Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-23
REPR|SALS ON GERMANY
TO AWAIT AMERICAN AID
British Officials Believe Present
Force Of Airmen Inadequate for
Raiding Hostile Territory.
BY the Associated Press.

r. the Associated Press
LONDON, June 23.-Puhlic agitation for
the adoption of air reprisals against Ger
man cities as a reply to recent Zeppelin
and airplane raids on Great Britain, has
!! been the subject of several private con-
ferenceS between military and political
leaders here. The hope was expressed At
these meetings that public clamor would
not override the saner strategic considera-
tons. and that any elaborate system of
reprisals would be postponed until the
Sistance of American airmen is available.
The German air raids, said official
to the Associated Press. were compare
lively easy to perform, because they were
largely over territory in German posses
sion. or across the sea where the enemy
airmen could travel unseen and unoppos
ed. On the other hand. British airmen. in
executing n repriSal must carry load OF
bombs over route that from the start
crosses hostile territory. Throughout the
flight our airmen must run the gauntlet
of land guns and air fighters. The most
expert airmen would be necessary for such
ventures. the percentage of losses would
be large and the strain terrific on the
tliers. and the element of surprise largely
would be lacking against the enemy
Question of Sparing Pilots.
Thus it becomes a question whether the
number Of skilled pilots and the powerful
machines required can be spared without
impeding far more important mlilta!S OPP
erations Although the British army NY
ing. corps has tremendous number OF
airplanes and maintains aerial supremacy
on the battle front, it must he remember
ed that the airplane in recent months has
been devoted exclusively to military oper
ations. Diversion of even a small number
of these eyes of the army would create
serious problem.
According to the Associated Press in
formant. army leaders, while admitting
the military value of reprisal raids on
German industrial centers, declare that
such expeditions to be effective must
be carried out on a large scale and an
extended and long continued program.
This would involve the use of air
planes to a number which the army
heads are unwilling to agree-in fact,
they distinctly feel the necessary airA
men could not be spared without actu-
ally Gripping the vital business of the
battle front.
perhaps the Germans would even be
glad to have us divert planes from
what they are doing so we'll in the war
theater to more doubtful business as
far-off air raids" The official added
The army has no intention of being
caught in such trap. However, we all
realize that a large scheme of raids
may later become necessary. That is
one reason that we are so anxious to
see Americas ambitious aviation pro-
gram reach completion. We may need
those thousands of American airpla ne
pilots sooner than you think.
No War on Women and Children.
"When we are forced into a reprisal
program It will not be with the object
of killing German women and children
that method is viewed with the great
est horror by every Englishman.
NO military success has been accom-
plished by the few enemy air raids.
we do not care for that type Of war;
nor do you in America. If we under
take a program of raids it will be for
the purpose Of making German cities
so dangerous by repeated attacks that
the German must keep his airplanes at
home for defense.
I'VE do not underestimate the Sc
| robustness of the German Zeppelin and