The Brinkley argus., 1918-09-20
WASHINGTON WARNS AGAINsT MISGUIDED
 OPTIMISTIC VIEW
ERRONEOUS REPORTS THAT ARE CALCULATED TO INSPIRE OVER CONFIDENCE ARE SOURCE
 OF GREAT DANGER.
CIRCULATION AIDS GERMANS
War News of Late Ia Most Encourac. ing, hct End Of Struggle
 Not in Sight

Misguided optimism, the belief that the war is practically over and that soon the American soldiery will be battering at the very gates of Berlin, forms the basis for an authoritative warning from Washington This op,i. mism is fraught with great danger, and IS drowned upon by everybody of i'm. rortance at the national capital
 Tt is no time to talk of the war be- ing over" said the army's chief of staff Boastful and over-optimistic prophecies are regarded in government circles as not only foolish, but danger GUS. We are but just getting into the war, says an authoritative writer in the New York Times, and 1t is only within the last few weeks that we have. put enough men at the battle front to ren. der notable assistance.
 AS an instance of the wrong kind of optimism Is cited the action of large manufacturer in the Middle West on a recent visit to Washington. He took with him his plans for enlarging the output of his plant, and was 70 conf. dent that the war would end next spring that he was actually making his plans on that basis.
 He was ardently loyal. He did not realize that in spreading his ideas among his employees and the citizens oi his community, where he was recog. nized as leader, that he was doinx that which would receive tho warm commendation of the German propa, sandists.
 Misleading Headiines.
 Official Washington condemns pro. mature celebrating 0f the end of the war, while at the same time approving the appreciation of the people of the glorious news that is authentic. At a Kentucky celebration the news was that the Kaiser has been licked" A newspaper carried the headlines that 100000 Huns had been trapped.
 The information was, of course. CT 1oneousf and the real truth that, while victory of note had been won 1t did not mean the end of the war.
 The popular estimate that 100000 Americans added to the Allied forces would end the war has proven wrong. Later it was calculated that 5000, ,000 would dc the job. Now the estimate is 5000, ,000, and it may go higher.
 T think there could be nothing more harmful said United States Senator Harry s. New of Indiana, Ito the Al lied cause than for American people to get the idea that because of the sue cesses of the last few weeks the begin ming of the end is in sight"
 Senator New appreciated to the ut termost the splendid achievements of the Americans, French and English, but there is no indication that the de- cisive battle has been fought.
 He recalled the fact that four years ago, when the Germans were at the Marne, they were driven back quite as precipitately as they were this time, and yet four years later the work had all to be done over again
 Situation Is Hopeful.
 Tt is for us to feel,' he says, that, nc matter how many times this may happen, the forces of the Allies will continue their resistance and their at tack. and that there shall never he a let-up until there is a complete Allied victory, whether the Hun is twice or a dozen times at the Marne before that end is reached.
 q don't believe he can come tha, T again. But it will not do to feel for a moment that he is weakening"
 Senator New believes the war will be won on the western front. He be- lieves it is a military impossibility for tbe Allies ever to re-establish an east ern battle front Russia cannot be depended on.
 He points out that in the great Ger man offensive of March Fl the Ger mans took more than 100, ,000 prisoners and 1000 guns and that 1t is more than possible that Germany lost more heavily this time because of over-con- fidence on account of their success in drives previous to the last one.
 While holding to the idea that we are going to win" he says, we must at the same time provide all that Is necessary to make successful finish of the thing. The German army can and will fight for a long time on the defense. If ii should be defeated soon CT than we expect, so much the bet far"