AIR REPRISALS.
[To THE BOMA OP TAE "Ec. m o %."1 Sun,—I have no qualms about bombing German towns if thereby we can put a stop to the air-raid pest in this country. But before calling upon our leaders to adopt such a course at least let as count the cost in blood and money. Of course WO outsiders, generally spoken of as " the man in the street," can only form a rough estimate. Supposing by our outcry our leaders, under the influence of popular demand. as all Governments in free countries must more or less be, are driven to adopt the course of bombing German towns, against their own better naval and military judgment based upon an accurate knowledge of our resources. ]t they are right, and no one can be in a position to judge the tonal and military problem better than they can, then it follows that the war will be prolonged. Supposing, for the sake of tlm argument, it is thus prolonged one week. What will that represent in killed and wounded and cost at all tie fronts in Belgium, France, Italy, Russia, Thrace, Palestine, and Mesopotamia, besides the losses at sea from submarines and the cost of ships kept constantly ready for action ? Supposing the losses in one week were only ten thousand men killed and wounded, yet they would be men in the prime of life, many with women and children dependent on them, who would bitterly regret it if they realized hereafter that by- their impatience in demanding reprisals they bad prolonged the war for a week. As for Material losses, the money saved by a more steadfast policy would pay for them many tunes over. It may seem easy for a writer who does not live in East London to argue thus, but still it is a point of view that cannot be put too often or too clearly. It does not seem wise to do the very thing the enemy is trying to make us do—namely, expend our strength elsewhere than on his sorely smitten, cowed, and nearly defeated forces. Give them no respite now and the war must soon end.—
I am, Sir, &c., P. T. GODEAL.
Iscoyd Park, Whitchurch, Shropshire.
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