AERIAL REPRISALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16674, 19 October 1917, Page 4

AERIAL REPRISALS.

The British policy with regard to reprisals for German air. raids on English towns has been clearly and dispassionately stated by Mr. Bonar Law., It is the intention to employ aeroplanes over German towns as far as military needs make machines available. To do more would be to endanger the greater object for the lesser j to do less would be to encourage the Germans in their brutal and inhuman massacre of women and children. The Germans imagine that if they can terrify an enemy nation by killing and maiming its women and children they will bo accomplishing a high military purpose. They are regardless of their offence against civilisation and humanity. They seek only an advantage which is theirs so long as their own weapon is not used against them. The strength of their belief in this weapon is . evident from the persistence with which they organised air raids against English towns at a time when the.. British and French held command, of the air along the entire western battlefront, and .when it -was of the greatest military importance to the Germans that they should employ every available ■ aeroplane in defence , of their own armies. To argue against reprisals > in ; such : circumstances because German women and German T children may be endangered is to reveal an inadequate conception of our duty to our own women and children. The purpose of "the reprisals is not to attack the civilian people ■ of. Germany, but ■; to bring home; to the ;, German nation the folly of 'having initiated this barbarous method of warfare. The effect of the British resolution is already evident from the comments of- German , newspapers. Towns within; " reach of ..Allied : aeroplanes, such':-.• as Munich, are ;• displaying great interest in the .; subject of aerial raiding,', and are discussing it with a sanity which was not to be found in Germany a month ago. The Allies will ; soon ' have enormous ■air/fleets; at their disposal, but the principal use to which these fleets will ~' be put will not be reprisals, but the devastating ;of y German armies in the field,. their lines of communication and . depots. The German raids on English towns may be expected rto ; come ;■ to .an end .when: the . Germans ; themselves have, been repaid sufficiently .in their own coin. Subsequently warfare of the } air will; assume a'purely' military character, and then the Germans will learn by dread experience the true use of the aeroplane as an instrument of offence. .