The Bombardment of Rome •
It is important to insist that the powerful air-raid on Rome last Monday was directed against important military targets only, the utmost care being taken to avoid striking at religious or cultural objects. It scarcely needs saying that for this country, and no doubt also for the Government, it is distressing in the extreme to be put to the necessity of bombarding a city which is a treasured possession not of Italy only but of the civilised world. There are many persons in this country who regard Rome as the most beautiful of all cities. It contains monuments of unequalled interest both fqr the historian Lad the lover of architecture and art. Rome was not built by
Fascists, and its destruction would grieve Britons scarcely less than Italians. But it is clear that the importance of aiming at military objectives only and avoiding damage to religious and cultural monu- ments has been impressed upon all who planned the raid and upon the pilots concerned in it. The city cannot be wholly spared: Not only is it the centre of the Fascist war direction, but, with its railway station and marshalling yards, it is a vital link in the north and south communications of the enemy, and of special importance at this moment when big reinforcements are being sent from the north towards the scene of operations in the south. Pilots have made intensive studies of the ground-plan of Rome, so that they know exactly what to aim at and what to avoid ; their action has been that of precgion bombing conducted by daylight. It was clearly impossible to allow the enemy to seek security within a sanctuary immune from attack, and to use it for offensive operations against us. The Allies have taken the only course open to them, but it is a relief to know that they are sparing no pains to avoid regrettable destruction.
