The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1944. LOOTED ART TREASURES.

Evening Star, Issue 25171, 10 May 1944, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1944. LOOTED ART TREASURES.

Looting by the Nazis of art treasures on the Continent has been carried out in the most shameless manner. Neither museums nor art galleries have been spared, and famous private collections have also been ruthlessly robbed. Napoleon and some of his marshals set an example in this nefarious pillaging, but it has been conducted in a more systematic manner 'by a number of the Nazi leaders, notably Goering, Ribbentrop, Himmler, and Funck. Ribbentrop recently made personal tours for " art collecting" purposes in Italy, while connoisseurs, at his behest, gathered important works throughout the rest of Europe. It js announced to-day that Mr Churchill lias appointed a committee of men eminent in art matters to be at the sen-ice of the British Government in connection with post-war restitution of looted treasures. This body will co-operate with a United States commission, already formed, and groups that may be set up in Allied countries oil the Continent.

It was previously announced that Anglo-American art" historians, archaeologists, architects, museum curators, and natural scientists would accompany Allied invading armies into Europe, including Germany itself, to give maximum protection to monuments of European culture. The aims of the group have been stated in these words: "We do not want to be called vandals five centuries later, -when future generations learn the history of the war. Our purpose is to hold high the reputation of the Allied armies in their treatment of cultural monuments belonging to all humanity." As a practical measure of help, the Rockefeller Foundation arranged with its cartographical experts to make maps showing the exact location of Europe's art and architectural monuments, and these will accompany the Allied armies to the battle fronts. When the invasion of the Continent begins, officers will have with them lists of monuments situated in every area and deserving of special care during the operations. When the Allies entered Naples the curator of the national museum in that city stated that many removable Italian works of art had been concealed in a " sacred spot." which was later revealed to be the Cassino Monastery. Its vaults in which they were stored escaped destruction. Among the immortal works concealed there were paintings by Raphael. Titian. Botticelli, Van Dyck, and the only existiii"- portrait of the ancient Gredj

poet. Sappho. Many priceless relics of Roman life 2.000 years ago were among the hidden treasures. The major part of them are believed to have been seized by Nazi leaders for their private collections. In Holland, France, and Belgium, the greed of the invaders was conspicuous. Many internationallyknown works have disappeared from the great galleries in those countries. It is said, for instance, that paintings from the Louvre, in Pariw, are in the private gallery of Otto Abetz, Hitler's No. 1 agent at the fall of France. There will be a general feeling of satisfaction in Allied countries when the Huns are compelled to disgorge their ill-gotten gains.