The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-23
MARCH EXPLAINS
NOV. II FIGHTING
Chief of Staff Tells Why
Americans Fought to Very
Last Minute.
. Special Despatch to TIE sux.

WASHINGTON, May 22.-The demand
from all over the United States for the
exact reasons why the attack on the
entire west front was pressed bitterly
up to the very moment that the ar
mistice went into effect has been an
swered through a letter written by Gen.
March. Chief Of Staff. to Senator Cham
berlain (Ore.), late chairman of the
Senate Military Committee.
The letter will be published in Hdr-
vey's Weekly on Saturday next 1t is
in response to letter from the Senator
and follows receipt OF a full report of
the situation from Gen. Pershing.
The letter reveals that Marshal Foch
particularly desired that there be no
respite in pressing the Germans back up
until the last minute. Gen. Persh!ng' >
conclusions are quoted in full in the let
ter. as follows:
"(a) Were any United States soldiers
killed in fighting in France after order
to cease firing at IL o'clock. November
IL, when the armistice went into effect
Conclusions: No cases are known
of any United States soldiers who were
killed in such fighting.
No Casualties Reported.
Probably there were no such casual
ties In any event they could have oc-
CURED In very isolated cases only.
"(b) Was there any firing at any
place along the American line in France
after IL O'Clock, November IL?
Conclusions: Firing was generally
stopped on the American front in France
at IL A. NJ, November II. In the case
OF an isolated organization which did
not receive notication until IL 10 A. NJ,
November 1, 1918, firing was continued
until IL 40 A. NJ.
"(c) Did the firing along the American
line continue in full force up to II
o'clock, November II?
Conclusions: Firing along the Amer
lean line continued in full force up to IL
| o'clock November II. In the case of
the two American divisions serving with
the French army in Belgium different
| conditions existed and the firing was not
| continued in full force. due to the fact
| that no opposition was encountered TO
| the continued advance.
Other Allies Quit Before Time.
| "(d) Is the report true that officers
| in command of British and French forces
| ordered firing stopped as soon as they
| learned that the armistice was to go
into effect, that is, several hours before
| II o'clock on this date?
Conclusions: There was no author
|
possibility that such orders were given
without authority by French command
ers of small isolated bodies. No definite
cases of the issuance of such unauthor-
| ICED orders are known.
| "(e) Were there military reasons for
continuing the firing up to the very hour
| the armistice went into effect?
| Conclusions There were military rea-
| sons for continuing such firing up to the
very hour the armistice went into effect
| and orders were issued from these head
quarters to insure such action. These
orders were dictated by the necessity for
taking every opportunity to render GER
tain the complete acceptance by the en-
envy of the armistice, and were I'M
doubtedly concurred in by the allied
commander in chief. who himself ISSUED
orders to the same effect"
Gen. March concluded the letter as
follows:
| "With reference to question (e) Gen
Pershing's reply includes quotation
from the orders Of Marshal Foch direct
ing that the pressure be maintained
along the whole front UP TO the last mo-
ment."