El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-08
CELEBRATIONS
. ARE PREMATURE
Many Cities Fooled Thurs
day by Armistice Re
ports: Two Fatalities.

New York. Nov. s.-Millions OF
Americans realized today that they
had been hoaxed into celebrating the
end Of the war by publication Of the
United Press dispatches, declaring
the armistice was signed and fight
ing ended.
Twenty-four hours have passed
since the country was thrown into a
delirium by these reports. which de-
clared the armistiee had been signed
at II o'clock yesterday morning and
that fighting had ceased at ? o'clock
yesterday afternoon
People Are Fooled.
Each hour brings added official
evidence that the reports were false
and that the American people were
fooled Not only have official com
munications from France to the state
department at Washington denounced
the reports as untrue. but the official
statements Of the French and British
war offices show the fighting still
going on.
Celebration Resumed.
Thousands of ship workers threw
down their tools in Staten Island
yards today, crossed the harbor on
ferry boats and began 4 march up
Broadway. resuming their celebration
OF the false peace reports circulated
yesterday. Apparently. they had
stripped the yards Of most OF the
metal. which could be used as noise
making devices
$1,000 In Parade.
There were said to be $1,000 men in
line which extended for half a mile.
The parade leaders said they did not
know where they were going but
nj
brate.
Hoax Widely Circulated.
The dispatch cabled to this country
by the United Press was picked up
here and circulated by another press
association (not the Associated
Press).
Below IS a copy of the cablegram
received by the United Press at its
New York office:
IMPRESS. New York:
Paris: Armistice allies signed Il
morning; hostilities ceased . after
noon. Sedan taken morning by Amer
leans. CSigneO Howard.
"Simms."
CUnipress IS cable code address for
United Press; Howard is Roy ". How
ard, president Of the United Press. and
Simms is William Philip Simms, Paris
correspondent Of the United Press.)
Other Historical Hoaxes.
The hoax recalled to the public mind
others which had fooled the country.
If not the world. One was the alleged
discovery OF human beings on the
moon and the other was DR.. Cooks
claim OF discovery Of the northpole
A news hoax, however, more close
y paralleling Thursdays was the one
perpetrated on the country at the
death OF Pope Plus Y. It was an
nounced BY the United Press some
hours before II occurred. but as the
did not specify the hour and
a great achievement in giving
the news to the world was claimed.
In the present instance, however
there will be abundant official evil
dence TO guide the public. The ar
nistice being a historic document will
bear the hour and minute at which
the signatures are set upon IL, and
the hour at which hostilities are to
end likewise will be officially record
ed and announced to the world.
No Agreement At Once.
II never has been expected that the
terms Of armistice on the western
front might be accepted at one brief
meeting Many questions are involved
now which were not involved when
Bulgaria and Turkey. One OF the
principal points concerns the DISPOSE
ton Of the German feet. so vital TO
England.
Now that the fleet IS in the hands
II the revolutionists. it is not i'm
probable that the German plenipoen-
aries may not at once be enabled to
give the assurances the allies viii de-
nand- It should be recalled in con-
lection with this point that Great
Britain insisted on having one OF its
ldmirals present with marshal Foch
It the meeting with the commission
rs and that Germany sent admiral
ron Hintze.
Caught Europe Too.
So far as is known the erroneous
report was published in only two
titles in Europe-in London and in
3rest, France. The London newspaper
alter withdrew Its edition and printed
retraction. The publication IN Brest
H..E R.I.