The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-16
Humorous Stories Told Of 'Zepp" Raids On Ddrkened
 Streets Of London TOWn

London, December 1--(Correspondenee of the Associated Press.)-Recent successes against Zeppelin raiders have by no means convinced the authorities that Ger many will abandon them in the near fu- ture. On the contrary. London is still pre- pairing for the long. dark nights growing dinner and dinner. while some of the suburbs. which recently have caught most of the falling bombs, have abandoned street lighting altogether.
 In lieu of lights, the authorities have adopted the policy of painting all street obstruetions white. This applies to the safety isles in the city streets, letter boxes, street blns fire alarms, ambu- lance posts, etc. In some sections traf- fc is guided in the dark by white lines painted along the curbs.
 When the lighting restrictions first went into effect there were hundreds of street accidents, but these have gradually de- creased until the number is no longer alarming Streets of the West End-Pic- cadilly, the Strand, Trafalgar Square-all are crowded nightly with promenaders and theatre crowds. People jostle along on the darkened sidewalks in the best
 
 disorder and the petty criminals of the past either have been transformed into first class fighting men or effectually put away" Of course, a Tommy will sometimes take advantage of the dark to kiss his sweetheart. and generally all the soldiers have their arms securely about their best girls waist as they stroll along the footways The bishop of London has denounced this promis- cuous public love-making as all wrong, but the Tomnlies don't appear to have read the bishops sermon and no one else has the heart to stop them.
 In that section of London known as the city-the home of finance and whole sale trade-the nights are particularly dark and mystic. Along toward midnight about the only moving object visible is a policeman. In their night blue uni forms and black helmets the Boobies appear almost sepulchral. They turk in dark alcoves as rule and the pedes- trian often Is startled to find himself face to face with a silent guardian of the law whose presence was not the least suspected
 The further dimming of the city lights since autumn began has undoubtedly baf- fled the Zeppelin pilots. On the raid of September 23 they were successful, however, in following certain thorough fares in the outlying districts upon which trolley cars were running. These cars were darkened, of course, but the sug gestion has been made that the trolley flashes possibly served as guide.
 Raid nights, always are followed by many humorous stories. A good, old fashioned American poker game was in progress in a West End club during the, last raid. One of the club attendants came into the card room and announced that the "Zepps have come, gentlemen"
 T thought I heard the guns going five minutes or so ago." remarked one of the English players.
 Why didn't you say something about it?' asked somewhat excited Ameri- can.
 Well why should ?" retorted the Eng lshman, '1ve been winning right along, haven't I?''
 STORY OF MESSENGER BOY
 The story is recalled of one of the earlier raids when a little messenger boy on bicycle was pedalling along toward the cable office when ne looked around and saw a big Zeppelin apparently right behind him. The plucky little fellow put on more steam, but when he looked around the second time the Zepp was still there and If anything was gaining on him. He spurted forward then with all the might in his slim little legs, but the hum of the airship's motors grew louder and louder in his ears
 Then great thought struck the boy. He hopped off his wheel, blew out the light, and at the very first turning dart ed down a darkened side street. To his great relief the Zepp gave up it's ter rifying personal pursuit and kept straight to its course over the main highway. Triumphantly the messenger delivered his dispatches and his hair-raising story of escape at the cable station.
 The raids this autumn are wholly diff ferent affairs from those of a year and more ago. Then the defenses of Lon dorp and other cities were scarcely de- veloped at all and the monster ariships could loiter over their victims for hours with little or no regard for their own safety. Now they get very hot recep- ton soon after they cross the coastline and every foot of their aerial progress is challenged with bursting shrapnel and blazing incendiary shells. AS to the ef- fectiveness of the defenses in the vicin- ity of London, it is known that of the five or six Zeppelins which reached this district in the raids of September and 23 three were brought down mass of wreckage from the skies.
 Press comment upon the latter raid is