The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-10-02
Motor Car Killings Here
Equal Bombardment Fa-
talitieS There.
A TERRIBLE LIFE TOLL
Metropolis Needs a "Jay
Walkers Law" to Make
PedeStrianiSm Safe.
By Martin Green.

direction the German military author
titles sent a fleet Of aeroplanes over
the city Of Paris on the night Of Jan.
30, 1918 and these planes dropped
sixteen bombs which killed about
sixty persons, mostly women and
children.
On Jan. 81 and Feb. more than
100000 terrified people ned to the
south and east from Paris.
The German super gun. stationed
seventy miles away. began TO drop
shells into Paris in the daytime, late
In the spring Of 1918. The lombard
ment continued steadily every day for
a week and during that week clbse
20 100000 people fed from Paris to
the south and east.
The night commandments from aero-
planes and the day bOmbardments
from the big gun were maintained
lnteApittenuy until along In July and
during all that time half the pOpula-
Ton OF Paris remained out OF the
city. Only those who had business
obligations or we're unable TO leave
their homes because OF poverty, re-
sided within the walls.
Horror and indignation flooded the
United States over this invasion OF
the homes Of the people OF Paris by
bombs and shells. And the horror
and Indignation were justified / have
seen the mangled bodies OF children
scattered around an area OF half a
block from the scene OF the landing
OF one OF the shells from the super
gun.
But all this bombardment. which
drove 100000 OF the residents OF
Paris from their city. killed, Il is es-
umated. only about 600 people-pTOb-
ably less than COO
This number OF war time victims
is but slightly In excess OF the 81
peace time victims OF the automobile
on the streets OF New York in the
first nine months Of 1920. In nine
months automobiles killed IN New
York almost as many people-almost
az many children-as concentration
OF German fiendishness and Ingenuity
sacrificed In Paris during the darkest
days OF the war.
Citizens OF Paris 20 the number Of
100000 ned from a menace that was
terrifying enough, In all truth, and
the United States thrUlDbed with re-
sentiment against the murderers and
sympathy with the victims. And the
city when Il was rumorcd that Ger
man ZeDpelins were on their way
across the Atlantic 10 drop bombs on
New York.
Citizens OF New York do not APP
pear 70 be fleeing from a menace that
took b17 lives on the city streets In
the first nine months OF 1920. The
population OF New York Is growing
daily. There appears to be no local
a -
this sacrifice.
All this by way OF comparison, but
there is a lesson IN Il. The people
who were killed In Paris by German
shells and bombs did not contribute
in any degree 10 their own destTuc-
uon. The missiles sought them out
from the sky, whether they were in
their homes or on the streets, or.
even. In their churches.
Can the same be said OF the SIT New
York victims OF the automobile7 An
observer on the streets must honestly
answer In the negative. There Is an
appalling amount OF contributory
, negligence.
We have trahic regulations for
automobiles, but, except at few con-
geStcd points, no traf1c regula lions
for pedestrians. Hundreds OF thou
sands OF people cross the streeta every
day and every night In the middle OF
blocks. The habit of cutting corners
s almost universal.
There will not be SIT people killed
by automobiles on the streets OF Paris
In the next twenty years, The laws
~ Paris compel the pedestrian 20 look
out for himself. There are rules for
pedestrians as well as for vehicles.
In many Western cities what Is
known as the Jay Walkers Law"
mas been passed. A jay Walker" is
a person who crosses a street else
where than ate crossing. In san
Francisco, for instance, in' the con-
gested business centre, pedestrians
are forbidden 20 cross streets save
between white lines painted on the
pavements at crossings. II Is doubt
ful n there Is anywhere n more reck-
less set OF drivers than those OF San
Francisco, bun street fatalities there
are rare IN proportionate comparison
with New York.
= The Parisians could not dodge the
shells. New Workers. can dodge the
automobiles-as long as the Rutomo-
biles do not climb upon the sidewalk.
which, OF late, has become a favorite
ourtdOOF snort.