HISTORIC OBJECTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24821, 18 February 1944, Page 3

HISTORIC OBJECTS

QUESTION OF BOMBING LIVES OR BUILDINGS BRITISH PEEKS' DEBATE ' (Reed. 6.:>,0 p.m.) L/ONDON. Feb. 1C The general question of the preservation of historical monuments and cultural treasures in theatres of war was the subject of a debate in the House of Lords. The debate was opened by Lord Lang, formerly Archbishop of Canterbury, who drew attention to "the importance of preserving objects of special historical and cultural value within theatres of war." He asked what measures Britain proposed to take for this purpose. Ho said Italy's monuments in sculpture and pictures were among the noblest possessions of the human species. Rome itself belonged to the whole world all the time, and not at any particular time. Patience Admired Lord Lang referred to the Benedictine monastery at Cassino, and expressed admiration for "tho patience with which the orders to spare it as long as possible had been observed." Lord Latham criticised the Bishop of Chichester's speech last week, and said that airmen commented: "These bishops think buildings are more important than we are." Lord Latham added that no more unfortunate time could have been chosen to raise the issue. It brought comfort to our enemies, spread alarm and perturbation among our people, and dismay among the lighting forces of the United Nations. Airmen Risk Their Lives "Our gallant airmen day and night risk their lives to save something much more precious than any building," j ho said. "I would not bo willing to j sacrifice my son for any building in the i world. I believe I am expressing the views of the wives, sweethearts and mothers of members of all forces of the United Nations." Viscount Trenchard. formerly Chief of Air Staff, speaking _ with considerable heat, said: "Soldiers are not vandals. Wo want to preserve historical associations, but not at tho cost of young life." Lord Winster said that European culture was in far more danger from Germany than from the bombers which aimed at preventing a German victory. "Is it our view." he asked, "that British lives would be well lost if some ancient monuments in Rome were preserved?" 1 would not try telling that story to an industrial audience of men and women whose sons have been conscripted into the armies now in Italy." Military Consideration First The Lord Chancellor, Viscount Simon, replying to the debate, said the interests of war must be far in front of any consideration of special historical or cultural values. "While military consideration stands out far in front of everything else," he continued, "I would say every precaution should be taken, consistent with the interests of war, to avoid and prevent needless destruction, and to limit the damage to artistic monuments, which are part of our inheritance." Viscount Simon said he realised that a terrible task was placed on the shoulders of the flying services, and tho men in the bombers could not be expected, in the midst of all this crisis of noise, darkness and danger, to obey any little instructions not to hit some particular object. He read General Eisenhower's order on the preservation of ancient monuments where possible, and said that the order recognised that tho safety of the life of a single man stood in front of any consideration for beautiful antiqui-j ties, but the order said consistently also ! that it is our duty, as civilised armies, to do the best we can.