In 1914, when the world had had less experience with high-explosive municipal warfare than it has had since, vast was its indignation that in a single day in the first battle of the Marne, 287 German shells smashed into the 800-year-old Cathedral of Reims. By 1919 the Cathedral was a shambles, its 400-ton lead roof melted, nearly all of its great stained-glass windows blown out, 24 of its 35 ancient statues wrecked, all its flying buttresses demolished or badly damaged. Altogether the damage amounted to 140,000,000 francs (then $27,000,000). Among benefactors who contributed millions of francs to the restoration of Reims...
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