Evening star., 1941-01-04
Bombs Over Fire

In his recent broadcast on Amer
lca's defense crisis, President RooSe-
welt asked listeners to "analyze for
themselves" what the future of
places near to Germany would be IF
the NaZiS won" He added: Gould
Ireland hold out? Would Irish free
dom be permitted as an amazing pet
exception in an unfree World?"
Three nights later an area sixty
miles in radius around Dublin was
subjected to a five-hOur air assault,
which was renewed during Thursday
morning and evening. Yesterday
daylight raiders bombed the city
again in a series of sporadic attacks.
Fragments of explosives and in
cendiary bombs having been found
to be of German origin, Fire has
ordered its Charge d'Afaires at Ber-
lin to make energetic protest"
against SO Wanton a violation of
Irish neutrality. The Reich is asked
for full reparation and to take effec-
tive steps to avoid a repetition of
happenings which produced fatalities
and injuries among civilians in both
Dublin and at provincial points, be-
sides destroying homes and other
premises.
That the De Valera government is
incensed over unprovoked onSlaughts
against Irish territory is indicated by
reports that the German Minister in
Dublin might be given his passport
if bOmbingS continue. The raids are
particularly unjustifable in light of
Fires ardent desire to remain at
peace and preserve her neutrality in
the Anglo-German strife. To that
end she has turned a deaf ear to
suggestions that Britain be granted
the use of certain Irish ports which
would facilitate the ability of the
British fleet to cope with the sub
marine menace in the Atlantic,
especially to shipping from the United
States.
Dublin's position is that it can risk
no steps that might embroil Fire in
war. Events beyond her control-of
seemingly aggressive German origin
may now convert her in self-de-
fense into a belligerent Mr.. de
Valera has insisted Fire would enter
the European conflict only if at
tackled. 1t would look as if that con-
tingency had suddenly arrived. The
Germans will hardly be able to plead
this time, as they did last August,
when three girls were killed in Fire,
that a Nazi flyer might have lost his
way over the country. This weeks
raids bear strong indication of
planned action. That this may result
in driving Fire, against her will, into
Britain's arms as an ally is self
evident; that the Germans may de-
liberately contemplate such a conse-
quence as part of their plan for
invading the United Kingdom cannot
be left out of account
Perhaps this seeming exhibition
of Nazi disregard for neutral rights
may persuade Fire, as Major George
Fielding Eliot recently wrote in The
Star, ito show herself worthy of a
great past and meet with courage
and resolution the issue presented to
her by the fate which planted the
Emerald Isle at the gateway of the
Atlantic" Major Eliot was discussing
the Importance of Irish bases to
Britain at this crucial hour. He
rightly points out that the issue is
not unconcerned with American in
tereSts and that the United States
might properly ask for its adjustment
in Britain'S favor. Fire may be
doomed to discover, as others have
done, that Hitler respects nations
neutrality just so long as it suits his