Evening star., 1916-01-02
AIRCRAFT ATTACK
MEANT TO warn
AeropIane Raid Over Saloniki
Does Not Necessarily Mean
Assault by Troops.
BY RICHARD HARDING DAVIS.
Copyright, 1851

Copyright. 1861
PARIS. January 1.-The raid Of Bull
garian and German aeroplanes over
Salonild reported in the French bulletin
does not necessarily mean that an attack
by troops will follow. London and Paris
were raided by aircraft. but no troops
have yet reached those cities.
Nor is it probable that the raid was
for the purpose Of observation. There
is no need to send a man conspicuously
in an aeroplane to count the warships
in the harbor when an inconspicuous
man on the wharf has for weeks been
furnishing more accurate information
and when Saloniki is full of spies who
are able to communicate with Doiran,
Gevgheli and Monastir.
An observer 1000 yards in the air
would be unable to tell the central
powers anything of which they are not
the quays, streets and roads leading to
and beyond the military camps and
even at work building roads in the
camps.
Meant for Moral Effect.
The object Of the raid was more like
ly for moral effect or to throw bombs
on transports and warships. The bomb
reported dropped upon a battalion of
Greek soldiers was probably launched
by mistake owing to the Greek uni
form being of khaki-colored cloth SIM
liar to the British at a distance
1t Is evident that the French squad
ron of air craft were taken by surprise,
receive a warmer welcome. as during
the Serbian campaign the French areo-
planes showed splendid efficiency and
furnished valuable information This
was accomplished under most unfavor-
able conditions of snow. fog and
treacherous cross currents above val
leys and over a terrain barren of land
ing places.
In arresting and removing the consuis
OF the enemy in reprisal for the raid
The consuates have been the headuuar-
ters Of army and navy officers of the
central powers, Turkey and Bulgaria, be-
sides furnishing a clearing house for all
the spies.
Neutrality of City Menaced.
Saloniki is supposed to be neutral ter
ritory, but the presence of foreign con-
suls at the base of two armies has been
a most serious menace
Their enforced departure will add to
the responsibilities of the American
consul in looking after their interests.
Our government is represented in Sa-
loniki by John E. Kehl, long in the
service and most admirably fitted to
meet the present crisis. He has been
a resident of Saloniki for the last four
years. during which his experience as
consul during the Italo-Turkish war.
the two Balkan wars and the present
one has trained him to meet any emer-
gency that may now arise.
When the Greeks captured Saloniki
NJ. Kehl was one of those sent out to
meet King Constantine and arrange
that the city should not be bombarded.
The position of a consul in Saloniki.
owing to the former extraterritorial
privileges and right to conduct trials
and sentences to death gives the post
peculiar authority.
In Importance it outranks many lega-
tions. The consulates are all establish =
ed in an imposing building surrounded
by gardens and trees facing the harbor
on Refine Olga street and guarded by a
staff of uniformed kavess.
Before / left Saloniki the consuls Of
the central powers had already sent
their families to Athens and were ar
ranging with Consul Kehl to take over
bai orchives