The Washington times., 1938-01-21

After that, people began to think that there were
things which ought not to be done in entirely
righteous war to the death-that defenseess women
and children ought to be respected by conquerng SOL
derry wells ought not to be poisoned by either side,
and so on There grew up code of decency and self
restraint in war which for long time pretty we'll
lived UP to by civilized nations
Now comes the airplane; and it has made possible
return to cruees of the type that were outawed after
the medieval of religion.
a, u e Religion is involved in the
"oW "0"PO " Spanish civil war; Day before
FTIghttUtneSs yesterday, six bombing planes
flew from Majorca Italian Baearic Island air base,
and dropped bombs on Barcelona and Valencia, Span
ish cities on the Mediterranean side which have not
figured in military operations. Barcelona dead
estimated at 4OO wounded at 120O Valencia dead at
100, wounded at 3OO
Quoting from United Press dispatch from Bar
ceona
95seGond air raid raid .aE eOmp tp5b51 Surprise prise other no air
five buildings Of eight or nine stories & in one street % were
or gravely wounded Explosions broke windows and sent
people automobiles and horses racing wildly for shelter
ovcrowded doorways The conclusion threw some children
This is the sort of thing that Vittoro Mussolni,
in his recent memoirs of his Ethiopian bombing plane
adventures, describes as Exceptionally good fun"
The object of these air raids open cities is to ter
rorze the civilian population into giving up support
of the army and begging for peace. It didn't work
in the World War; German Zeppelin and plane raids
on London and Paris only infuriaed the civilians into
buying more war bonds and eating scrubbier food.
Yet the Italian planes Francois side are trying the
same thng and it is likely that other nations in wars
to come will try it, too.
It may be ghastly thing to say, but the only de-
fense that has yet succeeded against this tactic of
frightfulness is to have bombing planes than
The Ans1Uer Is More the enemy, and to be able
. to bomb more Of his women
And Bigger Planes and children than he can
bomb of yours. Anti-aircraft guns help sometimes,
but sometimes they DON'T cities such large targets
that planes be fairly sure of hitting them from
great attitudes.
It looks if frightfulness can only be countered
by more frightfulness, that armies of all nations
have the airplane to fight with
It is fair inference that Signor Mussolni ordered
approved the Barcelona-V Valencia swoop. Mussoini
is trying to win possessions spheres of influence in
Fnte ond Soroo Spain, and is contributing troops
COnquerOrS ID = 1'N''l ''"0 ~
There is at least strong possibility that Mussoni
Will not always be on the sending end of these air raids
conquest usually catches up with conquerors few of
them die IN bed IN the odor of sanctty The assassns
dagger at last overlook Julius Caesar his debauch-
eres finally knocked out Alexander the Great: vic
torlous enemy eventually caught up with Napoleon
We hate to think of the beautiful cities of Rome
Florence Naples being subjected to air raids of the
kind that hit Barcelona and Valencia Tuesday, or
worse ones. But think it likely that in the fullness
of time such a thing will befa Mr. Musssolin
From York