I realize that it is conventional wisdom that it was prediction. . But read Orwell on Burnham.
I read it(not the first time), but I didn’t see anything different. Orwell’s mainly playing the part here of the critic.
Could you be specific of what you’re trying to say?
BTW a “warning” and a “prediction” really are the same thing. “Bad things will happen if...... “ is a prediction, a dire prediction.