The Carlisle independent., 1918-09-12
WASHINGTON WARNS AGAINST MISGUIDED
 OPTIMISTIC VIEW
ERRONEOUS REPORTS THAT ARE CALCULATED TO INSPIRE OVER CONFIDENCE ARE SOURCE
 OF GREAT DANCER.
CIRCULATION AIDS GERMANS
War News of Late Is Most Eneouraa- ing, but 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 opti- nism IS fraught with great danger, and IS frowned upon by everybody of inl- rortanee at the national capital.
 Tt IS no time to talk of the war be ing oyer," said the army's chief of staff. Boastful and over-optimistic prophecies are regarded in government circles as not only foolish, but danger ous. We are but just getting into the war, says an authoritative writer in the New York Times, and it is only within the last few weeks that We have put enough men at the battle front to fen- 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 so 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 of his immunity !. nlzed as a leader, that he was doing that which would receive the warm commendatioH of the German propa- sandists.
 Misleading Headlines.
 Official Washington condemns pre- mature celebrating of the end of the war, while at the same time approving the appreciation of the people of the glorious news that is authentic. At q 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 curse. CT 1oneousfi and the real truth that. while a victory Of note had been won. il did not mean the end of the war.
 The popular estimate that 1000 GOO Americans added to the Allied forces would end the war has proven wrong Later 1t was calculated that 3,000, 0o0 would do the job. Now the estimate is 5,0O0,00Q. and it may go higher.
 think there could be nothing more harmful said United States Senator Harry s. New Of Indiana, "io the AL lied cause than for American people 10 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- clslve battle has been fought.
 He recalled the fact that four wears ago, when the Germans were at the Marne. they were driven back quite as precipltately as they were this time, and yet four years later the work had all to be done over again.
 Situation Is Hopeful.
 It 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 be let-up until there is a complete Allied victory, whether the Hun is twice or dozen times at the Marne before that end is reached
 don't believe he can come thae ]. T agaln. But it will not do to feel for moment that he is weakening"
 Senator New believes the war will pe~won on the western front. He be- l1eves it is 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 21 the Ger mans took more than 100,0 prisoners and 1000 guns. and that it 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 a successful finish of the thing. The German army can and will fight for long time on the defense. If it should be defeated soon- CT than We expect, so much the bet ter"