Morale by Murray Leinster — Read

". The only weak spot in the Wabbly's design, / apparently, was the necessity of using its entire / engine-power in the power-beam with which it protected / itself and its attendant bombers from aerial attack. / For a time, before New Brunswick, it was forced to / remain still, under fire, while it fought off and / destroyed an attacking fleet eight miles above it. With / sufficiently powerful artillery, it might have been / destroyed at that moment. But it was invulnerable to / the artillery available. Deliberately false / statements were broadcast to reassure the public, but / the public was already skeptical, as it later became / incredulous, of official reports of victories. The / destruction of New Brunswick became known despite / official denials, and colossal riots broke out among / the inhabitants of the larger cities, intent upon / escape from defenseless towns. Orders were actually / issued withdrawing a quarter of a million men from the / front-line reserve, with artillery in proportion to / their force. " (_Strategic Lessons of the War of / 1941-43._ -- U. S. War College. P. 92.)

The major-general left them at the town, now quite still and silent. Sergeant Walpole said detachedly: