23. Renter's Paris correspondent reports that wounded from the battlefield state that the Germans have lost so enormously that they cannot resist much longer. When repulsed a Craonne on Sunday night, the Germans abandoned over a thousand wounded.