New-York tribune., 1916-02-17
Punishment and Reprisal.

The popular demand among Engllshmen
for air raid reprisals is Understandable,
but it is surprising that il should be sup
ported by men generally 80 judicious and
sober as Lord Rosebery, Professor J. II.
Morgan and General Sir Alfred Turner.
1t is agreed on all hands that the Germans
in these expeditions have accomplished no
military purpose and that they are IN
spired only by q spirit of wantonness and
savagery. 1t follows, then, that the only
excuse for initiating the German example
is the belief that counter raids may curb
the German spirit. This. rather than re-
venge is apparently the aim of the more
thoughtful Englishmen who are now
Iclamoring for rctaliatory measures.
When Sir Edward Clarke denounced
the proposal as "monstrous,' Sir Alfred
Turner answered. testify enough, that his
objection seemed "to indicate that many
men Of the highest forensic skill and legal
acumen are not suited to judge as to the
necessities of war" He proceeded to
point out that brutal and ruthless enc
mics must be fought with the weapons
they employ. and asked whether Sir Ed
ward Clarke objected to the employment Of
poisonous gases against those who intro
duced them.
The comparison is hardly allowable. for
bv refraning from retaliation in this par
.ticular Germany's foes would place them
selves at a manifest disadvantage in the
\ field. On the other hand, the air raids
on London and other English towns have
been mainly punitive and are directed
chiefly against the civil population. There
can be no question about the use of air
craft for military purposes. The only oues-
tion at issue is whether it is desirable
TO follow Germany's example in policy
which Sir Alfred Turner himself describes
as 1.-THE outcome of pure bood-lust and
.vtnomous hatred"
Sir Alfred is possibly mistaken in
thinking that soldiers opinion IS more
valuable than the opinion of a man Of law.
II is a psychological question rather than
technical question of 'the necessities of
war" The doubtful point is the effect on
the German mind and accordingly on Ger
man action. His belief is that like all
cyuel bulies and braggarts. the Germans
like least OF all things a taste of their own
n ethods." and from this he draws the con-
clusion that a promise of reprisals for
every air raid would doubtless have far
more effect in preventing them than any
amount Of anti-aircraft guns
y Professor Morgan uses one argument in
favor Of this policy which is more plaLsi-
ble than any hitherto produced. 1t is in
tended as an answer to those who object
!, to the slaughter of innocent people as a
policy impossible for any nation above the
; moral level OF the Germans. His argu-
; ment is briefly this. that the Zeppelin
} raids are chiefly the work of the civil
population; that whereas the military men
know them TO be useless in a military
/, sense they delight the non-combatants.
even the women and children of Germany
rejoicing savagcly in the slaughter Of
women and children in England. In
short. he is satisfied that as the raids on
England are designed for the entertain
ment and encouragement Of somewhat
crude and british people. 50 by striking
ri the people in a similar way their venom
and bloodthirstincss may be lcsscned and
presently they will begin to whimpcr and
whine as only Germans can.
This reasoning may be sound, but the