Evening star., 1943-07-20
The Bombino of Rome

A~S NAOPPAAS Va DOA4bS OIl
early yesterday morning, Central
European time, could not logically
have come as surprise even to its
residents. Such action had been
clearly foreshadowed by series of
Allied warnings. Nearly a month
ago, a spokesman for the Royal Air
Force announced that Rome was no
more entitled to exemption from
bombing than any other place con-
tanning military objectives, and sug-
gested that it be declared an open
city, which would mean not only the
dismantling of defenses and with
drawal of troops, but the transfer of
the Italian government and admin
istration to some other place. Short
ly afterward, Anthony Eden, British
Foreign Secretary, announced in
Parliament that Rome would be
bombed whenever it would serve
strategic purposes, while President
Roosevelt assured the Pope that his
neutrality would be respected in any
event. The still more recent joint
warning of the President and Prime
Minister Churchill to the Italian
people implied that no part of Italy
would be spared in the intensive cam
paign about to be waged by the Allies.
The actual bombing seems to have
been a model performance. 1t was
conducted in daylight by aviators
specially trained in high-level pre-
cision technique. The objectives were
a railway yard and war work facto-
ries in the outskirts. Besides bombs,
leaflets were dropped calling atten-
tion to these facts and inviting Ro-
mans to see for themselves and not
be misled by Fascist propaganda,
which might falsely claim that dam
age had been done to religious or
historical monuments, or even to
Vatican City itself.
Although this was more than a
"token" raid and considerable dam
age seems to have been done, the
basic objective was presumably po-
litical and psychological. Rome's
previous immunity from air attacks
has led Italians to hope, and even
believe, that they would not be made.
So multitudes of high-placed persons
have come thither from all parts of
the country to what they deemed a
safe haven. Their disillusionment will
increase the apprehension aroused
by the long series of disasters now
overwhelming Italy and weakening
it's power and will to continue re-
sistance. The bombing of Rome is
thus an effective development in the
war of nerves as we'll as of military
strategy.
Provided subsequent raids are con-
Quoted in the same fashion, there
should be little danger of a chance
bomb falling on Vatican City, which
is a well-marked and clearly defined
tract of somewhat over 100 acres,
situated in the very heart of Rome
and not close to any military objec-
tives of major Importance. The only
possibility of technical infringe
ments of Vatican neutrality would be
the accidental bombing of certain
buildings which, though outside the
confines of Vatican City, are consid-
cred parts of the Papal domain and
enjoy extra territorial rights. Be-
sides this legal aspect there Is the
larger fact that the entire city of
Rome is dotted with religious and
antiquarian treasures whose destruc-
ton would be deplored throughout
the world. Presumably this will deter
the Allies from full-scale raids like
those which have recently blasted
Naples and other Italian cities. Yet
a series of high-precision bombings
might induce the Fascist government
to declare Rome an open city. In
that case, the transit of troops and
equipment through Rome would
have to cease. This would gravely
handicap the high command, because
Rome is the nexus for rail and high
way communications between North
and South Italy. The enforced aban-
donment of the capital by the Fascist
government would likewise deal a
heavy blow to popular morale.
Thus, the bombing of Rome would
seem to be amply justified, and, with
the present safeguards against in
discriminate damage, it is unlikely
to.cause unfortunate repercussion in
the world at large.
Union Election
l. u. l.