Evening journal., 1917-12-26
BRITISH AVIATORS
N AR REPRISALS
Bomb and Burn Mannheim,
100 Miles Inside
Germany
TON OF EXPLOSIVES
DROPPED ON TOWN

LONDON. Dec 2e.-The city OF Mann
helm. in Germany on the Rhine, was
bombarded by a British air squadron
early on Monday. says an official
statement A ton Of bombs were
dropped and several fires were started
The text OF the official statement fol-
lows.
AT daylight on Monday. one Of our
squadrons bombed Mannheim. on the
Rhine with excellent results ton
Of bombs were dropped and bursts
were observed in the large main sta
lion. in the works and also in the
town. where fires were started Very
heavy snti-aircraft gunnre was di-
rected against our alrplanes when they
were over their objective. and one OF
our machines was damaged and forced
to land Several Of the enemy's scouts
made repeated attacks upon our for
nations, but were driven on All OF
our machines returned except the one
aforementioned.
"The enemy's machines were very ac-
tive one Sunday and i've Of them were
brought down in air lighting. three Of
them falling In our lines. Two other
hostile machines were brought down
In our lines by anti-aircraft gunilre.
One Of these latter was a large thin
engined machine with three occupants.
who were made prisoners.
our nlghi-nying machines bombed
several Of the enemys airdromes with
good effect
Mannheim is the first German city
TO be bombarded by British airmen,
and the attack. following so closely oD
the resumption Of the German raids on
England last week. probably marks the
definite inauguration Of the reprlsal
policy TO which the British Government
some time ago committed Itself. Pre-
mier Lloyd George recently promised
measure for measure heaped up and
running over; but the latest pro-
nounccment on the subject was by Lo d
R0thermere. the new British Air Min
ister who in a speech in London, De
cember a. which received little pub
licity in this country, said
MY advisers have asked me TO make
a precise statement of our air policy.
The question OF repHsals comes first
and foremost AZ the air board we are
whole-heartedly IN favor Of reprisals.
1T is our duty TO avenge the muir
der Of innocent women and their chill
dren. As the enemy elest, therefore
so be tan eye for an eye and tooth
for a tooth-and in this respect we
shall strive for a complete and salts
/ factory retaliation.
Won Ludendorff proclsims this a
war Of nations, suggesting That the
/ civil population equally is a mark for
the bombs along with the lighting men
We detest this doctrine, holding II t
be grossly immoral; but, fighting 70
our lives and the lives Of our womel
and children. we.wIll not consent 70 II
one-slded application. The enemy ha
TO learn in this, as IN larger things
that outrages on the civilian population
Of this county do not pay.
British aerial activities against th'
Germans outside Belgium hitherto hav'
been restricted TO small attacks oI
factories and railway stations along th'
frontier But Mannheim, with a pcpu
latlon Of 100000 and one Of the mos
beautiful cities Of Germany, is II
Baden, more than 100 miles from The
French frontier Before the war 1t was
an unforlined town, but in view Of It's
commercial importance 10 is now vel
defended against aerial attacks.
French airmen. who have been carry
ing out reprisal raids for long time
have penetrated as far as Essen ant
Frankfort.
In the German air raid on LondoI
and the British coats last Tuesda,
night. ten persons were killed and sew
enty-nve hurt The English coast wa
raided again Saturday night