Norwich bulletin., 1918-11-08

fn. German armlStlce enNOSs Hdu dI- preached the French lines and were due co arrive for their meeting with Marshal Foch between and lO o'clock tonight, Paris time.
 The statement was authorized at the state department that no information had been received of the signing of l-mistice terms. or even of the actual arrival Of the Germans within the French lines The state department authorized from time to time during the evening relterations of an official denial issued bv Secretary Lansing at 215 D. m. Of inc false report Of the signing of an srnistice which had thrown Washing. ton with other cities of the country into an uproaTious premature peace celebration. Official despatches added nothing to information received dur ing the day announcing that the Ger man representatives were approaching fhe western front.
 Nr. LansinEs statement supported by a similar one from Secretary Baker and displayed on newspaper bulletin boards failed Co check the wildly en- thusiastic demonstration which started when an afternoon paper appeared on The street with the false story spread across the first page in black type. The report spread over the city by word of mouth and telephone, and soon bells were ringing. whistles were blow ing and the streets were thronged with people.
 For a time the citizens committee which had planned demonstrations in anticipation of peace within a few days held their balance and announced their determination to await an official announcement. But excitement on the #. kr==H fiu bled before the White House and gov crnment departments and soon the committees were as wild as anybody else and the demonstration was under way. Floats and banners paraded on Pennsylvania avenue and other broad thoroughfares, bands played and ban nors were hoisted.
 Before the White House a cheering mob surged before the gates calling for Wilson" The president left the lunch table 10 see what it was all about and his appearance on the veranda was the signal for an outburst that made the yelling of a minute before seem tame. In response to shouts the president waved his napkin and smiled b he quickly disappeared within the White House doors, apparently real iZing that his presence was lending weight to a report of a momentous happening of which the government had no confirmation.
 This was before Secretary Lansing S first statement had appeared Nearly two hours before-at II a. m.-Mr. Lansing upon learning that the ca ble censors had reported on an unofficial despatch saying the armistice was signed, had put cablegram through on the state departments special wire 10 Paris asking for a statement of the facts. Just at 2.O4 o'clock the reply came back that the report was untrue, that the Germans would not be re- ceived by Marshal F'och until six hours after the time erroneous des- patch had been given for the signing of the armistice.
 Nevertheless. all throughout the af- iernoon Washington continued to cele- brate.
 Upon the question of whether the German delegation is empowered to act without communication with Ser lin regardless of what demands are made in the terms offered by Marshal Fnch depends whether an immediate cessation of hostilities may be in sight
 Marshal Foch of course is fully em- powered to act for the entente allies and America for the supreme war council at Versailles already has laid down the terms and no changes are to be tolerated. It has been assumed based on the usual practice of nego- tiators in agreeing upon armistice that the Germans also are fully em- powered to sign for their government That was the case with the Bulgarian commissioners who were sent down from Soha 10 meet the French and British military and naval command CTS And while the Austro- Hungarian government nominally approved the terms of the armistice which the Italian commander, General DiaZ. die tated. it was General Bender. the Aus trian commander in the field, whc really acted.
 It is regarded as entirely possible however. that since the German deic. gates did not know the terms of tht arm1suce until they actually met Mar sh1 Foch, they might have planned tC await at least perfunctory word iron Berlin before closing the negotiations With military telegraphe and wireles! at their disposal, little time would b, consumed in this reference. The Ger mans. of course, want no delay il stopping the American and allies ad vances in view of the tremendou pressure upon the government by tn populace and by the mutinous sol diers and sailors of the North sea fore and of the panic-stricken Bavarian who are desperately anxious to aver an invasion of their country from tn south.
 That the fears of the Bavarians ar not without foundation is made evi dent by the rapid mobilization Of tn Czecho -Slavolls of Bohemia with tn reported purpose of attacking Ger many through the Austrian Tyrol. Ac cording to French cable advices toda the Bavarian premier has threatene 10 order the Bavarian troops at tn front to return home to meet thi menace from the south unless a armistice is at once concluded.
 There is reason to believe that in despairing hope of retaining som shadow of control over the future gov ernment of Germany, no matter wha form that may take, the kaiser an The military leaders will insist tha Inc reichstag. representing the Ger man people, assume full share of re sponsibility for the humiliating armis tice and peace terms must must accepted. For this reason, if for Il other. the official view here is tha Inc armistice commissioners would g through the form of communicatin Eiih their government
 The inclusion of General Wintarfeld ~d other members of the Prussia