ANGRY LETTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 228, 25 September 1940, Page 7

ANGRY LETTERS.

FEELING STRONG.

Demands For Reprisals For London Bombings. United Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON, Sept. 24. "Letters are pouring into every newspaper office from angry readers demanding reprisals for the hideous bombing of London's citizens," says the "Daily Mail" in a leading article. "Everywhere in the bombed areas the eame cry is heard. The demand for reprisals simply cannot be ignored. It is time to bring out the whole subject into the open. We must redefine "indiscriminate bombing , and 'military objectives.' • "Our Government says the 10,000,000 people in Greater London are subjected to indiscriminate bombing. That is true, but is it the whole truth? The bombs which have killed or wounded thousands of civilians have mostly fallen near docks, bridges, railways, gas and electricity works, telephone exchanges, crossroads, the Sovereign's home and Government offices. It could scarcely be otherwise, for in big cities vital services exist alongside the homes of the people. "Under the German conception of total warfare, no centre of population is exempt from attack. A city is itself a military objective. Britain is aiming at Germany's military nerve centre, and Germany is aiming at Britain's civilian nerve centre. We must make up our mind whether Germany is attacking legitimate objectives. "Hitler wants total war. We should satisfy him. The German code permits the bombing of London, so we have the right to attack similar objectives in Berlin. To say there will not be reprisals against civilians is to tell Goering: 'Go ■ahead and bomb the people of London. We will not bomb the people of Berlin. , "Must we give an open cheque to murder 1"

BRITISH AWARDS.

FOREIGN AIRMEN HONOURED.

(Reed. 1 p.m.)

LONDON, Sept. 24,

The D.S.M. has been awarded to Sergeant Jozef Frantieek, of the Polish Squadron of the R.A.F. He is the. first Pole to win a British flying award. He destroyed five planes in a week.

Flying-Officer Count Manfred Czernin, who was born in Berlin, was awarded the D.F.C. He destroyed nine planes, three in one action.