WARNINGS FLOUTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1943, Page 4

WARNINGS FLOUTED

BY ITALIAN GOVERNMENT ROME STRONGLY DEFENDED INSTEAD OF BEING DECLARED OPEN CITY. CONTINUED IN COMBATANT ROLE (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received This Day. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 21. “Despite repeated warnings from London and Washington, the Italian Government refused to declare Rome an open city,” says the Swiss newspaper “La Suisse.” It quotes an Italian communique as stating that thei anti-aircraft defences were strong and had shot down seven Allied planes and then comments that these are indications that Rome is prepared to continue playing a combat role. LETTER FROM POPE. The Rome radio broadcast a letter from the Pope to Cardinal Selvaggiani, Vicar-General of Rome: “You are aware that a sad spectacle of massacres and ruins which is piling up painful accessories to this war against unarmed and innocent populations—induced us from the beginning of the war to do everything in our power to prevent the sentiments and principles of humanity being completely destroyed by passions. Even during the clashes of armies, we did all that was possible to spare our much beloved Rome from the horrors and devastation of aerial bombing. Without wanting to reiterate the immense historical importance of this venerable city, for us Rome is the holy city of Catholicism, to which Christ gave new glory. Additionally, almost in the centre of Rome —and therefore exposed to the danger of air attacks—is our Vatican City, an independent neutral State, which shelters priceless treasures, sacred not only to the Apostolic See, but to the whole Catholic world. We have several times made this cleai’ and asked for the safety of Rome, in the name of human dignity and Christian civilisation. Then what we feared occurred. That which we foresaw is now a sad reality, for one of the most treasured of the Roman basilicas, that of San Lorenzo, which was held in veneration by all Catholics for the ancient memories it evoked, and for the holy tomb of our predecessor Pope Pius IX, is ’ now for the most part destroyed. The painful experience of what has happened has again proved that, despite all the precautions one may take, it is almost impossible to avoid the destruction of the venerable buildings on the sacred soil of Rome. That is why we believe it to be our duty again to raise our voice to defend the highest values which adorn human and Christian greatness.” The Vatican radio reports that the high altar and tomb of Pius IX in the Basilica of St. Lorenzo escaped serious damage. VATICAN AREA COMPLETELY UNTOUCHED. ACCORDING TO SWEDISH CORRESPONDENT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, July 21. The latest reports of the bombing of Rome come from a Swedish correspondent, who says the centre of the city and the right bank of the Tiber, where the Vatican is, were completely untouched.