The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-08
HENRY B. WILSON
| SAYS THAT TALE
CAME FROM HIM
Rear Admiral Says He Told
United Press Story.
Gave Out Statement on Peace
and Armistice.
Information LOOKED OFFICIAL
And Commander of Naval
Forces. Gave 1t Out.
Caused a Monster Celebration
All Over Country.
INFORMATION LOOKED OFFICIAL

Brest, France, Nov. S.-Rear Ad-
miral Henry B. Wilson, U. S. N, COM
mander of the American forces in
French waters. today made the follow
ing statement for the information of
United Press editors:
1.-The statement of the United Press
relative to the signing of the armi-
stice was made public from my office
on the basis of what appeared to be
official and authoritative informal
ton.
Il am in a position to know that the
United Press and it's representatives
acted in perfectfsoo faith and that
the premature announcement was the
result of an error for which the
agency was in no wise responsible"
(By the sJn'ted Press.)
New York, Noy. Yesterdays ali
nouncement of the signing. of the
| armistice between Germany and the
allies was made by Admiral Wilson at
Brest and was filed to the United
Press with the admiraPs approval.
4 This information was received By
| the United Press in cablegram from
Roy w. Howard shortly before noon
| today. -r =
Practically at the same time. an
olhST U1eSSdSS ITOIn f1OWdTQ was de.
! livered to the United Press that Ad-
miral Wilson made the announcement
| In Brest at p. M, French time, but
that later he was notified that it was
not confirmable. This latter message
filed by Howard did not show, in the
form in which it was delivered, wheth-
! er 1t was sent yesterday or how long
it had been held up.
.Howard's cablegram clearly showed
| that Admiral Wilson acted in good
faith. Stating that he supposed the an
| nouncement was official and there
| fore gave his approval to the filing of
the message to the United Press in
New York.
The United Press today asked the
government TO ascertain how long
Howard's message stating that Admir-
al Wilson authorized the announce
ment and also that he later was noti-
| fled that it was uncomfortable, were
held up by the censors.
| Ihere WAS reason to believe that the
| message stating that the news was
1 uncomfortable was badly delayed in
view of the fact that it was not re-
ce1ved here until almost twenty -four
4 hours after the original cablegram.
The messages received today from
| Howard were as follows:
"Unipress, New York:
| Parls-Urgent. Brest Admiral Will
son, .whosdpnounced Brest newspaper
"
later notified uncomfortable mean
while Brest riotously celebrating
Howard. >
Simms."
The other message read:
"Unipress, New York:
Brest-urgent, armistice bulletin
Daseo local announced announcement
by Admiral Wilson admiral supposine
oIhclai was fled with admiraFs ap-
proval local newspaper bulletined
Brest celebrated nightlong
Howard"
1t will be noted that the first mes.
sage quoted was signed by the ma ames
OF Doth Howard and Simms and was
Iiled nru the Paris office in the sa me
| Iorm as the message received yester.
| oay. IN every way this first quoted
message indicates that it was probab:
filed very quickly after the Original
bulletin. e1i'o
The second quoted message. how.
ever; shows clearly by the reference
, 10 the fact that Brest celebrated
nIghtiong' that twas filed today. 1,
also shows that it was sent direct from
Brest and Is signed only by Howard
not bearing Simms's name This mes.
sage clearly indicates that Howard i.
Gn Brest, altho these two messages anf
those received yesterday are the onI,
/ United Press has received from him
this week -
5 n5y the United Press)
New York. Nov. Sin view of tn,
British and French official statement,
l today. showing continued fighting o,
the western front. the United Pres
E issued the following statement finn
= its general offices here:
2 Our cable received from Paris a
noon Thursday signe@ by Roy W
Howard. president of the United Press
and William Philip Ssmms. ma: age
OF the Paris bureau. reporting t.
, signing by the allies and Oermarv q
armistfce. was written in pIail
English and not susceptible to an
1 possible misconstruction. as receive,
e / in this office
r No censors coulL have had an,
e doubt as to its plain meaning =
Z AFTER the receipt of the secou,
S message. reporting the celebrafion 4
s est. We have received no farfhe
| word whatever from Mr.. Howahd 8
Mr.. Simms. altho MESA ges were dis
s patched to them as -rIy as n
: yesterday. Following is the 9xae
Il