Show I I I I j i i i i I I I I 1 i I j I 1 I I i CHURCHES I RUINED BY UNS Result of German Invasion o of Northern Fran France e BEGIN WORK OF DF RESTORATION State in Which Sacred Edifices Now Are Found Varies Varle From Those Have lave B Been en Completely Wiped Out Outto Outto Outto to Others That Suffered Only Damages Damages Damages Dam Dam- ages From Occasional Stray Shells Shells- 63 to Be Res Restored ored b by Individuals Individuals More than churches s s 's wore were either completely destroyed Id or seriously damaged dam dam- aged by hy the erman elman Invasion o ern Franco Franc The rhe state in which these miu churches now no are found varies from those that have C 11 been heen absolutely ab ab- I wiped 11 out to others which suffered suf suf- suffered l fer only the damages es of occasional stra stray shells Tin work worl of r restoring torin the churches churches' has 1 begun The rIte first annual general assembly of the Society to Restore the Churches of th the Devastated Regions was held In Paris recently At that time Victor Odelin of Paris reported that over 2 has been expended in beginning the work of of restoration He stated that three sixty churches have been adopted by hy individuals who will personally bear all the exp expenses Involved ed In the work of rebun rebuilding Help has come said the vicar from I time United United States from Brazil from froni India Inelia In fact every nation of the allied world is IH helping France counteract counteract counter counter- act the act the work of the destroyer yer Some Leveled by Shells I ISome Some of or orthe the churches will never be restored Some arc are gone completely shot hot to hits bits leaving barely al a trace of of their former l location catlon Others famous cathedrals such as those of Reims and Amiens maybe left now stand as us a n warning to posterity and as an Indelible record of the savagery of the thelast thelast thelast last five years In importance architectural beauty and size the ruined cathedrals and churches vary from the stately ruin of Reims Helms which will always alays s symbolize the barbarity of the Germans to the little country churches churche Beside the mound which fi figured day after day In the war as asHill Hill Iun In the midst of of what used to form the quiet village of Esnes just justI to the rl right ht of r Verdun stood the lI little tle church It was almost demolished by tl c terrible effect o of the artillery during durin during dur dur- in ing the Verdun struggle of 1916 but hut until late In the summer of 19 lD 7 the altar of the church still stood un un- scathed The roof and walls of the church had bad long since been heen shot away but the weather beaten unprotected altar continued to give solitary evidence of the former presence of a house of worship Today nothing remains But ButI the little church of Esnes is only one of a great number which will never Dever be restored |