FOUL FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1941, Page 5

FOUL FIGHTING

BY GERMAN AIRCRAFT IN MEDITERRANEAN ATTACKS ON HOSPITAL SHIP. OTHER DELIBERATE CRIMES (British Official Wireless i (Received This Day, 11.52 a.mJ RUGBY, Febuary 23. The standard of conduct exhibited by the enemy In warfare in the Mediterranean area has undergone a marked change since it became necessary for Germany to render assistance to Italy. On two occasions recently, states an Admiralty communique, the hospital ship Dorsetshire has been attacked by German aircrcaft, but fortunately she was not hit on either occasion. The Dorsetshire was clearly marked as a hospital ship and her identity ns such has been made known to the enemy in accordance with the requirements of International law. Malta was the object of enemy air attack on many occasions during the first seven months of the war against Italy, but in no raid were deliberate attacks made upon hospitals. Since the appearance of German aircraft in the central Mediterranean, the Imtarfa Hospital, at Malta, has been deliberately attacked, "It will b<- remembered that <>n January 31. a merchant ship evacuating Italian prisoners of war from the Libyan coast was attacked by two enemy aircraft believed to be German. The attack resulted in a large number of casualtie; among the Italian prisoners, many of them fatal.