The Washington times., 1914-09-14
Says Zeppelin Made
Demons of ApiatOrS
By WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.

ANTWERP. Sept 3 Cby mail 10 New
ork).-Before this war experts used
say perfection OF terrible instru-
ments OF killing would only tend 20
make war impossible. 1t does not do
hat. however. l watched the Zeppe-
in dropping bombs upon Antwerp last
light and such perfection only makes
var more terrible, with refinement
( barbarism. As I saw the Zeppelin
depart ii seemed that the best argu-
ment against war was that it turned
men into such merciIess demons as
these Zeppelin murderers.
The widest flights of Imagination
ouldn't approach what happened in
Antwerp twelve hours ago. Early IN
he evening a Belgian captain took
me the rounds of his company station
d in the center OF the city. His men
we're divided in.o small squads in a
oxen streets They were sitting on
he sidewalks with their backs
against the building walls, drinking
OF coffee. which had been brought
them in an automobile
It seemed that his men were pretty
!ell spread out in case of an attack
by the Germans. but the captain said
| here were 10000 soldiers scattered
over the city in the same way Later
| he reason was apparent.
Not until l o'clock in the morning
! did the big rcd harvest moon begin to
sink. 1t left the streets in pitch dark
ness. The CITY was so tranquil and still
that the crackle Of the drv autumn
leaves which had fallen from the Gins
| in the public Square seemed noise It
! was chilly. too. and the soldiers on the
sidewalks were wrapped up in their big
| overcoats. and too drowsy or too COM
| Portable to challenge.
An hour and half later I was awak-
ened BY soldiers talking excitedly in
the street beneath my window. But
| above the sound of their voices was
another noise. a terrific whirring. high
In the sky. l jumped from he'd. rushed
| TO the window and looked upward
| There was a terrific explosion. far
away, deep booming roar \ moment
| later spark came whirling and circl-
ing through the air like shooting star
gone mad. 1t sank into the skyline of
roofs and another explosion doomed out
| And then against the stars ] saw a
Zeppelin, perhaps A mile out over the
| outskirts OF the towns. There's a sick
| ening feeling of utter helplessness in
witnessing such a sight. and mingled
J with this feeling these is a fascination
! in the thought that such A thing is not
| superhuman, that up in the sky are
| men. human beings working, CARRYING
| out orders, watching maps of the city,
| tracing the streets, pulling levers, ad-
| justing greasy machinery. turning steer
ing wheels and lighting fuses Of bombs
that are intended to Kill men. women
| and children.
| remembered what great Belgian
| statesman had said only that afternoon:
| You know only two Christmases Ego
/ Emperor William of Germany and Eirg
| Albert OF Belgium spent part Jf the
! holiday season together King Albcrt's
| baby daughter loved tho Emperor SO
! much. because he played with her. that
| size cried to get onto his lap and was
| inconsolate when his visit was ended.
| How he can order his Zeppelins. now.
| to drop bombs on the house where this
| little girl and her brother and sisters
and father and mother are sleeping.
! can't understand"
Another spark fell and there was n
! third explosion. Then new SOuId
| filed the air. II began far away. 1t
waa the rattle of rifles. thousands Of
them. The firing grew nearer and
! louder. There were sharp orders. Tn
| DER my window tho soldiers began -
shoot the flashes lighting my room.
| They held their rifles straight mp
ward. The sound grew louder and
| louder Within a minute the din was
| indpsCriha bic. Thirty thousand SOL
diers were shooting. each As fast as