Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1917 — ALL GUESSES ARE OFF. [ARTICLE]

ALL GUESSES ARE OFF.

The Kitchener estimate on the length of the war is up with the war still going and entering indeed- upon another. phase, in which the new-found strength of Germany has yet to be tested. This should induce some refiections upon our part as the latest participant. We saw the German military leaders completely deceived in the estimate they had made both as to the length of the war. the participants in it and its demands upon German resources. . They thought a six weeks’ campaign would bring the end in sight, with Paris in their hands and Russia not yet started. They thought the money cost was all provided for in the war chest and that no loans would be necessary. They thought that England would stay out, that Italy would stay out and that America would stay out. They thought many other things that were illusory, and so also did British and French statesmen. The war, in fact- got away from all those who imagined they had a hand on the reins and has been runnihg wild ever since. This country can have no excuse for making guesses as poor. " We can hope and believe, if we can. that the war is on its last legs, but we must prepare for our part in it as if we thought it could%rov new legs as fast as it loses its old ones.' We must prepare for it as though it was h brand new war. as it is for us. A good way is not to guess at all, but to get ready to go through with it to the end and count the time afterward.—-Kansas City Star.