Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-10-10

! Washington oct. 9.--Germany's
I plea for an armistice is founded both
! American ana allied military officials
/ mere believe, upon recognition in Ber-
lin of the fact that the German army
organization in France Is slowly dis
I integrating 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
| ions military disaster and they would
not be surprised IL President Wilson's
| condition that there can be no talk
of an armistice except when coupled
with agreement to withdraw immedi-
ately from all Invaded territory were
promptly accepted.
/. The answer 10 such a move, IL was
suggested today, would be to leave
Mashal lfoch the dictation of the
| terms of the armistice should the
situation ever reach the stage as the
supreme commander can be trusted
TO see that no military advantage to
the enemy resulted In the meantime
/ Marshal Foch hour hv hour is sur
rounding the German forces with new
perils as his strategic conceptions arc
developed
German Power Is Waning.
! Evidence of the waning res sting
power of the German forces in France
was plainly seen by observers here In
the sweep forward Of the Anglo
American forces north of st. Quentin
Apparently there has been no mater
ial lowering Of the fighting quality
Of the enemy soldiers but there IL
every evidence that the complex mill
itarv organization upon which defense
nf the long battle front depends Is
breaking under the strain. Signs of
confusion have been noted repeatedly.
Worn out divisions have been calleu
unon TO check the assault of fresh
allied troops and have been cut to
pieces
These are signs only, for the enemy
front still offers grim obstacle to
the advancing armies and the bat
tie Is growing daily in fury instead
of lessening. But the signs are there
They mean vital weakness at the
heart of the great machine the alb
solute lack of the men ami war
equipment TO meet the combined as
sault indefinitely.
In the line between Verdun and
the sea two salients are developing.
The first has its apex along the La
on front where the enemy still
clings to St Gobain forest and part
of the Chemin Des Danes ridge. The
second has its greatest depth before
Lens. Between these two pockets the
Anglo American drive, supplemented
by the French advance east of ST
Quentin, has thrust blunt wedge
which not only has engulfed Cam
brai, but has torn it's way through
the whole Hjndenburg defense zone
into open country beyond.
Douai Salient Menaeed.
On the north, the British force /
pressing in on Lille from the west |
and north forms the northern Jaw of |
a possible piRcer movement against !
the whole Douai salient The Germans |
began a retirement on the Lens-Ar- |
mentieres front some time ago which !
they have checked. fearing probably |
the development of their Douai front |
unless that also could be relieved !
simultaneously The capture of Cam |
brai now threatens this front from |
the south as well and it is believed |
here that ~ cnemy must move inn |
mediately out OF the whole Lille |
Douai region.
The situation looks to be even /
more critical on the Laon front. From
the north the British break through
almost certainly win give the allies
command of the 0ise valley In
matter of hours with open GROUND
before them in a movement south
eastward on I.aon itself. TO the south
east the French troops under General |
Gouraud already are across the Aisne
and are turning the enemy's position
on the Suippe still farther east with
the American second division aiding.
The Suippe line offers little hope
of prolonged resistance as 1t is sup
ported by few strong hill positions
and the occupation of the Aisne val
ley IN the near future seems GER
tainty, That would leave the enemy