HELD BY BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1941, Page 5

HELD BY BRITAIN

ITALIAN HOSPITAL SHIP

REPRISAL FOR MANY OUTRAGES. DELIBERATE AND FLAGRANT ATTACKS. RUGBY. July 2. In consequence of many enemy attacks on British hospital ships, the British Government has decided to detain the Italian hospital ship Bamb IV, which was intercepted off Aden. ( The Government will use it lor a minimum period of six months to replace a British ship damaged hr enemy action.

Following is the text of a declaration made by the British Government stating its policy following a protest to the German Government against deliberate attacks on hospital ships:— “On July 12. 1940. his Majesty's Government protested to the German Government -through the United States against 31 deliberate and flagrant attacks by aircraft and shore batteries upon British hospital ships and carriers. Many of these were severely damaged and three, the Maid of Kent. Brighton and Paris, were sunk. All these sinkings and at least half of the other attacks occurred in broad daylight. All the ships concerned were marked in accordance with the Hague Convention and in all other respects fully conformed to the requirements of that convention.

“In spite of this protest enemy aircraft continued deliberately to disregard the immunity which is recognised by all civilised nations as due to hospital ships and our hospital ships continued to be attacked from the air in circumstances which leave no doubt as to the wilful and brutal nature of the attacks.

“The Commander-in-Chief. Mediterranean, recently reported ’three deliberate attacks on British hospital ships. On April 12 the hospital ship Vita, with over 400 casualties aboard was deliberately bombed by enemy aircraft and badly damaged. She was again attacked on April 21 and 22 while at sea and in tow. On May 5 the hospital ship Karapara was deliberately bombed and damaged by al least nine enemy aircraft at Tobruk. On May 17 the hospital ship Aba was twice deliberately bombed in the open seas 50 miles south of Crete and damaged. All these vessels were clearly marked in accordance with the Hague Convention and all the attacks took place in broad daylight when there can be no question of difficulty of identification. Deliberate attacks are also known to have been made on Greek hospital ships. “His Majesty's Government is not prepared to tolerate such flagrant violations of the convention, which received the signature and approval of the German and Italian Governments and. from which these Governments, by marking their vessels in accordance with its requirements, expect to derive full advantage.

“His Majesty’s Government has, therefore, given directions that the Italian hospital ship Ramb IV., which was intercepted after the fall of Massawa and sent in for examination in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Hague Convention, is to be detained and employed as a hospital vessel for the transport of British- and enemy sick and wounded. His Majesty’s Government will detain the Ramb IV. for use as stated above for a. minimum period of six months in replacement of one of those damaged by the enemy’s wilful action. “If in the meantime his Majesty's Government is satisfied that the enemy not only has the firm intention of refraining from further attacks on British hospital ships but also has the power to ensure that these intentions are carried into effect, the return of the Ramb IV. will be considered.”