Chose Catholics For Bombing Mission To Rome

Northern Advocate, 23 July 1943, Page 3

Chose Catholics For Bombing Mission To Rome

(Rec. 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 22. In the Allied raid on Rome on Monday, 717 persons were killed and 1599 injured, says an Italian comunique. The record of every crew and every bomber in North Africa was studied before the raid on Rome on Monday and only those units and men who showed they could bomb with accuracy were picked. The Cairo correspondent of the “New York Times” says that as many Roman Catholics as possible were chosen as pilots and bombardiers for the raid. Catholics were chosen as a counter-measure to Axis propaganda that was almost certain to result after the bombing of Rome. Complete chaos followed the official instruction that all those able should leave Rome, says the Stockholm correspondent of the ‘New York Times”. Roads from the city are packed with vehicles of all kinds. Free gasoline aggravated matters as thousands of unserviceable automobiles are blocking the roads.

Another aggravating factor is that 500.000 refugees from Southern Italy, who hitherto overcrowded the capital, are now trying to escape as quickly as possible. A Nazi-controlled Scandinavian news agency reports that evacuation of Rome by railway is impossible because railways are completely occupied with militay transport. Other reports, from Rome reaching Sweden state that the number of casualties in the Rome raid cannot be estimated, but schools, hospitals and other buildings are full of dead and dying. The large number of casualties is ascribed to the fact that the city was overcrowded with refugees. Tope To Live in City ? The Pope intends to implement his promise to leave the Vatican and live in the city of Rome, says the Zurich "Bietat's” Rome correspondent. The Fope is planning to move into the Episcopal Palace of Santa Maria Maggiore, in the most densely populated district, where he hopes his presence will preserve the Romans from further air-raids. The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is near the centre of Rome on the opposite side from the Vatican and less than a quarter of a mile from the railway terminus. The Madrid correspondent of the British United Tress says that according to reports from Italy, shouts of "peace” also “make Rome an open city,” are heard. Huge demonstrations have taken place in one of the central squares in Rome and many peace meetings held at Venice.. Milan, Turin, Florence, Bologna and Trieste on Tuesday. It is also reported that strikes are spreading to factories in Northern Italy and Istanbul. Reconnaissance pictures of Rome taken yesterday showed 10 fires still burning at Littorio marshalling yards, also fires in San Lorenzo yards. London Catholic Press View “Rome is a legitimate military objective,” declares “Universe,” which is the London Catholic weekly. "The Catholics certainly are not going to play the Axis game by echoing the violent hypocritical protests of Italian Fascist radio. A large number of people here and throughout the world feel that the raid, though certainly no crime, may have been a blunder. Nobody who knows Rome can have expected that the marshalling yards would be hit and San Lorenzo escape. "We are bound to say that we regret the raid took place. If we leave Catholics out of account altogether, we believe comparison between, those in this country who hail the bombing of Rome and those who regret it, would not produce the conviction that, taking a long view, it was wise.” Air Chief-Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas, A.O.C. Middle East, warmly congratulated Major-General Brereton, commanding the American Force In the Middle East, on blows struck at the enemy in daylight attacks on targets in Rome area. Reconnaissance photos, he said, showed damage to Littorio marshalling yards and military aerodromes such as to render the former useless for some time to come, while similar destruction was caused to the airfield especially among hangars.

Precision attacks are l’eflected in photos, and pilots, bombardiei’s and everyone who took part in the raid, from the planning stages and careful briefing to the safe return of the aircraft, were worthy of the highest praise. What Total War Means The British National Union of Seamen annual meeting unanimously passed n resolution of congratulation to Bomber Command on bringing home to the Axis the meaning of total war, and added: “We decry people who are more concerned with destruction of historical monuments than destruction of workers’ homes and families in Britain and hope that authorities will continue to press the attack until the Axis is destroyed.” “Are not the little Mission churches in our streets just as dear to us as any monument in Rome?” asked Mr J. H. Tarbitten, of Hull. “If there is any responsibility for bombing Rome if is on The head of Mussolini. He had a chance of declaring it an open ■city, but did not and so used it for years for militai’y pui’poses.”