BOMBING OF ITALY

Southland Times, Issue 24882, 23 October 1942, Page 5

BOMBING OF ITALY

House Of Commons Demand

LONDON, October 21. “Don’t we owe it to Malta to hit Italy from the air?” asked Commander Sir Archibald Southby (Conservative) in the House of Commons. The Secretary for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair: We are hitting Italy very hard and we shall go on hitting. Sir Archibald Southby askea the Foreign Secretary (Mr Anthony Eden): Is there any agreement between Britain and Italy or between Britain and any other belligerent on the avoidance of bombing certain towns and cities? Mr Eden: No. Mr C. G. Ammon (Labour): Then there is no truth in the rumoured agreement that if Cairo is not bombed Rome will not be bombed. Mr Eden: No. The Government statement on this question only stated what we would do in certain circumstances. It did not state what we would net do. . Mr O. E. Simmons (Conservative) urged more 1000-bomber raids. Lady Astor (Conservative): If we are going to have a second front, would it not be better to bomb properly? Sir Archibald Sinclair: We are bombing as hard as we can. Sir Archibald Southby: Not Italy. ATTACKS ON MALTA 1068 Axis Planes Destroyed (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 21. Up to Monday there had been 1660 bombing attacks on Malta and 1068 enemy aircraft had been destroyed. Up to Tuesday 1386 civilians had been killed and 6704 buildings destroyed or damaged. The Secretary for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair, made this statement in the House of Commons.