Hospital Ship II.

This is coolbert:

Here with a World War Two [WW2] instance of a hospital ship, clearly marked and indicated by illumination during hours of darkness, an obvious non-combatant, exempt from attack under common military law and international protocols and conventions, coming under attack and sunk - - again - - by the brutal Hun. The German.

"The Sinking of HMHS Newfoundland. "

"She was a large ship. Entirely painted in white except for large red crosses painted amidships and on the funnel. At night she sailed with all her lights on so that enemy submarines and aircraft would be able to tell that she was a non-combatant and therefore protected by the Geneva Convention."

"The 3 hospital ships were joined by a 4th and about 40 miles off the Salerno Beaches they all anchored for the night. They were all lit up like Christmas Trees to highlight the fact that they were hospital ships."

The Newfoundland was only ONE OF FOUR HOSPITAL SHIPS IN THE AREA, ALL ANCHORED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER, ALL MARKED AND ILLUMINATED IN THE PROPER MANNER!!

The Newfoundland coming under REPEATED attack until being set on fire, eventually being sunk!!

"The reason or motive for the Luftwaffe had for attacking HMHS Newfoundland has never been known. One theory has been put forward that the American nurses were mistaken for troops because of their green uniforms and maybe the Luftwaffe believed that the hospital ship was being used as a troop ship."

This "answer" begs the question. Those nurses, dressed in green uniforms were seen from the air and thought to be combatants. BUT THE REMAINDER OF THE MUCH MORE CONSPICUOUS MARKINGS THAT INDICATED HOSPITAL SHIP COULD NOT BE SEEN BY THE LUFTWAFFE AIRCREWS??!!

One can only conclude that the attack was deliberate, pre-meditated, callous and brutal. Complete disregard for all international protocols and the common laws of warfare. That must be why they called them the BRUTAL HUN!!

coolbert.