Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-06-14
Friday, June ID, 1918.
Don't Get Panicky!

my fdNOrlte out -Stdte paper 'ha :
sends the shivers down my spine" he
said. Il have followed this mans
writings for years and have received
comfort and encouragement from
them, many times when news re-
ports from Europe looked dark for
our side. He gave explanations and
interpretations of the dispatches that
dispelled the clouds and gave US
Elimpses of the rose that still blooms
beyond the wall. OF late he has left
us to struggle along alone with the
depressing cable messages-and now
he has asked us to stop coddling our
hopes and bravely confront the worst
possibilities.
Now | want to know if the news
papers have inside information and
have begun preparing us for the
worst. | want tc know if this edi-
torial writer has been driven from his
position Of confidence, and determi-
nation to inspire confidence and
maintain the courage and hope of his
readers by the desperate drives and
do some of those in high places wish
TO scare the. American people into
greater effofts and more ready re-
Spouse to government suggestion?'
There could be no question as to
the depressed condition of our Wis
itor's mind. He was blue as a
milestone" The props that had
steadied his courage had been
knocked away. The stream from
which he had slipped strength had
run dry.
What should we say to him =?
What could we say? Well, there are
others in the same stage of funk and
so here, in substance, is the way we
answered him:
Cheer UP. neighbor; courage and
confidence over here will not make
are facing the facts" every hour.
Let us be ready for the worst, but
not face the division Of glooms until
we can see the whites of their eyes.
Indeed the reports of sledge- ham
mer blows by the enemy that is
pounding the allied forces back, mile
after mile. are not reassuring, nor
should they be cause for grave mis-
givings. If we accept the daily
claims of the allies splendid re-
serve force is being "husbanded with
the most extreme parsimony," as Gen.
Foch has laid down as the law and
gospel of wise and safe generalship.
If we lose faith in the existence of
such reserves. then we have shat
tered all hope of victory this year,
and opened way to the fear of the
fall Of Paris
But thus far we have had no rea
son to doubt the existence of a great.
powerful and equipped to the min
ute army that as yet has had no part
in staying the onrush of Teutons
Up to this time we have had nc
cause to distrust the strategy or the
confidence of Gen. Foch.
1t is true that Gen. och has said
that victory must be achieved by an
offensive" at the same time he is on
the third month of defensive war
fare. But, on the other hand, he has
promised that when the proper time
arrives he will strike. and strike in
full confidence of bringing the war to
an end.
1t would seem that the time was
rapidly approaching when the allied
reserves must strike to save France
from disaster, and Gen. Foch may be
forced to attack before he is ready,
but so far as we are concerned we
propose to hang to the conviction
(and the comfort that Foch knows
what ne is about. and that his policy
of giving French territory for dead
Germans is reducing the Teuton eff
fectives. while American fighters are
arriving in thousands.
1t is not too late for an overwhelm-
ing counter offensive this year-if
Foch can get the men and munitions.
1t Is not wise proceeding for the
American people to begin counting
the cost of German victory that is
yet unmatched.
There can be no question as to the
wisdom Of stecling ourselves for bad
news. and of speeding up our exer-
lions to reach the front with all pos
sible energy-but, let Us keep our
heads on, and our common sense on
tap.
In the first place, what do you
think has become of all the forces
with which the allies have been hold
ing off the Kaiser's hordes for near
ly four years? And if the United
States now has three quarters of a
million mon in Eropoo ,,.hor~ -.