New Britain herald., 1917-06-20
TO PREVENT REPRIsALs.

TO PREVENT REPRISALS.
 There has been bitter condemna- ton of the German air raids upon London. The argument has been that these raids are of no military value; that although London is g fortified center the raids have never yet wrought havoc upon the military de- lenses but have instead wounded and killed defenseless men, women and children. Because of this Germany has been scathingly arraigned before the bar of public opinion ip this and other countries. s'The time has come." cry those who are against the plan of maiming non-combatants. when there must be reprisals." l" Of course. any reprisals that are worthy the name must be of the same retal- iatory nature as the acts condemned. Thus do those who cry for vengeance resort to the very practices they con- demn.
 Asked in the House of Commons whether the government has decided upon reprisals for the latest German air raid on England, Andrew Bonar Law. member of the War Council, yesterday stated that the Government intended to take steps not only for damaging the enemy, but also for preventing raids on England. Mr. Law then pointed out that it was Q mistake to assume that air raiding had been confined to the German side of the fighting forces. The British air force in France had raided Ger
 han communications and all import ant military objectives behind the lines which were sufficient importance to justify such enterprises, Ameri- cans have known of other raids of predatory character, one being over a German city. This raid was. se- verely condemned by the leading edt- torial writers of this country as a reprisal bordering on outlawry.
 Destruction of private property with the attendant havoc caused to life and limb by air raids such as those practiced by German airplanes end Zeppelins over London will never received the approval of fair minded people. Seemingly, they are of no military value. Any reprisals that are planned and executed on the same order would naturally come in for the same criticism. Yet. England is forced to the position where 1t cannot be over-nice in the methods it chooses to rid itself of constant danger. The Germans have been persistent and consistent in their att tacks on English coast cities. They have sent their air machines to drop tortuous bombs whenever they willed to display frightfulness The policy of these raids was not so much the damage they caused as the fear they might instill in the English heart. The same may be said to be true Of ruthless submarine warfare. The Germans have not been as successful with their submarines as they told their people they would. They had figured on running all ships off the high seas either by torpedo or fright. They had not reckoned on those dar- ing spirits who would first have to taste torpedo's fire in order to be afraid of it. and then to be afraid for only a little while. Men who have sailed ships through the danger zone''; have never yet hesitated to make another attempt when disaster once overlook their ships. They arc always willing to go back.
 The German air raids over gLon- don and other English coast towns will go on so long as Germany is not prevented from sending her Zeppelin and heayier-than-air machines across the lower end of the North Sea. or the English channel They will 60 on even in the facs of reprisaIs prac- ticed successfully hy England. They