Roosevelt Defends Bombing Of Rome

Northern Advocate, 24 July 1943, Page 3

Roosevelt Defends Bombing Of Rome

(8.0. W., 1 p.m.) RUGBY, July 23. President Roosevelt today defended the bombing of Rome and reiterated an urgent plea to have Rome declared an open city, states a Washington message. He said it was necessary to bomb to save the lives of those fighting in Sicily. For the past year every effort had been made to have Rome declared an open city, but the Fascists would not agree. The United States had used every argument, but it did not work.

President Roosevelt recalled how Rome had become an important military centre. He did not believe in destruction for retaliation, but destruction for saving the lives of men at war was an inevitable necessity. Asked whether the bombing of Rome was the fulfilment of the ChurchillRoosevelt warning to the Italians to surrender or die, President Roosevelt said that the two things should not be confused. One was the problem of the entire nation; the other was a city venerated throughout the world, but now used for military purposes. President Roosevelt added that the Allies had received no communication whatever from the Vatican regarding the bombing of Rome. 150,000 Evacuees Daily

The exodus of civilians from Rome has now reached approximately 150,000 daily—all proceeding northwards. According to reliable figures which have reached Berne, says the “New York Times” correspondent, the number is expected to increase as raid alarms become more frequent. The wholesale evacuation complies to the last detail an analogy with the situation in France in 1940—even to reports that Ministries are destroying useless archives and packing others for removal elsewhere. The Italian propaganda ministry, continuing its new policy of entire frankness, has authorised publication of details of the exodus. Local authorities have received instructions to facilitate the movement so it will not clutter the roads. Provision is also made to send the first batch of 100.000 children from Rome to less exposed districts. Other plans are under way to evacuate nearly 1,000,000 children from other principal towns. Still Clearing Wreckage The life of Rome proceeds far from normal, but evacuations have resulted in a marked improvement in the food situation. The municipal life remains disrupted. Thousands of refugees assemble day and night under the colonnade at St. Peter's square where Vatican police maintain watchful guard; discouraging discussions. Wrecking creivvs continue to pour into the area from which, according to a German report, “at pitifully frequent intervals” ambulances rush out with another injured person or take bodies to improvised morgues. Travellers say that train traffic has not been resumed from terminal stations, yards of which arc a shambles. Tramway traffic on many lines fed by cables passing through bombed areas has not yet resumed. Mussolini Responsible

One man bears sole responsibility for the bombing of Rome—Mussolini, who is also responsible for the present misery and degradation of the Italian people, saj r s the “Daily Mail” in a leader. “Mussolini could have spared Rome the horrors of this visitation if he had divested the city of its warlike character. Instead, he industrialised the suburbs and took full advantage of our scruples and traded on the sacredness of Rome to erect numerous war factories. He hid behind the robes of the Roman Catholic church in order to make war against the virtues and principles for which Christianity stands. It was Mussolini's Rome that was attacked—the Rome of modern paganism “We share the Pope's sympathy for victims —we had many victims here. We understand his concern for monuments —we also lost many irreplaceable treasures, but we cannot relax any means of ending as quickly as possible a iwar which, if long continued, will engulf not only Rome but the entire civilisation of the world.” “The Times” Madrid correspondent reports that Catholic Spain is impressed with the news about Rome which, incidentally, is being soberly presented from both belligerents. Any attempt at distortion or omission in making the raid appear merely on churches, cultural monuments and workers’ dwellings is doomed to fail. A German news agency says that, according to Vatican circles, Vatican city, in view of the war’s increased proximity to its territory, sees itself forced to limit its activity. These circles emphasise that on the basis of Article 24 of the Lateran Treaty, the Vatican city’s territory is always in all cases to be regarded as neutral and inviolable.

Canard Exposed Monsignor Mozzoni, auditor to the Papal Nunciature, in an interview with Reuter’s Madrid correspondent, described reports that the Pope is planning to live in the centre of Rome if the city is again raided, as Axis propaganda. Monsignor Mozzoni said that the suggestion was absurd. Britain’s Suffering The bombing of Britain damaged 13,895 churches, monasteries, convents and other ecclesiastical buildings, according to a report of the War Damage Commission cited by the Home Secretary in the House of Commons The figures did not include schools, vicarages or ordinary residential buildings. Photos Reveal Damage A preliminary report of the damage inflicted in the daylight attack on Rome on July 19 was issued today, and photographs show damage to all targets, out little to other property, and then only to areas surrounding the main targets. At Pan Lorenzo railway centre very heavy damage is revealed, with great destruction or tracks and railway property, including hits on both round houses, a large locomotive shop, waggon sheds at the" north-east end oi the centre, the car shop, etc. A large freight depot was still burning on Monday evening and the raised viaduct was holed .at two places. At the western exit damage was seen to industrial and other buildings south-west of the target and the Taboneili steel plant and tram garage have been affected. A large chemical plant was damaged and several nearby craters pierced tne water main, resulting in road flooding for some distance. , , ... „ At Littorio railway centre muen rolling stock was damaged and derailed. Ten fires are still burning and the east side of the target was obscured by smoke. A direct hit was seen through the railway bridge ancl on a building like a car shop. A locomotive depot was severely damaged. During' the attack on Littorio railway centre it was observed that a number of bombs hit a locomotive shed, repair shpp and the western end of the railway stack and the middle railway centre. An ammunition train was seen to explode. Bursts were also seen south of the areas of the railway centre and explosions and fires were caused. Entire areas of the railway centre were left enveloped in smoke. Photographs show a large airfield was unserviceable and the landing area almost entirely covered by craters. Direct hits were scored on a large hangar, barracks, administrative buildings and ammunition dump. At the time of the reconnaissance late on Monday, a fire was still burning in the barracks. At least 24 aircraft were seen to be burnt out, or otherwise damaged. At Ciampino South an airfield, one hangar and two shed-type hangars were damaged. At Littorio airfield the southern end of the landing area was badly battered. One large hangar was gutted. At the south end of the landing area another hangar was set on fire and several small buildings destroyed.

Such of the cable pews m this Issue as Is so headed has appeared in “The Times,? and is sent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of ‘The Times unless expressly stated t<? be so.