The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1918-09-26
WASHINGTON WARNS
AGAINST MISGUIDED
OPTIMISTIC VIEH
ERRONEOUS REPORTS THAT ARB
CALCULATED TO INSPIRE OVER
CONFIDENCE ARE soURcE
or GREAT DANCER.
CIRCULATION AIDS GERMANS
War News Of Late Is Most Enooarae.
Ing, but End Of Struggle
Not In Sight

Misguided optimism, tho belief thar
the war is practically over end that
soon the American soldiery viii be
battering at the very gates Of Berlin.
forms the basis for an authoritative
warning from Washington. This optt-
mism is lraught with great danger. ana
is frowned upon BY everybody Of im-
Portance at tie national capital,
1T is no time to talk OF the war be-
ing over" said the armys chief Of
staff. Boastfa and Oyer-optimistlo
prophecies are regarded in government
circles as not only foolish, but danger.
Gus We are bur just getting into the
war, says an authoritative writer in ths
New York Times, and It is only within
the last few weeks that we have put
enough men at the battle front to rem
der notable assistance
AS an instance Of the wrong kind OF
optimism is cited the action OF large
manufacturer In the Middle West on 4
recent visit to Washington. He took
with him his plans for enlarging the
output OF his plant. and was so conEl-
dent that the war would end next
spring that be 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 OF
his community, where he was recog-
nized as leader, that he was doing
that which would receive the warm
commentator OF the German propa.
gandists.
Misleading Headlines.
Official Washington condemns prs.
mature celebrating OF the end Of the
war, while at the same time approving
the appreciation Of the people Of ths
glorious news that Is authentic. Ats
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. err
roneousti and the real truth that, while
. victory Of note had been won, Il 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 II was calculated that 5000, 900
would do the Job, Now the estimate ID
100000, and 1t may go higher.
Il think there could be nothing more
harmful +" said United States Senator
Harry s. New Of Indiana, TO the AL
lied cause than for American people ID
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 10 the Ut.
termost the splendid achievements Of
the Americans, French and English.
but there Is no indication that the de-
cisiye battle has been fought.
He recalled the fact that four years
ago, when the Germans were at the
Marine, they were driven back quite ais
preeipitately as they were this time.
and yet four years later the work had
all to be done over again.
Situation Is Hopeful
1T is fofNus to feel.' be 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 be !
let-up until there is complete Allied
victory, whether the Hun is twice or q
dozen times at the Marine before that
end Is reached.
I don't believe he can come that !
again. But It viii not do to feel for d
moment that he Is weakening.
Senator New believes the war VILE
be won on the western front. He be-
lieges It Is d military inipossibilIty for
the 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 ri the Ger
mans took more than 100000 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, eve must (
at the same time provide all that is
to make a successful finish
Of the thing. The German army can
aud will fight for long time on the
defense. lit should be defeated soonr
er than we expect. SO much the bet
ter"