The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-23

historic interest in London that some
of the more valuable things were sur
rounded with sandbags for protection
in case of a hit. So the Zepps keep
coming right along, and probably will.
But the mist which hides them also
hides the landscape so they really
don't do the damage they should. And
now that they have protection, the
English admit that early in the war
when England had little more than a
popgun for protection against aircraft
the Zepps could easily have blown
England TO pieces if they had dared
to swoop down closer.
Many SIackers in England.
I think you would notice. too, if you
were here, the difference in war spirit
in England as compared with France
First of all. there are still many slack
ers in England in spite of the con-
scription now in force. The first thing
1 saw in Liverpool was a line of men
being headed down the street by a ser
geant- They're bloomin' conscripts,'
said policeman, in answer to my
quickly added, IF you weren't too
proud TO fight you bloomin' Yank"
Unquestionably, there is still a great
deal of exemption from military duty,
tho men formerly exempted are con-
stantly being re-examined and sent
| out to fight.
This fact is plainly evident from
the London papers. which give space
every day to the proceedings of courts
where appear men desiring exemption
for business reasons, because they
have brothers in the army. because
they are the only support Of a large
family, or because they have once
been examined and rejected Now
adays a man who looks eligible for
service may be snapped up on the
street by recruiting officer and If
he cannot show papers proving that
he is not eligible he goes at once to
the examining board-and usually
therefrom to the training camp. But
there al e two classes, at least, which
enjoy full protection from this sort CT
thing-priests or clergy, and turfmeu
the latter because, war or no war
the king must have his horse racing
I notice. too, a spirit of unfriendli-
ness toward Americans. This was not
so in France The French like Amer
leans individually, but not Mr.. Will
son. The English are more blunt The
American protest against the black
listing of American firms causes the
average Brfton to raise his eyebrows
in painful surprise and end by sheer
ing out something about TOO proud
to fight and our blindness to all bu
the dollar sign. ! also find the mat
ter of American ammunition a noin
upon which the Briton now takes 1:
to task. If I remember correctly, Il
was American shells that enabled th>
allies to hold the Germans in checl
once upon a time.
Don't Like Americans.
But now that England is supplying
practically all the wants of the allies
only the bad points about America
: ammunition are remembered. 1 an
told. with bitter emphasis. that a
r Mons the American shells did not ex
. plode at all. causing unwarranted los:
of life among the British. Ever
more pointed was an experience 1 haC
with a British soldier in the traiI
coming to Liverpool. This fellow wa!
a machine gunner who had beer
wounded some months before.
He saw was an American and pro
ceeded to tell me what he thought o.
US money-making Yankees. Gina
struck me particularly hard just then
for 1 had just SO American between
me and New York; I'm a machine
gunner" he said, looking me over yer.
severely. Got a piece of shrapnel il
the back of my head Americans car,
only for money. The ammunition
they turn out is very bad That's VIII,
We quit using it. I've used lots of it