Arizona republican., 1918-10-10
MARSHAL F0CH
 WILL COMMAND |. EVACUATION +
 THERE $ TRUCE
Waning Power of Germans
 Apparent-New Salients
 D Develop-Laon Front ill Grave State-New Drive
Republican A. P. Leased Wire1

Republican A. P. Leased Wire1
 WASHINGTON. Oct 9.-German's plea for an armstice is founded. both American and allied military officials hefe believe, upon recognition in Ser I'm of the fact that the German army organization in France is slowly dis lntegraung under the terrific cam paign of Marshal Foch
 These officers regard the move of the German chancellor as a desperate eleVenth-hour attempt to escape ser lous military disaster and they would not be surprised if President Wilson's condition that there can be no talk of an armistice except when coupled with agreement 10 withdraw imme- diately from all invaded territory were promptly accepted.
 The answer to such a move. it was suggested today would be to leave Marshal Foch the dictation of the terms of the armistice, should the sit nation ever reach that stage. as the supreme commander can be trusted tu see that no military advantage to the enemy resulted. In the meanwhile Marshal Foch. hour by hour. is sur rounding the German forces with new perils as his strategic conceptions are developed
 Germans Waning Believed. Evidence of the waning resisting power of the German forces in France was plainly seen by observers here in the sweep forward of the An glo-American forces north of St. Quentin. Apparently there has been no material lowering of the fighting quality of the enemy soldiers but there is every evidence that the con- pleX military organization upon which defense of the long battle front de- bends, is breaking under the strain ! Signs of confusion have been noted repeatedly. Worn out divisions have ! been called upon to check the assault 1 of fresh allied troops and have been cut to pieces.
 i These are signs only, for the enemy | front still offers a grim obstacle 10 the 1 advancing armies and the battle is growing daily in fury instead of les sening. But the signs are there. The, | mean a vital weakness at the heart Of
 the great machine: the absolute lack
 of the men and war equipment to
 meet the combined assault indfinitely Two SaIients Developing.
 In the line between Verdun and the
 sea, two salients are developing. Tho first has it's apex along the Laon
 front, where the enemy still clings to
 St. Goban forest and part of the
 Chemin des Danes ridge. The second
 has it's greatest depth before Lens.
 Between these two pockets the An
 lo-American drive, supplemented by
 the French advance east of St. Quen-
 tin. has thrust a blunt wedge which
 not only has englufed Cambrai. but has torn it's way through the whole Hindenburg defense zone into oper country beyond.
 On the north the British forces : pressing in on Lille from the west and north forms the northern jaw of a possible pincer movement against The l, whole Douai salient The Germans be ! gan retirement on the Lens -Armen tieres front some time ago which they
 have checked. fearing probably the en- velopment of their Douai front unles, that also could be relieved simultanc
 ously. The capture of Cambrai now threatenS this front from the south a, I well, and it is believed here that tho enemy must move immedia tely out o the whole Lille-Douai region. I laon Front Is Critical The situation looks to be even mors . critical on the Laon front. From th' U north the British break-through almos certainly will give the allies commanc Il of the Disc valley in a matter of hours with open ground before them in movement southeastward on Laon it
 self. To the southeast the French
 troops under General Gouraud alread,
 are across the Aisne and are turnins U the enemy's position on the Suippe stil farther east with the American secon,
 division aiding.
 The Suippe line offers little hope 0
 prolonged resistance as it is supportec
 by few strong hill positions and tn
 occupation of the Aisne valley in tn,
 near future seems a certainty. Tha
 would leave the enemy along the iron | in St. Gobain forest and the height! to the southeast, in a difficult position 1 between the Disc and Aisne lines. Plan New Belgian Drive
 Encircling both these pncer move
 ments. stands that great trap tipped o1 n the Mouse jaw by the American frs s army and in Belgium by the Franco = Belgian push, that has reached Rouler Il and caused the enemy to prepare fo T. early evacuation of the Flanders coast o At both extremeties of this line ther e are strong indications that new blow Il are about 10 be struck.
 e It has been reported unofficially tha
 (Continued on Page Two) s -O----