BOMBING OF ROME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1943, Page 3

BOMBING OF ROME

WOULD BE CRIME AGAINST CIVILISATION ACCORDING TO BISHOP OF LICHFIELD. A DISTINCTION DRAWN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, June 4. “The bombing of Rome would be a crime against civilisation and a betrayal of the very things for which we are fighting,’ said Dr E. S. Woods, Bishop of Lichfield. He added: “Any military advantage we might gain thereby would not counter the moral damage to our cause throughout the world. The air onslaught we are now making against the enemy is an inevitable part of modern war and I trust our policy will continue to be one in which our air attack is directed against every kind of war activity and war potential and never directly and deliberately against civilian homes. It is inevitable and deeply regrettable that civilians by thousands must lose their lives. I nevertheless think there is a moral distinction between attacking civilians directly and the multifarious war activities in which they are employed in dock or factory, on road or rail. I can never forget Warsaw, Rotterdam and Belgrade. I also know that the enemy air activity against Britain at present is directed almost entirely against civilians. However, I think it would be a major moral disaster if, after enduring so splendidly thus far during the war, we now allow ourselves to become callous and complacent about death and destruction.”