THE TOWER IN MARCH 1919.
Until 1918, no further damage of importance was done to the façade, but in August of that year, some days after the French had retaken Soissons, three sides of the tower (north, south and east) and the interior framework of the belfry were entirely destroyed by the numerous German shells.
In September 1918, all that remained of the tower were the two buttresses at the north-west and south-west corners. By a miracle they remain poised, but loosened stones keep constantly crashing to the ground (photo above).
All the arches of the gallery above the large rose-window were also destroyed in August 1918.
Interior of the Cathedral.
The cathedral, over 300 feet in length, comprises:
A Nave with seven bays and double side-aisles, with chapels of a later date added to the last four bays.
A Transept, the south arm of which ends in a semi-circle, and the north arm in a straight wall.
A Choir with four bays and a semi-circular Apse surrounded by an ambulatory, off which open eight rectangular chapels, and, at the apse, five radial polygonal chapels.