NAZI WRECKERS.

Evening Star, Issue 23737, 19 November 1940, Page 6

NAZI WRECKERS.

In the ruthless air bombing practised by the Hun over Britain there is no concentration on military objectives. Frightfulness appears to be his chief hope of winning the war. This method must fail, for the strength of the British character will not yield to that kind of intimidation. A further incentive to endurance is to be found in the words of Mr Herbert Morrison, who remarked, when visiting the stricken city this week; “ The people of Coventry regard this as a nasty business, but realise that it would be a thousand times worse if Hitler ever came here.” Callous slaughter of women and children is the worst phase of the German air attacks. Next in material importance is the terrible destruction of public and private buildings. Added to these things is the illustration of savagery shown in the bombing of hospitals and churches. In an official list published a few days ago, it was shown that ten London hospitals and twentyfive churches had then been seriously affected, if not destroyed altogether. St. Paul’s Cathedral was only saved by the selfless heroism of Lieutenant Davies and his fellow-workers, whose exploit will be cited as long as history endures as an example of magnificent courage. The Dean and Chapter intend to express their appreciation of this act by the placing of a permanent memorial inside the building.

In the Coventry raid the cathedral was destroyed, and the spire now stands as a lone sentinel over the grim scene of destruction after the all-night raid on the city. There is something symbolic and .characteristic in the bombing of churches, for it runs parallel with Hitler’s expressed hatred of Christianity. A cathedral is more correctly described as a “ cathedral church ” —the church which contains the official “ seat ” or throne of a bishop. Coventry is usually associated with Lady Godiva’s famous ride, and its groat cycle and motor industries. This ancient city has taken great pride in its many beautiful historic buildings, and large sums have been expended in recent years on their maintenance and restoration. The chief glory of Coventry was the cathedral, St. Michael’s Church. Built between 1230 and 1395, its spire rising 300 ft, it was said to be the largest parish church in England, and was one of the noblestjof the lighter Gothic structures. It is sad, indeed, to think that this town of high antiquity has had to endure such a visitation and to lose so much of beauty and interest that was the work of devoted master craftsmen in the dim past.'

The same thing applies to London. Not only have the churches suffered, but other buildings that wore an attraction and a delight to people of other lands have received severe damage Fortunately, many of the greatest treasures in stained glass, prifcoioss altar furnishings, and paintings were removed to safety when war broke out. It is gratifying to read, too, in the accounts given of the September raid, that though many famous churches were affected by the force of the bomb explosions, in most cases the destruction was limited to shattered wdndows and torn ceilings. This is accounted for chiefly by the fact that these ancient churches have been protected from the full blast of bombs by modern blocks of offices, which tower above everything but the lofty church spires. The Nazi philosophy has much to answer fop. In days of old the actions of the barbarous tribes could be excused on the ground of their lack of understanding of human values. No such plea can be advanced for tho modern Hun, whose country was declared by him to be the last word in “ kultur.”