The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20

a boomerang at all. 1t was scarcely
worth second thought.
Different Story
Told by Germans
| IF the Zeppelin raids on England
y have emphasized no other fact,
they have proved conclusively that
there is no diminution in the output
of war fiction.
1t is reasonable to suppose that the
Germans, who have taken such
precious good care to protect their
fleet and conserve their other re-
sources, would not keep sending Yep
pelins to England and occasionally
leaving one or two behind, if the re-
suits achieved were not deemed suf-
ficient compensation for the losses
sustained.
Yet, according to the British re-
ports, none of these air raids has ever
resulted in any serious damage, and
from military point of view they
have accomplished nothing whatever,
Berlin, however, tells a different
story. For instance, according to the
Overseas News agency, an "eyewit-
ness" of the Zeppelin attacks of Sep
TENDER 23 on England declares that
more than 400 soldiers were killed in
the Grimsby barracks and 60 were
killed on board a cruiser, which was
struck by bomb 1t is also said that
Regent street, one of London's famous
thoroughfares, was "for the most
part" laid in ruins.
More than a hundred buildings
damaged, an ammunition factory
blown up in a southern suburb of Lon
don, bridge and tracks badly dam
aged at Liverpool, two other warships
hit, in addition to the cruiser before
mentioned, ammunition factories and
railroad stations at Leeds blown up
and heavy destruction of property at
Portsmouth are some of the accom-
plishments credited to the Zeppelins
by Berlin, with total property loss
estimated at more than 92,000,000.
The Germans may be drawing the
long bow" although outside of Ger
many they are less given to that prac-
tice than the allies. The most pre-
posterous stories are circulated, how
ever, in the fatherland, for political
effect and to hearten the people.
Whether the German claims are true
or false, of one thing we may rest as
sured-there is no enlightenment TO
be had from. the snug British censor.
Keep UP Active Work.
For the Amendments
m HE voters of Alabama have been
u reluctant to change the states
constitution. A great many people
have held to the mistaken idea that the
constitution is a sacred instrument
and should never be changed, and
thousands of well informed men who dc
not so regard it are yet so conserva-
tive that they hesitate before voting
for an amendment, no matter how de-
sirable the proposition might be.
If the organic law was as sacred as
some people imagine provision would
not have been made for amending it
The very fact that such provision is
found in all organic law should for
ever disabuse the minds of those who
have been disposed to make a fetish
of it.
In discussing the school tax amend
ment, which is one of six proposed
changes in the constitution, leaders in
the cause of education have laid par
ticular stress on two points. One is
that the constitution is not perfect
and that it is not sacred in the sense
that it should never be changed. The
other point is that the proposed
amendment is only permissive, not
compulsory. Until counties have the
right, by a vote of the people, to levy
a special tax for school improve
ment, Alabama will continue to be ad
vertised to the world as state with
a high percentage of illiteracy. Ac
cording to the federal census only two
states-South Carolina and Louisiana
have more illiterates.
With the constitution amended
many counties will eagerly avail them
selves of the privilege of increasing
the school revenues. The tax will b.
limited to 8 mills for county anc
l3 mills for a district which might
r L L..