VATICAN BOMBING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1943, Page 4

VATICAN BOMBING

AND EARLIER RAIDS ON ROME more light on german TACTICS. INDICATED MOTIVES AND AIMS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1 L.O a.m.) LONDON, November 8. While German propagandists continue to play up the bombing of the Vatican last Friday night, in an attempt to arouse feeling against the Allies, Swiss newspapers report that unknown planes, in the middle of September and late in October, in hitherto undisclosed raids, dropped bombs on Rome, some falling close to the Vatican. Both raids occurred at night, after the capitulation of Italy. The German propaganda chiefs in Rome hushed up the raids. Two bombs during the first raid fell in the Via Aurelia, near Vatican territory. Eight bombs in the second and heavier raid fell across the Tevere Quarter, about a mile from the Vatican, severely damaging two blocks of flats and two villas. They are believed to have caused many casualties, because raid alarms were not sounded. The British United Press Lisbon correspondent says reports trickling in from France state that the Germans bombed the Vatican City on Friday to provide themselves with an excuse for removing art treasures. The Germans, immediately after the raid, strengthened the guards around the Vatican and cordoned off street approaches. The Vatican radio, which is broadcasting normallp, despite German statements that it would cease because it had been severely damaged, announced that the office of Cardinal Canalis was severely damaged, and also the Council Hall, both of which arc in the Governor's Palace, which is the Vatican City's administration centre. Private apartments in the palace were also damaged.