New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-15
CURIOUS LONDON
lust CAFES AS
zEPPELNyS SOAR
Next Days Throngs Like
a New York Crowd
Watching Bulletins.
BY ARTHUR 8. DRAPER.

London, Oct. 1.-THE censorship
structures, which forbid publication Of
any details as TO damage or location,
necessarily prevent me from giving a
comprehensive story Of last nights
Zeppelin raid over London, but it is
possible 70 relate some Of a hundred
and one incidents showing the futility
Of such form Of barbarous attack on
non-combatants.
The official statement says: "The
material damage was small" This Ia
quite right, but nevertheless it is
enough to congest the streets as they
had not been since the early days Of
the war, TO bring out dozens Of re-
cruitlng bands. to send hundreds Of
young men into the ranks and to
make the city the busiest place in Eu-
rope.
In Berlin they say tho raids are for
military purposes. and also to terror
ize' London. Perhaps the German
General Staff is satisfied with tho ex-
tent Of military damage done by this
raid. which killed fourteen soldiers.
And terrorized people are supposed TO
rush away in panic or hide in their
homes.
To-day you must push your way
through the streets, as on Election
night on Broadway. But for the alb
sence OF confetti. ticklers and cowbells,
it might be the same crowd as you will
have next month in front OF The Trib-
une bulletin board on Election night.
II you could read its mind. you prob
ably would find feeling Of bitterness
and contempt.
A few demolished buildings, broken
windows and bomb holes that's the
visible extent OF damage TO be found
to-day. This raid came earlier than
the others. and naturally, more people
were about the city. II the Zeppelin
pirates aim to kill, they have poor
luck, as shown by the official state
ment.
The freaks OF the bombs are as odd
as those Of lightning. In ono building
every window was broken; In another
alongside not a psNe was smashed. In
one block all extension signs except
ono we're wrecked.
A bomb burst within fifty feet Of
where a MEMBER of The Tribune staff
sat, reading a Daper. A piece OF il
came crashing through The window az
his back. passed over his shoulder and
buried itself In the wall. Glass and
window sashes fell about him, but he
wasn't scratched. Tha same bomb
wrecked a taxicab.
An English crowd is the sanest and
coolies. In the world. No ono could
dispute this now. The Germans might
just as well try to frighten mummies
in museum with Zeppelin attacks, for
the English seem devoid Of fear.
Charlie Chaplin was cutting up on r
screen in one cinema when a bomb fell
near by. The commissionaire. one of
those uniformed ex-soldiers, full Of red
braid and authority. walked in and,
raising his hand. said:
Don't get excited"
The audience walked out without the
slightest sign Of a panic and probably
sorry TO desert Chaplin for q Zeppelin.
Americans are unashamed TO admit
that the Zeppelins take the starch out
Of them for a moment, and then the
next they wish they had q gun 70 shoot,
even though they fully realize the fu-
tility of rife fire against Zeppelin.
But the Englishman merely looks on
with the keenest curiosity.
As write, sandwich men march by
with boards reading: e. Theatre
open as usual tonight" Posters were
pu. up overnight to the effect: "Busi-
ness as usual; join now" Buses are
doing a land Office business to-day, for
q seat on top Of one Of them Is an ex-
cellent place TO see the sights.
II Is expected that this will prove
one Of the most important days in Eng
lands war history. with Sir Edward
Grey's speech on the Balkans; but TO
the majority of Londoners it will be
remembered as another day after a
Zeppelin raid.