RED CROSS BOMBED

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 12

RED CROSS BOMBED

THE ATTACK ON DESSIE

REPORT BY DOCTORS

PROTEST TO LEAGUE OF

NATIONS

The Prime Minister's Department today received a communication from the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, as sent to all members oi: the League, transmitting a declaration from the Red Cross relating to the Italian aerial bombardment of Dessie last week. It is as follows:—

"We, the undersigned doctors at the Tafari Makonnen American Hospital, Dr. Stadin, Dr. Loes, Dr. Dassius, Dr' Malako Beyen, of No. 2 Red Cross Dressing Station; Dr. Belau, of No. 5 Red Cross Dressing Station, and Drs. Schuppler and Ahmad, of No. 3.Dressing Station, having our premises visibly marked with the international emblem of the Red Cross, make the following formal declaration:—

"Today (Friday, December 6), at 7.48 a.m., three flights of Italian bombing aeroplanes consisting of four machines each flew over the town of Dessie and dropped incendiary bombs, explosive shrapnel bombs, and aerial torpedoes for one hour. We formally declare that the first explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped on all the Red Cross dressing stations, on which the international emblems were displayed in large numbers.

"In detail, five bombs were dropped on the Tafari Makonnen Hospital building proper, which contained Go sick and wounded men and had the Red Cross painted all over the root The instrument-room was completely burnt and destroyed by bombs, as were two wards by other bombs; the head nurse, Mile. Havig, has an open fracture of the left leg and her condition is serious. The annexe to the hospital, 100 metres away, containing sick men, was hit. Although it flew the Red Cross flag, the surgical tent of No. 2. dressing-station (Drs. Loeb, Dassius and Malako Beyen), 200 metres from the hospital, was completely destroyed and .set on fire by bombs* and all the material was destroyed.

"We declare that in the enclosure containing the dressing stations and the hospital, which is outside the town, the Red Cross emblems were in place and in large, numbers.

"We protest, against this inhuman act and stigmatise it'before the whole civilised world, and we give notice to ail Governments of the League of Nations and to all religions that more than 40 explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped in the enclosure containing the Red Cross dressing stations which were plainly visible, and that we have to deplore some scores of victims killed or wounded by this atrocious and cruel demonstration'; contrary to all conventions. In witness whereof we sign the present document for purposes of formal record and evidence. Done at Dessie, Ethiopia, December 6, 1935." The statement is signed by M. J. Sorenson, A. R. Stadin, M.DV Dr. M. S. Belau, Dr. Loeb, Dr. Dassius, Malako Beyen, M.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs.