The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-02-22
hint ON Yep RAIDS
BY WILSON REVEALED
But Anti-Air Craft Guns, Not
Overtures Of President,
Finally End Them.

Geneve, Feb. 20.-(From a staff cor
respondent of the Associated Press).-
The Zeppelin campaign against Lon
o has been found to be unprofltable.
The cessation of German air attacks on
the metropolis. after the latest appear
ances of the big dirigibles over the city
last fall, has been due not to fortultous
circumstances, but to the deliberate de-
termination of the German leaders to
abandon these as mas long been done
in the case of Paris.
The correspondent, who was then
in Berlin, was informed from a trust
worthy source a few days after the ma
London raid of the decision to send no
more Zeppellins ard sister ships OF the
Scheutteland type against London. IT.
regular raids on England, the CORES
pondent was told, was not to be
doned entirely. They We're considered
to be Of great success in holding at
home guns, airplanes and men OF the
British aerial defense, which otherwise
would be freed for service in france,
but in the future the attacks would be
directed against the provinces instead
Of London. The next and final expedl-
ton of the year on November II, was
directed against the midland counties,
in accordance with this prophecy, and
resulted in the loss of W Zeppehns.
Real Reason Is Evident.
The predominant reason for the de-
cision to discontinue attacks on Lon
don probably is the increasing strength
and efficiency Of the air defenses of the
city, but the effect of the raids on neu-
trail opinion in view Of the then con-
templated peace overtures, may also
have been a factor.
1t MAJ be interesting to record a bit
of unwritten history of the war. In the
early lays Of the conflict, when the air
$50 ;5c 1yaro Ej11ct 1n~npinnjnpr fs President
Wilson caused to be conveyed to EN-
peror William and the German govern
ment a personal and unofficial message
which set forth that airship and air
plane raids upon %populous cities We're
looked on with disfavor by the Ameri-
can people and contributed largely to
stirring up anti-German feeling in the
United States. In view of this the wis
| dom Of their discontinuance was sug-
gested.
Resumed After Defeat.
The message did not fall entirely or
| deaf ears, but the views of the military
party prevailed and the air attacks
| then the only German means of bring
! ing home the realities Of war to the
| people within the British Isles, contin.
Jed. Later they ceased for a time tt
| the displeasure of an element which
| openly accused Chancellor o Beth
mann-Hollweg of sheating his weapon
in Difference to neutral opinion. Thi!
J element was appeased but little by
/ Count Zeppelin's published letter to thu
/ chancellor. wherein the count dis
avowed responsibility for this accuse
ton.
The raids were resumed with the OBJ,
ject of tieing up within the islands ant
eliminating from the Somme offensive
as large a number Of anti-air ship gun
airplanes searchlights and men t.
equip them as possible. Aside from
this service, which is of considerabl
military value, the role Of the Zeppelil
in land warfare is now regarded in ex
pert circles in Germany as decided,
secondary to their great value as scout
ing agents for operations Of the feet.