Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-11-12
Anticipated the News.

inc WnOlc country WdS eltClTiIit'i
last Thursday by news to the effect
that Germany had signed the armistice
proposals of the Allies.
The news turned out to be prema-
ture, not TO say false: but neverthe-
less because 1t was SO generally antic-
ipated, It was almost universally be-
lieved.
There was no good excuse for not
believing it because 1t was given out on
the authority of the two great press
associations. the United Press and the
Associated Press. that are almost uni
versally regarded as infallible-
The United Press dispatch. which
was sent out at 1910 o'clock, American
Eastern time, was as follows:
Paris, November THE Allies and
Germany signed an armistice at II
o'clock this morning. Hostilities ceas-
ed at . o'clock this afternoon. The
Anne orleans took Sedan before the ar
mistice became effective"
This dispatch was signed by Roy
w. Howard" president Of the United
Press, in general charge Of the United
Press organization in France and by
William Philip Sims, chief Of the or
Sanization's Paris bureau.
The dispatch of the Associated Press
reads as follows:
Paris, November Z, IL a. m.-Ger-
man grand headquarters requested AL
q h 1n, tnf hN. Ntyir n
day to permit passage Of the German
delegation for armistice negotiations
through the lines.
The order was given to cease firing
at this front at o'clock this after
noon until further orders.
The German wireless message for
an armistice delegation to meet Mar
shall Foch was as follows:
THE German government would
congratulate itself In the interest OF
humanity If the arrival Of the German
delegation on the Allies front might
bring about a provisional suspension
of hostilities.
The message announced that the
German plenipotentiaries would arrive
at the French outposts on the Chimay-
Guise road on Thursday between and
10 o'clock in the evening.
Marshal Foch. the Allied command
er in chief, had previously notified the
German high command that II the
German delegation wishes to meet him
1t should advance to the French lines
along the Chimay, Fourmois, La Cap
ellie and Guise roads,"
On the strength of these messages
most Of the great cities throughout the
country went wild with enthusiasm,
and 1t was not until hours after the
receipt of further information that the
armistice story had not been confirmed
that the pandemonium Of enthusiasm
began to subside.
And then when 1t began to appear
that n mistake had been made there
followed all kinds Of abuse against the
United Press for the falsity Of Its news,
while on its part the partisans Of the
United Press pointed out that while or
ders were no doubt issued to cease fir
ing on the particular part Of the front
over which the German delegates were
to come with their flag Of truce. there
were no orders for general suspen-
sion of firing and there was no such
general suspension anywhere.
The United Press sent out a state
ment to the effect that its dispatch was
filed on authority Of information fur
nishcd to it by Rear Admiral Wilson Mt
Brest and its dispatch was filed with
Admiral Wilson's approval. 1t quoted
Rear Admiral Wilson in confirmation.
AS to just how the unfortunate
break was made does not appear: but
it Is safe to assume that the two press
associations. wrought up to the suprem"
pitch of eagerness to get there first
with the momcntous piece Of news Of
this or any other day, were simply un-
able to contain themselves until the
actual development Of the facts. and
gave out as having already happened
things they felt certain must happen