The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-11-23
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS ASSERT
OPTIMISTIC STORIES ARE
GERMAN PROPAGANDA.
RESULT IN 0vERC0NFIDENCE
Men In Training Camps Must Not
Think Their Efforts Are to Be Vast
ed Because End Of the War 10 In
Sight.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

may bring the second series or officers
training camps to close more quickly
than was intended. 1t is believed slso
that the senior class at West Point will
be graduated quickly. 1t is not diff
recent happenings on the Italian front
and the probable decision of the war
department to bring more American Of
ficers quickly into the service.
There never has come from Wash
ington headquarters nor from individ-
ual officers Of the service any express
sion Of opinion that the war Is likely
to end soon. On the contrary army
officers trained to study Of the situa-
ton have felt and still feel that the
war Is likely TO continue for long
time to come. 1t Is definitely known
that the military authorities, and with
them, Of course, the naval authorities,
have been worried over the excess Of
optimism in the country on the sub
1ect Of short war.
Officials here have not hesitated to
say at times that the optimistic stories,
just as surely as the pessimistic ones
which have been spread through the
country. have sprung from the ranks
OF German sympathizers. As the feel
Ing expresses itself concerning these
stories Of cheer 1t runs along the line
Of fear that men will not be willing
to undertake training In the officers
reserve camps II they are imbued with
the thought that they are to go through
the trouble and the toll Of the thing
without any chance Of being able to
take a hand in wars proceedings.
Must Expect Long Conflict.
Moreover, the stories which have
been spread apparently Systematically
to the effect that the war soon Is to
end will have. If they have not already
had, the effect Of making thousands of
men in camp let down In their en-
deavOr to perfect themselves as sol
oilers. III we are not to serve. what
Is the use of digging trenches all day?"
There are officers of the army who
do not believe that there Is any chance
that this war will end for at least
eighteen months or two years. They
believe that the people will reconcile
themselves to the thought Of q pro-
lOnged war when they dwell on the
fact that the end Of the war must mean
the triumph Of democracy over au-
tocracy.
The United States has been fed on
stories Of the weakening Of Germany.
the starving condition Of Its people,
fits armies lack of munitions, and with
tales Of other kinds intending to show
generally a weakening condition Of the
enemy. Army officers here have dis
counted these stories from the begin
ming. Some of them actually believe
that In some subtle way or other the
Germans have managed to get stories
Of this kind into headquarters places
of the various allied countries and
have done 1t for the express purpose of
giving overconfdence to Germany's en-
emies and especially to the United
States of America.
The United States government did
not begin to prepare for war until war
came, but 1t Is now making prepara-
ton not for a war of months but for
war of years. OF course, as some
of the officers say, the entirely unex-
pected may happen and Germany may
crack from some at present unforeseen
cause, but their implicit belief is that
the tales of cracking on the part of the
enemy countries have been propaganda
pure and simple.
The seemingly most convincing sto-
ries Of exhaustion on the part Of Ger
many were spread almost on the eve
Of the tremendous attack on the Ital-
ians. There has been no sign of lack
of munitions or of men In the armies
opposed to those of Italy. Military
students of the onslaught say that 1t
bears every evidence Of the same
strength which Germany manifested at
the outbreak Of the war.
Unity Of Action Wanted.
Andrew Bonar Law. British chancel-
Tor Of the exchequer, has given this
word to the world:
1.-The approaching inter-allied con-
ference at Paris has been summoned
not to consider war aims but the con-
duct Of the war"
Army officers In Washington whose
opinions are worthy of high considern-
ton believe that Immediately follow
ing the Paris discussion on the con-
duct of the war new strategy of
conflict" will be presented, approved
and adopted by the war Offices of
the allied powers.
In Washington's high places Of coun-
sci and command there is every ex-
pectation that so far as land opera
lions are concerned there will be
reimbursement of offensive and defen-
sive action and that there will be a
coalescing Of effort on every allied
front within the next few months. The
hope even is strong that the plan Of
readjustment will be such as to COM
mand itself to the weak-hearted ones