SIR,—I have for years subscribed to your paper, admirineits inde-
pendence of thought and stimulating views. I am moved, however, vehemently to protest at the ill-considered observation of " Janus " recently when discussing the impropriety of bombing Rome. Rome, I agree, is not Mussolini's, nor is London now, or will it ever be, Hitler's, but only by resolute and direct action in every field can we ensure this. If any benefit, however slight, is to be gained tly us from bombing Rome, then it is proper that Rome should be bombed as ruthlessly as the Nazis bomb London. St. Paul's means more to most Englishmen than the Forum, and the Temples of Antiquity less than those which nightly are desecrated by the Vandal.
I do not support the facile view that indiscriminate bombing of civilian centres should be undertaken by the R.A.F. purely as "frightfulness," but I speak for many when I record my strongest objection to the sentimental nonsense which we read about Rome in "A Spectator's Notebook."—Yours faithfully,