_2 LONDON AWAITS AERIAL INVASION Takes Precautions to Repel Attack by Zeppelins. GERMANS READY FEBRUARY. Will Need Four Months' Time For Preparation of Fleet of Dirigibles •'Wait ar.d See," Says Inventor—"Zep pelin Neck," Due to Peering Upward, Prevalent In British Capital. Information received in Amsterdam from an authoritative source regard ing Germany's aerial plans throws a new light on the action of the London authorities in doing away with all bril Jiant illumination, sweeping the skies at night with many searchlights and mounting guns to assail balloons and aeroplanes. These precautions are thoroughly justified, though a bit pre mature, says the New York Times cor respondent in Amsterdam. While occasional minor raids may bo made on London sooner, if Germany gets a firm foothold on the channel, the grand aerial armada will not be launch ed against England until February at the earliest, for Germany will not be ready till then. "We are building 200 aeroplanes es pecially for the attack on London These are of a new and extra large type, capable of carrying 1,000 pounds of explosives in addition to the weight of the pilot and bomb thrower," the correspondent was informed. "These new aeroplanes will not be in commission before February. The fli ers are being trained now at special aviation camps, and at least one of the Instructors was flying in London as re cently as last spring." Germany's Aerial Equipment. An American refugee from Rouma nla, who reached London six weeks ago via Austria. Germany and Hol land. told the correspondent at the time that at the flying field in Berlin ■be had seen at least 500 aeroplanes and fifty Zeppelins in their sheds. * When the German officer interviewed was asked if there was any truth in the statement that Germany had fifty Zeppelins six weeks ago he replied frankly: "That is nonsense. But we are work Ing on new Zeppelins night and da}" and by February we shall have forty *ix." Confirmation—of a sort—of the plan liied aerial attack on London came from Count Zeppelin himself, who re iturned to his home in Stuttgart Wurttemberg, after a three days' sta\ In Berlin. "Give Us Time," Says Zeppelin. An American woman saw the coun In Berlin and, rushing up to him, ex claimed. "Tell rue, when are the Zep pelius going to London?" Count Zeppelin bowed politely, re plying: "Wait and see. Only give us tim madam." "Zeppelin neck" is the form of ma hi dy now prevalent in London, accortl Ing to one report This is the popular term for stlt'. necks, which are commoner than evoi at this season because so many Lon doners are craning their necks, scan nlng the heavens as the government •enrchlights relentlessly examine the aky for the enemy. 1 WATCH BRINDILLA CASE. Washington and London Deeply -Inter ested In Seizure of Oil Ship. If in the capture of the Brindilla. the dl tank ship formerly the Washington, the British government wishes to test neutral ownership, not alleged contra band cargo or an unneutral destina tion, it will be appealing to a principle of international law which Great Brit ain has never formally ratified. There are precedents for such a course, as when both Spain and the United States in IS9S adhered to the declaration of Paris, though neither had ratified it The case is attracting much attention in Washington and London. The Brindilla was a ship of the Deutsoh-Amerika Petroleum eomparv, caught in New York by th ■ w .u\ She was bought bv the Stunu.ud Oil com pany " bi- tue American registry not and - out under the American flag Outside the three mile limit she was taken and towed to Halifax and the jurisdiction of a prize court The declaration of London, article f>6. declares void the transfer of an en- ->--•