Dr. Stephen S. Wise, president of the American Jewish Congress, has communicated with Secretary of State Cordell Hull in response to an appeal from Chief Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Koretz of Salonica, Greece, protesting against bombing of civilians, it was disclosed today. The Congress governing council will consider further action on the appeal.
Rabbi Koretz’s cable follows: “We protest against the bombardment of the civilian population of Salonica by the Italian air force. Many killed and wounded. We beg you to transmit our protest to the heads of the churches.”
In transmitting the message, Dr. Wise wrote: “This message has come to me from the Chief Rabbi of Thessaloniki. I know with what vigor you have protested, time and again, against such bombardment of civilian populations dwelling in undefended communities. I know, alas, that that procedure is become almost normal in the midst of the wars that obtain in the world today. In any event, I felt you ought to know about this message that comes to me out of the despair and brokenheartedness of the Chief Rabbi of that Jewish community.”
It was reported from Salonica that more than 20 persons were killed and 50 wounded by the last air raid in a district mostly inhabited by poor Jews. Most of the wrecked houses in the district were built with the aid of Jewish relief funds from the United States after the last World War.
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