New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-10-11
|LAON DOOMED
BY P0|LU BLOW
BERRY-AU.BAc FALLS AND Ora
oNNE IS TOTTERiNG-FRENcH
DRIVE TURKS FROM BEIRUT.
BRITISH GAIN At O0UAI
AMERICANA IN CHAMPAGNE
FORCE FOE NoRTHWARD De.
SPITE STRONG RESISTANCE.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington, Oct. 8.-President VII
son will reject the Teutonic plea for a
compromise peace and he will do SO
as spokesman not only of the United
States, but of all the other nations
fighting the central powers. AS the
result of exchanges of opinion be-
tween the President and the heads of
the allied governments O in pro-
gress, Germany will be informed.
1t is believed, that peace can be
obtained only by unconditional sur
render, and that an armistice can be
granted only upon the basis of the
evacuation Of Belgium, France and all
other invaded territory.
The troops of French General Ber-
thelot have delivered a successful
blow against the Germans northwest
of Rheims, which adds materially to
the menace that is hanging over the
German front from the North sea to
the Swiss border. This was the cap
ture of Berry-Au-Sac on the north side
of the Aisne, about ten and a half
miles northwest of Rheims and only
a scant five miles from the eastern
end of the famous Chemin des Danes
ridge at Craonne. A further advance
northward across the railroad not
alone will put the great stronghold OF
Laon in a pocket, but also will out
flank Neufchatel, another enemy
stronghold in the west.
The Turks also have suffered a Sc
rious blow in the loss to the French
of Beirut, capital of the Vilayet, Syria.
The occupation of this seaport on the
Mediterranean by a French naval divi-
sion gives the allies a base for the
landing of men who can operate in all
directions against the Turks over the
roads radiating from it.
Although peace talk still is in the
air, there is no peace for the German
and AustrO-Hungarian armies in the
field.
Marshal Foch's armies are proceed
ing without pause in their task of
clearing Belgium and France of the
invader, and they are continuing to
meet with great successes.
Likewise, in Serbia and Albania the
Serbs and Italians are fast reclaim
ing enemy occupied territory, while, at
reports, the British General Al
lenby in Palestine still was hard after
retreating Turks.
While further good gains have been
made by the British east of Arras,
where the operations have in view the
capture of the highly important town
Of Douai, and other advances have
been recorded between Cambria and
Quentin, chief interest for the pres
centers in the fighting in Cham
n between the Argonne for
est and the Mouse, while the French
and Americans are driving the enemy
steadily %northward, despite great re-
'istance on positions of strategic
,alue.
In the latest fighting the Americans
Rove the Germans out of Chatel Che
lery, northwest of Apremont, and OBJ
aimed command of the heights west
VI the Aire. The latest German Off
communication reports that tho,
Americans Monday evening began a
lew attack in this region.
Taken altogether, the entire south.
IN front of the Germans seems to be
n a rather serious situation from La
'ere to the north of Verdun. Laon.
he great s%torehOuse of the Germans
.lortheastof scissors, is reported to
on fire, indicating the possibility
t an early falling back; the Chemin
es Danes defenses are outflanked at
9th ends; Rheims has been restored
nd the Germans pushed back more
han ten miles north of it, while east
'ard General Gouraud's armies and
he American First army are brilliant
Y carrying out their part of the great
onverging movement that seemingly
t no far distant date will force the
nemy materially to %readjust his line.
A further indication of the troublous
in the German army is the re-
ort that Field Marshal Won linden
urg has resigned after a stormy in
erview with Emperor William during
'hich Won Hindenburg informed the
that a German retreat on a
lrge scale was necessary.
Paris, Oct. 5.-King Ferdinand of
is reported to have abdicated
/ favor of Crown Prince Boris, who
as already assumed power, according
, a Basel dispatch to the Havas
gency quoting advices from Vienna.