New-York tribune., 1918-11-09
us. Admiral Takes
Responsibility for
Arnistice r Report
H. B. Wilson, Commander
in French Waters, Exon
crates United Press

crates United FreSS
The United Press Association, which
sent out the report Thursday that set
the United States and many other
parts of the world celebrating peace
that did not exist, yesterday explained
how the mistake happened.
The United Press stated that the re-
port that Germany had signed the
armistice was given out at Brest,
France, by Admiral Henry B. Wilson,
commander of the American naval
forces in French waters. The news
association added that Admiral Wilson
had assumed responsibility for the re-
port, which at the time he considered
authoritative.
Admiral Wilson's Explanation
The United Press gave out the fol
lowing cable from Admiral Wilson:
"Brest, France, Nov. S.-Admiral
Wilson, U. S. n, commander of the
American forces in French waters, to-
day made the following statement for
the information Of United Press ed
itors:
"'Thc statement Of The United
Press relative to the signing of the
armistice was made public from my
Office on the basis Of what appeared tc
be official and authoritative informa-
ton.
az am in position to know tina,
The United Press and its representa-
tive acted in perfect good faith. and
that the premature announcement was
the result Of an error, for which the
agency was in no wise responsible.'
The United Press said that its presi-
dent, Roy W. Howard obtained the re-
port from Admiral Wilson and dis
patched the short cable that sent New
York and the rest Of the nation cele-
brating the biggest day in recent his
tory. Shortly after Mr. Howard filed
the cable it was seen that the facts
could not be confirmed, and Mr.. Howard
dispatched another message saying Ad-
miral Wilson had not confirmed the
, news. The United Press has asked the
government to ascertain why the sec
ond cable was delayed.
Based OH Brcst Report
The explanation of The United Press
+ follows:
yesterdays announcement Of the
signing of the armistice between Ger
many ard the Allies was made by Ad-
miral Wilson at Brest and was filed
to The United Press with the admiral s
approval. This information was re-
ceived by The United Press in cable
gram from Roy ". Howard shortly
before noon.
"Practically at the same time an.
other message from Ii oward was de.
liyered to The United Press, stating
that Admiral Wilson rade the an
nouncement in Brest at 4 r. m. French
time, but that later he was rotiied that
it was not contirmable. i his latter
in the form in which it was deliver red
whether it was sent Thursday or boy
long it had been held up.
Acted in Good Faith
"Howard's cablegram clearly showed
that Admiral Wilson acted in goot
faith, stating that he supposed the an
gave his approval to the filing of the
message to The United Press in New
York
The United Press has asked the gov
ernment to ascertain how long How
ards message stating that Admiral Viii
son authorized the announcement, AM
also that he later was notified that i
was uncomfortable, We're held up by tn
censors.
There was reason to believe that tn
message stating that the news was un
confirmable was badly delayed in viev
OF the fact that it was not receive
here until almost twenty-four hour
after the original cablegram. The late
messages received yeste rdav from How
! ard were as follows:
Lapse Between Cables
"'unipress, New York.
!" 'Paris-Urgent Brest Admiral vii
son who announced Brest newspape
1900 "a P. NJ armistice been gigne
later notified uncomfortable mean
while Brest riotously celebrating.
"'HOWARD-SIMMS.
"The other message read:
"'Unipress, New York
'Brest-Urgent armistice bullet
based local announced (announce
supposing Official was filed with Ad
mirals approval local newspaper bul
letlned Brest celebrated nightlong.
"HOWARD.'
'It will be noted that the first mes
sage quoted was signed by the name
OF both Howard and Simms and wa
filed through the Paris Office in tn
same form as the first message re
celved Thursday. In every way thi
first quoted message indicates that i
was probably filed very quickly aste
the original bulletin.
The second quoted message, how
ever. shows clearly by the referenc
to the fact that Brest celebrate
'nlghtlong' that it was filed yesterday
1t also shows that it was sent direc
from Brest and is signed only by How
ard. not bearing Smms's name Thi
message clearly indicates that Howar
is in Brest. although these two mes
sages and those received Thursday ar
the only cables which the home offic
of The United Press has received fror
him this week"