The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1917-10-10 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

WART NVXDNESDAT AND SATMDAT.  WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10 1917.  The policy of frightThe -Answer to fulness inaugurated German Air Raids. and conducted by Germany is about to  receive its only answer. There is but one method of dealing with authors of wholesale murder of peaceful and innocent civilians. That answer, however, must be measured in degree. To strike back at your foe in a manner similar to his own is natural. In the ordinary course of things this can be done 'without endangering the lives and property of others whom all civilised law has held to 'be immune. The air attacks to which Germany has been committed during the war, however, render it difficult to retaliate without -seriously affecting all classes. That is why we say the carrying out of retaliatory measures becomes one of degree. If your enemy, in absolute disregard of human life, murderously discharges death-dealing bombs into a peace-ful civilian population, should you strike hack and do likewise? It is a fine question in the ethics of civilisation. To atm, life, attacks no oallouslY projected and conducted must be met and defeated. People who have suffered the time of terror, and witnessed the horrible- results Of German - air. raids '  would deal with the matter in no spirit of compromise. Sentiment to them in this case has no meaning. They have seen and -suffered. That would be the extreme view. More moderate methods would, however, appeal to others not sufferers, or unnerved, whose towns have not been subject to bombardment, List whose sympathy with the residents of danger areas is very acute. Between the two, however, a very wide gulf exists as to any definite policy. It is not altogether proper to use the word reprisals in connection with this subject, for "reprisals" conveys a meaning more in keeping with the first view indicated. The Government, has, however, decided that measures shall be taken, severe in their nature, for protective purposes. The Ilun has carried the deadly work to a point that demands a fitting answer. The challenge sent out has necessitated action, and if in the conduct of the combat German civilian populations get hurt, well, they must blame their militairy rulers for having defied civilised custom. The French authorities quickly brought the German raid organisers to a sense of the effect of frightfulness, by attacking their military centres, lines 'of communication, munition factories, works engaged on war material, and other industries of a military nature. It is probably the intention of the War •Cabinet to take this line in regard to the British response to the challenge. Yet it cannot be done without placing in danger civilian life, consideration of which factor has largely influenced the mind of the English people and made them slow to strike back. Now, however, whatever the consequences the policy has hardened, and the former attitude has been partially abandoned. The change has the approval of the country, where, notwithstanding the amount of suffering and sorrow that has been caused the cry for excessive action has not been against non-participators in the terrible war. There can be no doubt that in accordance with the feelings of chivalry and humanity that guide the policy of the nation there will be as much avoidance as possible o indiscriminate attack, and that the plans will be adopted to disturb the military arrangements by destruction of war material. 'The phase that is least satisfactory is that unlike all other engines of war the power of control in the case of air attacks is infinitesimal, and the uncertain action of the deadly missile necessarily places in danger all within a certain radius. England, however, has been long patient, in regard to German air raids, and it follows that the danger point has been passed and, that steps, severe and persistent, must be taken to bring home to the invaders the crime of which they have been guilty.