SAVAGE BOMBING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 31 December 1941, Page 5

SAVAGE BOMBING

OPEN CITY OF MANILA CHURC HES ESPECIALLY SELECTED REPORT OF GENERAL MACARTHUR (Rec.. 11.30 a.m.) Rugby, Dee., 30 1 A United States War Department communique received from Washington gives a report by General Douglas MacArthur, C-in-C in Manila on the Japanese bombing of Manila The report j says:— I "A survey of damage done on unj defended Manila by repeated and senseless savage bombing by Japanese aircraft after it had been declared an j open city has been practically completed. This survey indicated that churches and other centres of Christian worship were deliberately selected ias special targets. These edifices were !of a distinctive type of architecture land their characters could not have been rrtistaken. "Before the brutal assaults had begun Japanese bombing planes flew (low over the city obviously selecting j buildings which were subsequently (bombed. In many churches attacked. I the devout had gathered for sanctuary i and solace. Among the buildings I destroyed were churches and shrines where many generations had worship!p' :1 for centuries. The beautiful old I church of Santa Domingo with pricei less art treasures is now a heap of j smoking ruins. The great cathedral 'of the Immaculate Conception was a I special target for Japanese bombs and ! it was sought out and attacked on three successive days. Repeated attacks on j successive days were made on the .Santa Rosa Convent and the Santa Catalina Convent. San Juan Dedios 'hospital was also an object of vicious attacks and also five other churches and 1 three colleges supported by religious i institutions. i "The enemy mercilessly bombed the (open city of Manila using 63 bombers. The damage has be n severe and included all types of civilian installations such as churches, cathedrals, hospitals, convents and business and private dwellings. "It is notable that before Manila was declared an open city and before our anti-aircraft defences were evacuated the enemy abstained from attempted bombing of anything in Manila except military installations. The Japanese action was a complete violation of all civilised processes of international law.”—B.O.W.