If Rheims accepts the German excuse she might suggest to them that the next time they bombard, if they aim at the city they may hit the batteries.
The Germans claim also that the damage done was from fires, not shells.

But that is not the case; destruction by fire was slight.

Houses wrecked by shells where there was no fire outnumbered those that were burned ten to one.

In no house was there probably any other fire than that in the kitchen stove, and that had been smothered by falling masonry and tiles.
Outside the wrecked area were many shops belonging to American firms, but each of them had escaped injury.

They were filled with American typewriters, sewing-machines, and cameras.