The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-08
What A SAD BLOW
Nation Awakes TO Find Cele-
bratfon All in Vain.
Millions of Americans in Call
for Ice Water!
COUNTRY IN WILD 6ELlR|UM
Not Until Morning Did Demon.
stratiOn Cease.
Crowds Paraded, Stores Closed,
Whistles Screeched.

New York, Nov s.-Milliens of
had been hoaxed into celebrating the
end of the war , by publication of
the United Press dispatches declar-
ing the armistice signed and fighting
ended. Twenty-four-. hours have
passed since the country was thrown
into a delirium by these reports, which
declared the armistice had been signed
at II o'plock yesterday morning and
that fighting had ceased at 2 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon. Each hour brings
added official evidenct that the re-
ports were false and the .Aperican,
people were fooled. Not only have
official communications from France
to the state department at Washington
denounced the reports untrue, but
the official statements of the French
and British war offices show the fight
ing still going on.
Far from signing an armistice at
IL o'clock yesterday morning, the
German delegates did not cross the
allied line until last night. This is
recorded in Associated Press dis
patches filed in Paris at A.: 80 o'clock
this morning. The German delegates
were to be conducted early today to
the meeting place. which is four hours
journey from La Capelle, the place
where they crossed into the allied
lines.
Fighting. instead of having ended at
o'clock yesterday afternoon, was
still going on last night Furthermore,
Marshal Haigs communique this
morning reports an advance along the
active battle front with villages and
prisoners captured.
Hours after the fighting was falsely
reported stopped. the American troops
were smashing their way forward on
the Sedan front, and the only point
in the whole battle line where the
firing seemed to have stopped was at
a point where it was necessary to let
the German commissioners pass thru.
End of War Near.
T Another Associated Press dispatch
from Paris this morning records the
official report Of the French war Of
flee that French troops have reached
the railway junction of Liart, twenty
miles north of Rethel. No one can
say what will come of the meeting of
the armistfce commissioners today.
No one doubts that the end of the
war is in sight, that an armistfce will
be signed and that the fighting will
end when terms of peace are made
But the fact is established by official
record that no arrnistice was asigned
at II a. m. yesterday and fighting did
not end at 2 p. m. yesterday.
The Associated Press Gid not receive
or distribute any of the dispatches
which misled the American people
into celebrating the greatest hoax of
recent years. On the other hand, by
investigation thru official channels,
the Associated Press was able to ex-
pose it. News dispatches from Asso-
ciated Press correspondents in Europe
were coming thru the censorship free
ly today as usual and their chara cter
demonstrated that there was no
sharper censorship of contents than
usual The dispatches told of -ad-
vances on the Sedan front today. with
captures of villages and prisoners. and
also details of the movements of the
armistics commissioners.
Call for Wet Towel.
Chicago. Nov. S.-Cbieago this
morning called for ice water for its
parched throat and wet towel for
its head and DULY began taking stock
of the results of the great peace fake
of yesterday. Streets covered with
sodden paper, draggled decorations
and battered instruments of noise
greeted the workers in the downtown
| district. Signs bearing the inforrna-
/ ton, "Closed in order to celebrate. To
hell with the KAISER" were sadly TAX
en- down; flags were rolled up and
! white wings" dejecte lily began re-
! moving the debris of a premature
, celebration.
"A rotten joke" was the average
| comment heard.
! Chicago, Nov. S.-Until long after
midnight this morning crowds con-
tinued about the streets in celebrat ton
of the report of the wars end which
! flashed over the country yesterday
! The hysteria which seized men and
women shortly after the report had
spread over the city, the intensity OF
which rain failed to check. had waned
however. Police reserves kept on duty
I during the night were released. the
4. regular details being deemed sufficien,
! to deal with those who persisted in
celebrating.
The wild demonstration over the re-
ported end of the war began about
noon yesterday.
All the mounted reserves were or
dered on duty and as an adjunct te
these Thomas A. Gum, head of the
advice of John H. Alcock, acting chic
of police. notified his $4,000 operative:
to report to police captains of theil
districts for orders in case Of need.
! Wild With Joy.
Washington. Nov. S.-Amerfca wen
wild yesterday and last night-wilt
with joy.
= Frenzied demonstrations of 10.
which could not be restrained fbl
hours. oecasioned by publication of re
ports that Germany had SURRENDERED
to the allies. turned Washington int,
panden1onium Thursday. demoraliz.n,
government departments, whose EN-
p1oyes rushed from their work to joil
the wild celebration and completel
blocking progress of commerce in tn
streets. -
Scenes. such as theocapital of tn
United States had never before wit
messed. sbegan early in the afternoon
Immediately after the Washington
Tines appeared with extra edition
containing cable dispatch from Lon