The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-05
GERMANS COMPLAIN
OF RAIDS ON CITIES
Say Their Air Atrocities fave
Stopped and Plead foi
Immunity.
SAVE CULTURE, THEY CRY
Threaten to Resume Barbara
ties if Request Is Not
Granted.

WASHINGTON, Sov. 4.-The German
Government notified the United States
to-day that since October its air forces
have been under orders to mako bomb
attacks solely against important hostile
military objects within the immediate op-
erations OF war, on the assumption that
allied and American air forces were to
receive similar instructions.
The note, delivered through the Swiss
Legation, protests that air raids have
been carried out recently against seven
German towns with loss Of life among
the civilian population and that unless
such raids cease Germany cannot refrain
from aerial attacks on allied territory
outside OF the zone OF operations.
This was the FIRST notice received by
the American Government that such Or
ders had been Issued to the German air
forces, which have constantly raided de-
fencelcss cities and towns In France,
Great Britain and Italy since the war
began. The State Department made
public the German note without COM
ment. 1t follows:
THE German aerial forces have been
under orders since the beginning OF Oc-
tober OF this year only to make bomb
hItdCkS WHICH, are tSleu Surely
important hostile military objects. with
in the immediate area of operations OF
war. These orders were issued on the
assumption that the enemy aerial forces
were to receive similar instructions.
Numerous Civilian Victims.
"In assuming this the German peopl,
| find themselves disappointed. a shor
| time ago the enemy made bomb attack,
on tho German towns of Wetvlar. Kais
| erslautern, Mannheim, Ludwlgshafen
| Freburg, Forbach and Weisbaden
| claiming numerous victims among th'
! civilian population. Nor has occupied
, territory been spared. 1t is evident tina
iermany can refrain from aerial attack
| m enemy territory behind the area o
| rperatlons only IL, on then side, the en-
| envy. from now on will reciprocate ant
also refrain from making aerial attack
| outside the area OF military operations.
"In the expectation. that the intention
| shared by the other side to further hu
| mainly and preserve important objec.
| of culture, will meet with the under
standing of the opponents. the German
| Government proposes to the Govern
| ments of the other beilgerent countries
that corresponding instructions be issue'
without delay to their aerial forces, IL,
| forming II OF the measures taken"
There was no intimation as to vha
,ction. II any. the American Government
| would take upon the German protest. I
was said authoritAtively. however. tina
| official reports show that American al
operations have not UP to this time gon
beyond attacks upon purely military ob
| jectiVes. Such damage as mentione
may have been incidental. 1t was said.
Acceptance Not Expected.
In view Of the repeated raids of Ger
man air forces during the last fou
| wears. not only on defenceless towns Il
France. England and Belgium but ais
IN hospitals plainly marked and far be
vond tho fighting zones. military an
diplomatic observers here do not believ
he German protest will be taken seri
ously by the allied governments.
The German ro;est was addressed {
the United States. Il was said, probabl
because this country has not been sub
jected TO the campaign OF air terrorism
conducted by the enemy. American hos
pitfalls behind the line In France, how
ever, have been bombed by Geuna
night raiders. II also was regarded a
possible that the German authorize
have been forced 10 some step by IN
clanor OF the German civil population
particularly in the Rhine province:
where the belief is general that
mighty American air fleet is being bui
Up 20 destroy towns there.
, LONDON, Nov. 4.-Railwsys and al;
plane hangers in the region east OF Met
were attacked to-day by the British Ir
dependent Air Force. says an officii