Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-20
ZEPPELIN RAIDS Upon
LONDON ARE STOPPED
BY berlin OFFICIALS
Neutral Opinion and Increased
DefenSeS Cause Cessation
of Air Attacks on the British
Capital
(By Associated Press. }


GENEVA, Feb. 19.-CFrom Staff
Correspondent of the Associated PressD
The Zeppelin campaign against London
has been found to be improbable.
Cessation OF German air attacks on
the British metropolis after the latest
appearances Of the big dirigibles over
the city last fall has been due, not to
fOCtuitous circumstances, but to the de-
liberate determination of the German
leaders TO abandon these attacks, as
has long been done in the case of Paris.
The correspondent. who was then in
Berlin, was informed from a trust
worthy source a few davs after the final
London raid of the decision to send no
more Zeppelins and sister ships of the
Schuettelanz type against London.
LAST RAID COSTLY TO GERMANY.
Air raids against England, the cor
respondent was told, would not be
abandoned entirely. They were con-
sidered to be Of great service in holding
at home guns, airplanes and men of the
British aerial defense which otherwise
would be freed for service in France,
but in future the attacks would be d.
rected against the provinces instead Of
London. The next and final expedition
of the year, on November %, was d.
rected against the midland counties, in
accordance with this prophecy, and re-
suited in the loss of two Zeppelins.
The predominant reason for the de-
cision TO discontinue attacks on London
probably is the increasing strength and
efficiency of the air defenses of the city.
but the effect Of the raids on neutral
opinion, In view of the then contemplate
ed peace overtures. also may have been
a factor.
1t may be interesting in this connec-
ton TO record a bit of unwritten his
tory of the war.
WILSON CONDEMNED RAIDS.
In the early days of the conflict, when
the air raids were just beginning, Pres
ident Wilson caused to be conveyed to
Emperor william and the German gov
eminent a personal and unofficial mes
sage which set forth that airship and
airplane raids upon populous cities were
looked on with disfavor by the American
people. and contributed largely to stir
ring up anti-German feeling in the Units
ed States.
In view of this the wisdom Of their
discontinuance was suggested. The mes
sage did not fall entirely on deaf ears,
hut the views of the military party pre-
vailed and the air attacks, then the only
German means of bringing home the
realities of war to the people within the
British Isles, continued
Later, they ceased for time, to the
displeasure of an element which openly
accused Chancellor Won Bethmann-Holl-
veg of sheathing his weapon in defer
ence TO neutral opinion. This element
was appeased but little by Count Zeppe~
Inns published letter to the chancellor
wherein the count disavowed response
.bility for this accusation. The raids
were resumed with the object of tying
up within the islands and eliminating
from the Somme offensive as large
number Of anti-airship guns, airplanes.
searchlights and men 10 equip them as
possible.
Aside from this service. which IS of
considerable military value, the role Of
the Zeppelins i'm land warfare is now
regarded in expert circles in Germany
as decidedly secondary to their great
value as scouting agents for operations
of the fleet