Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-15
WHY ENGLAND MAY
FEAR NEAR RAID OF
GIANT zEPPELINS
British General Shows That
Air Invasion of London is
Possible-Sees No Good
Means of Defense.

The peril OF London from a possibl,
bombardment by zeppelins is the subJec
~ the leading article that appears ir
,h. 1ulv issue of The journal of the
Royel United Service Institution of Great
pritein, the organization of the officers
=, the British army and navy. In the
article general officer points out the
dangers that may hover over London
IN n time of war, dangers that he frankly
admits are serious in extent and which
wight be difficult to oppose in the event
a, an airship invasion of England.
In wireless dispatch from Berlin It
Was asserted that Germany was consider
Ing invading England with a fleet of new
z.nnelins Thus the article in The journal
a. the Royal United Service Institution
/, N timely interest 1t begins with a
t.oitsl OF the havoc that might be
wrought on navy yards, arsenals, oil
teseryoirs and wireless stations by pro-
Isc,iles dropped from Zeppelns and aero
nIanes and then goes on to recite the
sangers of an air attack on the great
csntres of population. On this latter point
most pf the space Is devoted to London.
"of these London is for us" the British
sideration. Destruction and panic In the
largest provincial towns could cause trou-
be but need not affect our national
ro,,cv London In this respect stands
lsinne-that is, It is not only the habitat
N a large fraction of our population,
hnt also the seat of Government, the
centre of our financial and business sys-
tsms and the nerve centre of our military
ma naval forces. \ serious blow aimed
he mn off
ssainst the national life than in any other
capital in the world.
FACING A NEW ERA.
I'VE are now beyond doubt face to
face with a new era in war. If you have
eranted my assumption with regard to
the range of action and offensive power
Of aircraft Of the immediate future
those assumptions would hold good for
ons object as we'll as another. How Is
London affected by them? General
Delacroix in an article in the Daily Mail
Of September II, 1913, wrote:
"'Even admitting that a Zeppelin
were to pass over the English country
side It Is not easy to see what result
would be effected, for even in time of |
war It would not be permissible to drop |
explosives into unfortifled towns
Il nave no WISH TO De all OF
to make ones flesh creep. but / am not |
prepared to accept this dictum even
from so eminent an authority. The idea |
Of not bombarding unfortifed towns had |
itB origin many years ago In the time |
Of perpetual war in Europe, and like
most OF the rather artificial conventions
of that time rested on mutual convent
ence. An unfortifed town in those days
was not Of much Importance one way
or the other. 1t was not expected to
offer resistance. If 1t was spared bonn
bardment the enemy in return expected
TO occupy 1t without any trouble and
take full advantage Of its conveniences
for billeting supplies, etc.
II Geneva convention were now
sitting and the point were to be raised
that capital which is easily accessible
to the enemy may claim exemption from
attack on the ground that 1t Is unforti-
Ned, would not the answer be Yes, pro-
Vided that 1t Is prepared to submit and
not offer armed resistance to the enemys
armed forces? And whether the armed
forces take the form OF troops ready to |
advance or Of the power to destroy .re-
sistance by attack from the air, the
principle Is the same.
AFTER all. war Is a game that Gov
srnments play TO win. and we could
hardly expect the most chfvalrous enemy
10 refrain from striking a blow at the ;
tected ,,
Can any student OF international law |
tsil US definitely that such thing as {
an aerial attack on London is outside
'he rules OF war, and further that there {
e1,s's an authority by which these
laNs can be enforced? How IL many
.. .. tne citizens are territorials. and some
=, =. lhe buildings contain warlike stores?
II II. night OF aeroplanes passed over the T
cty' each dropping a dozen lncendiary
Domos In different places, would not the
result be more than the fire brigade
could cope with?
COULD CAUSE HAVOC T
III Zeppelin dropped a ton or gun >
.o"On on the Admiralty and the War v
'nce' as sho might do IL not interfered 8
''"' "hat would be the result In dis "
"sAniSauon and discouragement? What n
'0u'u 90 the effect of cutting on the h
's'sr supply OF the East End or sink
ns The food ships in the Thames? These \,
mugs seem incredible TO us who hava -
.,H .rS Aho"n wars on the frontiers. ! am
sIueAht to go the length of nv own
,sIhleht but II It is conceded that II
'y%nuon % Is within ths range of action OF Il
e Heppelln or two and a fight of @,
~, 'ssOplahes suoh action will soon be pos 9
=. ahd this Is the age OF the knock q
~ ploT In everything. Would any ruler p
an say? "'uoh' VINO u
ot u sesmed probable that such a
Nv ,,o. ana panic would be caused as 10
n u.s 1 nome Government to accent
,ISh, - 'oIapie peace. then II, perhaps z.
dim uee' uohe' For any less object the ,
"iA "Th. perhaps would not be incurred.
i. ins' h' OF course. the question Of
m. uanee OF London's financial rela- es
'N-,u win other countries, but IL that :,
AZ |. did not prevail to prevent the "
eW a, you'd prevail 10 prevent the 4
acs Is the defense? In the nrst
onso aAhs into account the size of ,
't,oS seems that no system of aerial a.
risit, 'Vuld prevent an attack nv a to
49, pa'ioon. A deliberate attempt al
.ps given building might per A,
d 80 prevented, but II the balloons -
tb az exploded and she fell I'm flames Je
= !" al her cargo OF explosives tba ran,- no
AarssH isn't De as bad as the disease
!, bnt ~ 4ttaek on London is posi-
sy @ - not so formidable nor SO
sean a. 9plahes coming by day might
] for a'u ensAged by our own patrols, Oh
AZ mo hlght attack. l should think
,uld hS Eerlhs over London in the dark
adit;, dangerous risk in present I
patrnIi" do not think any system sit
I'M rsaah can entirely prevent aircraft =.
ian tthihs London, and doing damage Li'
Iet tbIs SET there. The only way TO -