The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-10-18


with the French at Laueon. East of
1 the Meuse also the Americans were
/ going forward, and, at the time of
writing, these movements, as we'll as
those all along the line, were still pro-
I crossing.
| These operations in France were
4 steadily crushing the great German
| salient whose apex was near Laon,
| and the French were maintaining a
continuous pressure on both sides of
that city. They also were compelling
the further retirement of the Huns
1 who still remained south of the Aisne
between Neufchatel and Vouzieres.
| The American air service on the
front of the First army clearly dem
| onstrated its superiority during the
week. Huge aggregations of bombing
planes continually flew over the en-
envy front lines, communications, back
areas and troop concentrations, doing
| incalculable damage, while the pur-
suit planes kept the air clear of Hun
| machines.
IA
| The Serbian army kept up the unre-
hitting pursuit of the Austrians in
| Serbia as the Bulgarians Withdrew
| from that country, or surrendered, ac-
cording to their agreement Before
the end of the week the Serbs were
quite close to Nish and moving ahead
steadily. To their west, in Albania,
the allied troops made considerable
| progress. The Italians took Elbassan
after crushing determined resistance
by the Austrians. and then continued
their advance northward.
Ia
The occupation of Beirut by French
marines only accentuated the troubles
of Turkey. The cabinet resigned, af-
/ ter peace note was said to have been
/ started on its way to President Will
son, and Tewfik Pasha, it was report
ed, would be the new grand vizier. His
/ sympathies are rather with the allies
and there is little doubt the sultan
himself would be mighty glad to get
out of the war on the best terms OBJ
tainable. London was convinced Tur-
key had notified Germany 1t intended
to make peace and that the kaiser
tried to stave this off by the proposal
of the chancellor.
Ia
Austria-Hungary was in a condition
almost of panic and was nervously
awaiting the outcome of Prince Max's
effort. Reports from Vienna said the
ministerial council had decided to in
troduce national autonomy sin order
to make President Wilson'S stipulation
ar accomplished fact" Among the
reople of the empire the movement to
proclaim the separation of Hungary
ana Austria was making great head
way. Meanwhile the Bohemian lead
ers We're comforting and preparing to
declare the independence of their
! country and its separation from Aus
tria-Hungary, and, knowing the dan
gers of such action, made their Wills
and settled their personal affairs.
Ia
Boris, who has succeeded to the
throne of Bulgaria on the abdication
of his father. Ferdinand. adheres to
the terms of the surrender made by
his armies. and has ordered Germany
and Austria to quit his country with
in month. Already the rail connec-
ton between Vienna and Constantine
pie seems to be effeetually broken.
Ia
Three more victories by the muir
derous German U-boats are to be re-
corded. The Irish mail boat Leinster.
the Japanese liner Hirano and the
American cargo steamship Ticonderoga
were torpedoed The total loss of life
was estimated al more than 900. In
the case of the Ticonderoga about 230
were killed, most of them by shrapnel
fire after the boat had ceased to resist
Ia
One painful result of the German
peace offensive was the decided slow
ing up Of the campaign for the fourth
Liberty loan. Presumably because
many short-sighted people thought
peace was at hand and the money
would not he needed, subscriptions TO
the S6,0O0O00,000 loan We're distress
ingiy slow in coming in. All the agen-
cies engaged in the campaign re-
doubled their efforts and the American
public was loudly warned that the
Hun peace talk must be disregarded
and the money must be raised. Uncle |
Sam needs those six billions and he
win get them, and he will need and |
win get much more, in all probability, |
before peace is declared and the arm
les are disbanded. If the people re-
fuse to lend the government all the |
money it needs. at good rate ot in. |
terest it has other ways of getting |
funds. and 1t win adopt them.