Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-10
.FOCH IS TEARING UP
WAR MACHINE OF FOE
Encmy's Peace Move Believed TO BE
Based On Recognition Of Disaster
TO Forces at Battle Front.

WASHINGTON. oct. 0. -- Ger
many's plea for an armistice Is
founded, both American and allied
military officers here believe, upon
recognition IN Berlin Of the fact
that the German army organization
in France is slowly disintegrating
under the terrific campaign Of Mar
shal Foch.
These officers regard the move OF
tho German chancellor as a desper-
ate eleventh hour effort 10 escape
serious military disaster and they
puld not be surprised II President
Wilson's condition that there can he
no talk Of an armisticc except when
coupled with agreement TO withdraw
Immediately from all invaded terri
tory were promptly accepted.
The answer to such a move, II was
. suggested today would be to leave
I 10 Marshal Foch the dictation Of
tho terms NJ the armistice should
the situation ever reach that stage
~ the supreme commander can be
trusted Ia soc that no military ad-
vantage 10 the enemy resulted. In
the meantime. Marshal Foch, hour
by hour, is surrounding the German
forces with new perils as his stratc-
gic conceptions are developed.
Hun Power Wancs.
Evidence OF the waning resisting
power OF the German forces in
France was plainly seen by observ-
ers here in the sweep forward Of the
Anglo American forces north Of st.
Quentin. Apparently there has been
no material lowering OF tho fighting
quality Of the enemy soldiers, but
there Is every evidence that the
complex military organization upon
which defense Of the long battle
front depends, is breaking under the
strain. Signs Of confusion have
been noted repeatedly. Worn-out
divisions have been called upon 10
check the assault Of fresh allied
troops and have been cut to pieces.
These are signs only, for the en-
cmy front still offers n grim obstacle
to the advancing armies and the
battle is growing daily in fury in
stead Of lessening. But the signs
are there. They mean vital weak
ness Mt the heart Of the great ma
chine; the absolute lack of the men
and war equipment to meet the COM
bined assaults Indefinitely.
Two Salicnts Develop.
In the line between Nerdun and
the sea. two salients are developing
Tho first has It's apex along the
LaOn front where the enemy still
clinEs to ST. Gobain forest and part
OF the Chemin des Danes ridge. The
l.. Ia L
Lens Between these two pockets,
the Anglo American drive. supple
mented by the French advance east
Of 81, Quentin, has thrust blunt
wedge which not only has engulfed
Camhrai but has torn its way
through the whole HindenburC de-
fensc zone into open country be-
yQnB II can strike either north or
south as needed to squeeze the
pocket on either side or can be car
ried ahead to smash through vital
communication lines. On the north
the British force pressing in on Lille
from the west and north forms the
Jaws OF n possible pinCer movement
against the whole Douai salient The
Germans began retirement on the
Lens-ArmentiPrcs front some time
49, " AhlNlA NHNN llhNN 'll''Nths ltdl
ing probably the development Of
their Douai front unless that also
could he relieved simultaneously |
The capture or Cambria now threat |
ens this front from the south as wei |
and II is believed here tklt the en-
emy must move Immediately out OF |
the whole Lille -Douai region.
IaOn Front Critical.
Ths situation looks to be even |
more critical on the Laon front. |
From the north. the British break |
through almost certainly will give
the allies command of the Disc val |
ley i'm a short time with open ground |
before them in movement south |
west toward Laon itself. To tho |
southeast the French troops under |
General Gouraud already are across !,
the Aisne and are turning the enemy
positions on tho Suippe farther east |
with the American second division |
aiding.
Tho Suippc line offers little hope !
OF prolonged resistance, as IL is sup.
ported by few strong hin positions
and tho occupation OF the Aisne val
ley in tho near future seems a GER /
tainty, That would leave the enemy /
along the front in 81. Gohain forest |
and the heights TO tho southeast in |
a difficult position between the Disc |
and Aisnc lines
Encircling both these pincer
movements. stands that great trap
Tipped on the Meuse Jaw by the !
American first army and in Belgium
by the Franco-Belgian push that has
reached Roulers and caused the |
enemy to prepare for early cvacua- /
ton Of the Flanders coast. At both |
eXtrcmities OF this line there arc .
strong indications that new blows |
are about to he struck
1t has been reported officially that
an entire French army has been
moved to Belgium to supplement the
Franco Belgian effort three. Officers
here have noted that recent reports
have made no mention Of this army !
and are inclined to believe that a |
new drive in Belgium is to be ex- ,
pected at any moment
IN hA nthar