Fall of an Ancient

Nestling in the famed vineyard country of the Moselle Valley, Trier is the sort of town that tourists call "picturesque." It is an even more ancient town than Aachen,* the seat of Charlemagne; it is, in fact, the oldest town in Germany.

Trier was founded, as Augusta Treverorum, in 14 B.C. by the Emperor Augustus, became the chief city of the Gallic tribe of Treveri. Because of its strategic location, Diocletian made Augusta Treverorum an important provincial capital. Constantine the Great beautified it. His mother, Empress Saint Helena, presented it with the "Holy Coat" or Seamless Tunic of Christ, which remains to this day the chief treasure of Trier's 4th Century cathedral. On the other hand, Trier is also the birthplace of Karl Marx. The Nazis set up a printing establishment in his house, then Allied bombs destroyed it.

Last week, when General Patton's Third Army approached Trier, the Nazis could not afford a heavy defense for the sake of prestige. Several hundred Germans battled briefly on the outskirts, then gave up Trier to the 10th Armored and 94th Infantry Divisions. The old cathedral was badly battered. The old caretaker said, "See what Hitler has done!"

Patton's drive down the Moselle was overshadowed by the great events on the Rhine. Coblenz was still 60 miles from Trier, across tough fighting country which must be crossed if the whole west bank of the Rhine is to be occupied.

*For news of Aachen, see RADIO.

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