The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-10-17
WILSON ASKED TO
HALT AERO AT TACK
Innocent Only Suffer, Declares
Protest Headed by Author F..
Hopkinson Smith.

Protests against threatened aerial
attacks by the Germans on London
and Paris, made by 200 or more pas
sengers who came from Europe on
the liner Olympic yesterday. have
been filed with President Wilson by
F. Hopkinson Smith. author and
painter. and are now at the White
House.
Action will not be taken by the
President. 1T was reliably learned to-
day. on the protests. Mr.. Wilson be-
ing determined to continue his origin
al attitude Of waiting until the war
is ended before making any state
ment
The protest declared that unless
the United States intervenes at once.
London and Paris will be attacked
and fired by fleet Of German Yep
pelins." 1t further forecasts that the
attack is not far off. and declares "the
only power that can stop the hand Of
the interruptions German is the Unit
ed States" ..
accompanying the protest, which was
mailed from New York Immediately
night, was the following personal letter
from Mr.. Smith:
Il have the honor to forward to you
the inclosed memorandum. which ex-
plains itself. We earnestly beg that
some steps may be taken to forestall
before it is MOO late, the setting free
of the feet of Zeppelins and aeroplones
which are now preparing for this dead
'ly work. We feel 1t is not a question
Of neutrality. but a question Of human
ity, and that any power refusing to
yxytcA 1,,vp -
would forfeit the sympathy of the
world"
To Protest Innocent.
The appeal for intervention by the
President was drafted Thursday night
on board the liner at a meeting in aid
Of the Red Cross. The resolution of
protest reads:
That copy of these resolutions be
forwarded to the President of lhe
United States. accompanied by a per-
sonal letter. beggin- him in the inter-
ests OF humanity to protect. as far as
lay within his power. against the con-
tinuance of this practice
First-Because ii Is contrary to the
instincts of all self-respecting nations
Second-As being sure to ALLEVIATE
every particle Of sympathy from those
indorsing such outrages, and
Third-As not only brutal and cruel
IN, the last degree, but without any
other military advantage than the ter
rorizing. maiming and killing of inno-
cent non-combatants who are helpless
against such attacks.
Innocent women and children will he
Killed in their beds and in the streets
If the President does not step in and
warn Germany, Mr.. Smith declared.
London Is helpless against this
zeppelin attack" he said. land 1t is
Inn
are rushing their work on the air
teet. and / hope sincerely that the
United States will advise them to aban-
don 1t before 1t Is too late. L am con-
fident that Germany would heel
warning from this Government
II am a disciple of neutrality. / be-
lieve firmly in the Presidents ideas on
1T has to do with legitimate
but the dropping of bombs
on unfortifed cities by stealth in the
middle of the night, when no one can
defend himself. is not warfare 1t is
humanity it should be stopped
Set London Ablaze.
He said that Germans are openly
Boosting that they have no desire to
take Paris. They say they will set it
on fire and that they will burn London,
30 that Berlin. the only city worth
while in all the world, may be prosper
Gus and grow.
When i left London the city was
in darkness every night. BY darkness
I mean that every light is out A
wealthy friend of mine told me that he
had certain light to look out for. He
had assumed the responsibility for the
out Of that street light at the
proper hour each night. and seeing that
1t was kept out. 1t Is the same every
where.
London knows this Zeppelin raid is
coming, but the city is calmly and stole
ally awaiting it.
Germany has deffed the civilized
world She has gone into a fight against
and challenged the right Of
any one but Germans to live and pros
per.
Mr. Smith said that Germany was not
fighting fair, and that unless some
power like the United States took cog
Of her tactics she would con-
tinue to fight foul.
Germany has committed unthinkable
atrocities" he continued. When the
world shuddered at them she tried to
not stop them. OF course, ! know that
soldiers will step beyond the bounds.
but Germany has been persistent in
When q mad bull is in the street no
one has any sympathy with the owner.
The bull must be killed-put out of the
way.
THE United States is big enough to
say to Germany: You must stop this
brutal housekeeping on innocent Pco-
pie at ONCE. In the name of humanity
you must stop it / think IL this were
done Germany would be forced to give
heed"
Mr.. Smith said that the better think
ing Germans were opposed to the pres
ent mode OF warfare Of their nation.
and that they themselves would sooner
Or later demand that the Kaiser and
his general stan cease their bomb ope-