The Paris Gun
Death From 75 Miles Away
On March 21, 1918 an explosion shook the city of Paris. It was followed by others in intervals of about 15 minutes. Onlookers could see no origin of what caused the explosion. There were no air ships or artillery pieces in the near vicinity. World War I was still going full steam, but the Germans were far away from Paris. Their nearest position was about 75 miles away.
The bombardment would continue with the most serious strike occurring eight days later. A shell would land on the roof of the Church of Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais during a crowded Good Friday service. Nearly 100 were killed by falling debris and masonry. The United States Ambassador recounted countless twisted bodies in a morgue and touring the remains of the church and seeing blood of the victims. He also recounted the loss of a Swiss diplomat in the attack who was a friend.
It would be found that no air ship was responsible for these falling shells. They were fired by a gun. But how was this possible? In 1918 what kind of gun could fire a shell 75 miles? The largest guns of the time only had a range of near twenty miles.
According to the documentary Apocalypse World War 1, citizens of Paris would begin to panic and send their children out of the city.
