ITALIANS JUSTIFY BOMBING

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21746, 31 March 1936, Page 11

ITALIANS JUSTIFY BOMBING

CLAIM THAT CITY WAS MILITARY BASE

DESTRUCTION ADMITTED

-xirsj Pas.s3 isscciAiicx—coptsisst.i •Received March 31. 1.34 a.m.)

LONDON. March 3D. .i” a message from Gorhai the Italians claim that the bombing of Harar was justified because the city was used as a military base. The decision to make the raid followed reports that the city had been evacuated. Airmen participating in the raid state that they scrupulously adhered instructions net to bomb any part cl tne city except those known to be occupied by troops and military stones. Most ot the bombs dropned outside the city, destroying fortifications and petrol and munition . dumps. There was unquestionably great damage, loss of life, and panic. If women were killed it was due to a habit of the Abyssinian troops of keeping their womenfolk near them.

STILL IN FLAMES RED CROSS HOSPITALS DESTROYED • BOMES AND MACHINE-GL NS I SED IN RAID .Received March 30, 2.40 p.m.l ADDIS ABABA. March 29. Harar was still in flames four hours after the attack by 30 Italian bombers. The bombardment of the city was foreseen, by the Abyssinian Govern- ' meat, which has categorically denied the existence of fortifications and military preparations alleged in an Italian communique. : Jigjiga was admittedly a military base, it is stated, but the bombardf ment of Harar must seem brutal and stupid, and it will injure Italian interests, which consisted rather in encouraging local feeling against the ' Amharic governors. It is t fit daily stated that 37 aeroplanes took part in the raid, using : bombs and machine-guns. The buildings destroyed'included most of those comprising the French Catholic mission. Nevertheless the ■ septuagenarian Vicar Apostolic. , Mcnsignor Jarrcusseau, remained at his post throughout the bombardment and escaped without a scratch. | Fifteen bombs struck the Egyptian ; Red Cross hospital, vvhh * is outside i the city wail. The Abyssinian Red 1 Cross, though farther away, was fre--1 quently hit. High explosives were I tnrown between the Swedish hospital and the British Consulate. ' Both these and all the hospitals visibly carried the Red Cross. Half of Harar is aflame. As night falls thousands of inno- ; cent and ignorant people are home- : less. They have lost all their posses- , sions. Harar is an open town, _ and : therefore there was not a single . anti-aircraft gun present to open fire , on the raiders. i ; Two Italian aeroplanes were) ‘ brought down at Kworam, while dif-) fusing mustard gas, between March! , 23 and March 25, one by Haile i I Celassie’s own hand. ; ! Haile Selassie has moved his head- j quarters west of Kworam on the j , direct line of the assumed Italian ■ advance.—"The Times” cable. i

SMALL ADVANTAGE TO ITALY OPINION ON DESTRUCTION OF HARAR (Received March 30, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON. March 23. Sir Percivai Phillips, in the -‘Daily Telegraph,” states that the destruction of Harar is of no military importance to General Graziani. It was evacuated of troops and military supplies in November. Even :f the' town were totally destroyed the way is not clear for an early Italian occupation.