From ‘The Trial Runs‘, The Spectator, 22 May 1915:
LONDON is busy with rumours just now as to an imminent air raid upon the capital by German aircraft. It may be that some definite piece of information has leaked out of Germany, but it is just as likely that the rumours are due to one of those rerulsione of belief from which people always suffer when their information is scanty. Any observer may have noticed during this war that there have been regular pulsations, or cycles, of optimism and pessimism. As a rule there has not seemed to be much more reason for the one than for the other. Of course exceptional news of successes or reverses has produced its direct, natural, and measurable effect; but when there was no news in particular confidence and misgiving have succeeded one another in regular succession. It seems as though public feeling must fulfil the mere mathematical law that every action has its equal and contrary reaction. In the same manner it may be that the temporary tendency to make light of the German threats of sending a Grand Fleet of Zeppelins has giveaway to a more questioning mood, simply because the time has come for the ebb to be followed by the flood. If any more material reasons were to be sought, they could be named, however, in the appearance which the latest Zeppelin raids have had of being trial rune, and in the fact that dark nights are exactly suitable for raiding. Then Zeppelins have come continually nearer to London. They have already come so near, indeed, that there is no doubt that they could have reached London if they had wished to do so.
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