The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-24
WAR ECHOES

St Louis Post-Dispatch: Congressman Bartholdts farewell speech to the House. in which he has served for 22 years had many admirable features. He could not forbear a further demand for an em- bargo on forms of American export trade which even the German note of Thurs day conceded are perfectly legal He must see himself by this time that such unintelligent, incorporate advocacy as this proposal has had at various times since last August is calculated to de- stroy the neighborliness that ought to exist among all classes of Americans and may even lead to turmoil and last ing resentments.
 But entirely worthy of his distinctive record during his long service in Wash ington was MT. Bartholdts solemn ex- pression on the duty of America to avoid all cause for war and continue in the ways of peace. And altogether praise worthy was his definition of the atti- tude of Americans of German descent as being flor America first, last and all the time. These were excellent words:
 "The Germans of this country are for America against England, for America against Germany, for America against | the world They will never waver for
 one second in their allegiance to their adopted land
 Undoubtedly this expresses the loyal sentiments of the great majority of those ! of German descent. We have all got to | live together in this country, not only while the war lasts, but afterward. Why
 stir up strife? What better task could | the distinguished advocate of interna- | tional amity undertake on retiring from | public life than the promotion of peace | and harmony here at home?
 | J. J. Archibald, in Scribner S: In the | matter of bomb dropping from aero- | planes, this campaign has not developed
 anything of great importance, as the | accuray of the aim is greatly impaired ] by the enormous altitude at which the | aviators must work to avoid shell and rifle fire. The aeronautic corps of each | army has done a little bomb dropping.
 but on the whole the result has been of
 very little importance, as the danger ra-
 dus of a bomb such as is carried by an
 aeroplane is very small It is an entirely different matter, however when the bombs are dropped from the great dirig
 ibles for their carrying capacity is SC
 much greater that the charge can be of
 such enormous strength that it will be
 of material offensive power. Apart from
 the actual damage, the moral effect caused by these newly invented carriers of death and destruction is of the great
 est possible value. There has been 2
 great storm of objection raised by many
 who apparently do not realize the full
 import of war and who consider bomt throwing from aeroplanes or dirigiblei
 into city as outside the code of civil
 ized warfare. There is no question, how
 ever, as to the immense value of tht |, moral effect obtained if an army is abl' occasionally to drop a bomb into thu
 cities of an enemy at war. The menta attitude has great bearing on the de , feat or victory of country, and 1 , that mental strain can be kept continu
 ally near the breaking point by the us'
 of bombs it certainly is of actual value It is undeniably unfortunate that occa
 sionally the innocent bystander is hurt but if those who feel that this form
 of warfare is unjust could follow thu
 advance of an army and see villag'
 after village and town after town un
 expectedly shelled by the advancing ar tillery, they would then realize that thu onooker has no place in the theatre O war. There are times when a beseginl
 commander has the opportunity of warn ing the concombatants, but it is not thu , case in bomb dropping.