Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-07-24
The ANN
War Today
Roosevelt RepIy
TO Pc pc S Plea for
Rome Expected
By KINGsBURY SMITH

By kINGsBURY SMITH
international New service War Ahsb'
THE AMERICAN govern
rnent today IS expected 10 de-
fend the bombing Of Rome as a
regretable but necessary meas
ure forced on the Allied nations
by the ruthless methods NJ
warfare initiated hy the AXIS
powers.
II is believed that President
Roosevelt himself may explain
the American government s
views IN reply 90 Pope Plus
KITS statement deploHng tho
bombing Of the Holy City Of
Catholicism
II the President does SO II is
considered likely he viii en-
phasize the rigid instructions
-riEeH-tAe- American tAarS IA
avoid. as much As possible the
DESTRUCTION ~ rcrvT1rtrt1rfy---''-'
jectiVes
He also is expected 10 stress
the Importance or The railway
junction on the outskirts ot
Rome as vital communication
center for military traffic 10
Southern Italy
MEANWHILE 7. authoritative
sources IN Washington recalled
that the United States uas-the
first nation 70 raise its voice
Al the beginning Of World War
IL in an urgent appeal 10 the
major European powers 10
spare civilian populations and
unfortified cities from aerial
.ken4baFdH4eHt
In a message sent TO the
British. French. Italian. German
and Polish governments on Sept
!. 1889. a few hours after word
had been received Of the Ger
man invasion Of Poland, Presi-
dent Roosevelt said;
THE RUTHLESS bombing
from the air of civilians In un-
fortified centers OF population
during the course Of hostilities
which have ragged In various
uuarters of the earth during the
last few wears, which resulted
I'm the manning and In the death
of thousands Of defenseless men
women and children, has sick
&ned the heart of every civilized
man and woman, and has pro-
foundry shocked the conscience
Of humanity.
sTf resort Ia had 10 this form
Of inhuman barbarism during
the period of the tragic con-
MAxrstion with which the world
now confronted, hundreds NJ
thousands Of innocent human
beings who have no responsible
ity for, and who are not even
remotely participating In, the
hostilitIes which have now
broken out, will lose their lives.
II am therefore addressing
this urgent appeal to every
government which may he en-
gagged In hostiIities, publicly to
affirm its determination that Its
armed forces shall In no event,
and under no circumstances,
undertake the bombardment
from the air Of civilian popula-
lions or Of unfortified cities,
upon the understanding that
these same rules Of warfare
will be scrupulously observed
by all of their opponents.'
THE BRITISH. French and
Polish governments replied, the
same day. expressing willing
ness 10 abide by the Presidents
. suggestion providing the other
parties concerned did likewise.
The Italian government also
replied the same day asserting
that Italy did not intend 10
take any initiative in military
operations" and therefore the
appeal did not apply 10 that
country.
Nine months later. Italy
launched the Stab-ln-the- back
attack on France already
crumbling under the German
onslaught.
Later. MussolIni also an
nounced that he had asked Ger
many for the privilege Of
participating in the bombing OF
Great Britain
ON SEPT. 2. 1889. Hitler re-
Piled 10 President Roosevelts
appeal with assurances that he
Internationally endorsed the
proposal.
In view of the fact that the
German air force destroyed
more than 1000 British
churches and ruthlessly bombed
civilian populations and unde-
Tended cities throughout Europe,
American officials feel that The
AXIS powers must assume full
esponsibility for what is now
happening 70 their cities.