POLICY OF REPRISALS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue IV, 4 May 1917, Page 7

POLICY OF REPRISALS.

DISCUSSED BY LORDS. "A SALUTARY LESSON." Australian and X Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 3. In the House of Lords, the Archbishop of Canterbury strongly protested against the policy or reprisals, including the bombardment of Freiburg, which was carried out recently by a large Franco-British squadron in return for the torpedoing of hospital ships. The country, his Grace said, was prepared to prosecute the war with all its power, and to make every sacrifice, but it meant to emerge from the war with untainted honour and clean hands. , Lord Ruckmastcr, the Bishop of Winchester, the Earl of Selborne, the Earl of Loreburn. and Lord Parmoor all disapproved of reprisals, on the ground that there was a danger that we should sink to the level of the Germans. Earl Curzon justified the Government's action. He stated that the Germans were peculiarly open to this argument, and squealed like babies under reprisals. There was some evidence that they had had a salutary effect. Only one hospital ship had been attacked since Freiburg was bombed. The subject was dropped. FRENCH TAKE REVENGE. PRUSSIAN TOWN BOMBED. A and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuier. LONDON, May 2. A French official communique states:—ln reprisal for the enemy's bombing of Chalons and Epernay, five French machines bombed Treves, in the Rhine Province of Prussia, causing a violent conflagration.