AERIAL BOMBING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22955, 5 February 1938, Page 15

AERIAL BOMBING

SPANISH OPEN TOWNS EFFORTS TO TERMINATE REBELS REJECT PROPOSAL By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Feb. 3 A message from Barcelona states that the Republican Government has ordered the suspension of all air raids, even reprisals for the onslaught on Barcelona, during the British and French efforts to end such attacks. The Republican Minister of Defence, Senor Prieto, in spite of the rebels' rejection of an aerial truce, ordered bombers not to attack rebel towns in view of the British and French acceptance of the principle of hi,s Note against the bombing of open towns. A message from Geneva states that delegates from working-class organisations to the International Labour Office vigorously protested against the bombing of open towns in Spain by Italian and German aeroplanes. Tliey attacked the systematic murdering of women and children and appealed to the League to take adequate measures to end such horrors.

A telegram from Brussels says the Government has accepted a Socialist motion that Belgium join Britain and France in representations regarding bombing in Spain.

BARCELONA HORROR VICTIMS STILL TRAPPED SEQUEL TO AIR RAID FOOD PASSED THROUGH PIPES (Received February 4, 6.5 p.m.) BARCELONA, Feb. 3 The people who were trapped in the basements of two houses as the result of the air raid on Barcelona on January 30 are alive, but have not been extricated. They are being provided with air, water and food by pipes driven through the debris. The casualties on the day named are computed at 110 killed and 1600 wounded.

MORE BOMBS DROPPED INSURGENT AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY SHELLS MADRID LONDON, Feb. 3 A message from Perpignan, France, says insurgent aircraft bombed near Figueras a number of American ambulances and 40 lorries driven by Frenchmen carrying food to the Government. Three people were killed and many wounded. A telegram from Madrid states that the rebels in an artillery bombardment killed 15 and wounded 45 people, and also damaged the offices of the American Associated Press. The Madrid correspondent of the Times says the rebels have adopted a new technique consisting of firing a few shells with intervals of 15 minutes between the explosions, thus deluding the population into believing the bombardment is over, on which they emerge into the streets, only to be caught by shrapnel of the next discharge. This effectively raised to-day's casualties. CIVILIANS' FATE REDUCTION OF SUFFERING BRITAIN'S ACTIVE WORK British Wireless RUGBY, Feb. 3 The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, speaking in the House of Commons in support of the motion opposing the aerial bombardment of defenceless towns, said that unless something could be done to meet this menace, in the latter part of this century the people of the world were going to live like troglodytes, as they did in the davs of the cave dwellers.

The essential thing was whether any steps could be taken, and, if so, -what steps, to reduce the suffering of the civilian population from the uses of this bombing weapon. Mr. Eden said he felt certain that France would join in any wider international endeavour in this direction. The German Chancellor had also expressed himself to be in favour of an endeavour of this kind, and he was sure that they could count on his sympathy and support. ' The Minister disclosed that some months ago the British Government initiated exhaustive work on the subject by competent departments of State.

! "We thought it necessary to make a thorough survey," said Mr. Eden, "before contemplating any initiative or approach to any other Governments. The complexities of the problem are such that it is of little avail to approach others unless you have examined the difficulties and know how you are going to meet the very formidable objections that may be raised. "This survey will be finished in the near future, and I assure the Blouse that the Government's objective is to get general international agreements on the subject." Reports from Brussels and Paris indicate how fully public opinion on the Continent shares the dismay aroused in London by recent accounts of air raids in Spain, and the desire to see an end put to the terrorisation of civilian populations behind either side of the Spanish fronts. STRONGLY DEPLORED AMERICAN VIEWPOINT , r (Received February 4. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 At to-day's conference with journalist*, the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, condemned the aertal bombing of civilian populations without mentioning China or Spain. His observations nevertheless were directed to them. He said it should be strongly deplored by all civilised nations and he hoped ways and means would be found to end the practice.