The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-09-12

the tramp. tramp, tramp Of soldiers
feet.
Stand out In the middle of the
street Look up at the stars In the
blue. soft night sky. and you'll under
stand what this new fear Ii. Stand
out there with the hundreds of men.
women and children and watch the
night sky with them, and suddenly 1t
VIII come to you like an awful shock
the Zeppelin chill. It's the newest
human worry; the latest mode OF ter
rors: the twentieth century blood
icer. And II Is, as George Conan
might say, some worry.
/ felt II first at 8 o'clock this even
Ing when our boat from England drew
up at the magnificent Ostend dock, In
total darkness. Men with lanterns
lighted the way Of passengers and
+porters.
I'VE don't want anybody In the sky
to see our lights" marine explain
ed. A whole city trying to hide itself
from something that might be hitting
up among the stars! The impossible
ity OF city doing such thing struck
me Immediately.
"The Zeppelins have been throwing
bombs on Antwerp, 60 miles from
here" continued the marine. "and so
miles IL only little over an hours
run for Zeppelin"
! looked up at the stars. Was every
one of them shining? Or were some
or them hidden by the black hulk OF
one OF the great Mauretanias of the
air? Not q hulk did see, and shook
on my first touch, my baptism, OF the
Zeppelin shudders.
A three-block ride through the dark
streets started Ii again. The houses
were all dark, military orders, But
the Ostende had not gone to bed;
they were all, 1t seemed. In the streets
looking upward. looked ND also and
the Zeppelin chill hit me again. I
suppose millions Of credulous people
looked at the great comet four years
ago with something of the same feel
Ing. But this feeling Ia stronger.
We aren't all OF US sure thar there
are comets that might hit US and
bring the world to and end, but we
know In Ostend that there are Zen
pelins and that they drop bombs
which may bring our own particular
world to an end in one second.
Later | went about the dark streets
OF this once gayest shore resort OF
Europe. The palatial hotels were
dead dark. Passing cafe In the
main street I heard strange subdued
sounds and suddenly discovered Il was
the massed whispering In the dark
ness Of scores Of men and women
seated at the little sidewalk tables
under the cafe canopies. Walters
were feeling their way about, serving
drinks as best they could under the
strange circumstances. took a seat
amid the whispering company.
heard the word Zeppelin whisper
ed at every hand
"The English have brought a dirigi-
Bile here to fight the Zeppelins." whis-
pered one voice. nearby.
Yes" returned another whisper,
"but the Zeppelins have gun decks on
top Of the gas bag. and carry two
great rifles. What chance does an
English balloon stand against one of
zeppelin's fighters, fitted like bat
tleship?"
While all this whispering was 20.
ing on, suddenly recalled how proud
ly we twentieth century folks had
watched Zeppelin In his every move
OF conquering the air. But, after all,
what has he done but added q new
horror to warfare; new chill for
humanity?
Little children and mothers will say
their prayers IN Ustend tonight and
then be awake. for It's hard to believe
that even the good God can save you
from bombs that drop from the sky.
Ostend lies tonight, helpless. Even
the great guns Of the great English
battlsships In the harbor- cannot In
sure 0stend against Zeppelin.
Viva, zeppelinl Inventor OF a new
fear!