New-York tribune., 1917-10-22
Public Also Demands to
Know Why Air De-
fences Failed
Policy To Be Thrashed
Out in Parliament
Charge Made That Army
and Navy Aviators Com
pete, Not Cooperate
By Arthur S. Draper


news Is unpleasant reading for the Brit
: ish. Aside from the military damage
caused by the Zeppelin raid, their pride
has received considerable blow.
Though the clever work OF the French
airmen and gunners who brought down
the biggest Zeppelin bag Of the war
fills the British with admiration. IL
also prompts them TO ask why their
own defences. which they had been led
to believe were impregnable against
airship attack. failed In the crisis.
The whole air policy undoubtedly
will be thrashed out this week, and
plain talking is bound to be heard in
Parliament. Some caustic criticism Is
being heard. and the government Is
likely to have a lively inning when the
subject IS brought up in Commons.
The charge has been made frequently
that there is rivalry between the army
and naval air services and that the de-
partments have been competing instead
Of cooperating. Those who believe the
war will be settled in the air think
the air service must be developed as
separate organization and occupy po-
sition at least on q par with, II not
greater than, the army and navy.
Ministry Threatened
Though Londoners are wonderfully
calm under air attacks, IL cannot he de-
MED that the raids affect conditions
materially, and unless the government
can convince the people that everything
is being done 10 perfect the defences
and protect the people. ministerial
changes will undoubtedly be the result
Promises and excuses are no longer sc-
cepted by the people.
Nothing has made deeper impres-
sion on the British people than the de-
feat at sea. Their pride and confidence
in the navy excel even the Germans
admiration Of his army. When, early
in the week, news came OF the German
success in the Baltic the press and the
o.onle began 10 ask why the Russians
we're not receiving British naval sup
mort There was no consideration OF
the difficulties in the way OF such CO.
operation. When it was seen the ahalr
was developing into an operation OF the
first magnitude the people became more
restless and inquisitive.
Humiliation Felt
On ton Of this came the reports OF
the sinking Of the convoy IN the Nortn
Sea and the shelling Of Dunkirk by
German destroyers. To make matters
worse. this is Trafalgar Day. Says Sir
Henry Dslziel's SUNDAY Evening Tele-
gram:
what else but humiliation can be
felt by those who read that within
few miles of our own shores enemy
ships have sunk about dozen ves-
sells, including two Of our destroyers
The official apologists will doubtless
saw that Il is one Of the accidents we
must look for in war times. But they
won't satisfy the public. Could any
thing be more inept than the labored,
clumsy, apologize statement issued
with The news Of the disaster? The
minister speaks OF Hun inhumanity as
if II were 8 new phenomenon sudden
ly dawning on the world. instead OF
being the central fact of the war. He
is like the Bourbons, who learned
nothing and forgot nothing"
Lord Northcliffe's Sunday papers
are unusually critical. The Weekly
Dispatch" says editorislly: These
Baltic and North Sea coups are in
structive. for they suggest, first, that
the German feet Is still being and
, may be used on grand scale in the
Baltic; second, that mine fields can
be forced and land batteries silenced,
despite the experience of the Allis
in other seas. and. third, that those
re responsible for Germany's naval pol
. icy are not afraid OF taking risks
when the prize is worth having.
"This beng said, it will occur TO q
great many that very few miles from
our shores lies Ostend and that IL W.
were able 10 land our troops there Ger
man tenure in Belgium would be of
short duration"