New Britain herald., 1919-11-07
A YEAR AGO.

"A AEAk AGO.
 I A year ago today the beginning ot &e end Of the war was definitely &ophesied by the false armistiCc mors which were circulated gen ! ally throughout this country and her countries. The city Of New 4Ettain saw a celebration which was { en heartier than the real one four ys later. The riotous scenes of "c Icing when workmcn left thcr Inches in their factory clothes, when erations were practically suspended all of the plants here in order that He employees might parade the reets, are all matters of memory and
 marked the relief from the ncrv- #s strain which we had undergone IF nearly two years. Despite the ct that we learned that the cclebra- bn was unWarranted, it was quickly |vious that it was a matter of but d Nv days until the crumbling German rces would have to yield and sign Hay their hopes of conquering the <brld.
 Local soldiers and sailors will member the day very well. The mor spread throughout our mcd -ces just as it did the country over. armistice was believed to have en signed The Associated Press kadfastly maintained that it had not len signed. The Herald at that time d the extremely unpleasant duty of rowing cold water upon the hopes
 the people over it's telephones. &bny were the calls for confirmation the rumor and upon each occasion
 had to answer that there was no mistice yet. Disappointed voices anked us unwllingly for our in rmation. Tho Associated Press efers to be certain of an event be- re it carries it over it's wires, even ough it is a little late because of is. II was for this reason that the sociation issued general dcnials to 9, rumors. Upon the other side, in litary circles, the rumor was even 1en official cognizancc of, and thcro Ire many high officials who believed at the event for which all had becn iting had taken place. They be- we'd it for but a short time, how cr. Any talk about it was quickly & Ielched by signals from headquar- IS. Where the rumor started will ways be q mystery.
 At the time of the circulation of report, the writer happened to be
 sea with the British Fleet. At lne time in the forenoon a radio nal was received from the flagship
 the fleet, II. M. s. Lion, which
 effect read, "Ccasc hostiltics sat 200 o'clock and which was signed
 q British naval staff officer. There & lld be but one construction to place on this and that was that Germany Ia capitulated. The officers upon ship were discussing the message, 8pies of which had been posted in e various messes, and debating z lether they should open fire upon possiblc submarine after ? o'clock, hen the question was quickly set d for them by another mesa co ncellng the previous one. The x Rmistice had not been signed, al- ough the two meSSa gCS arc proof ht the Admiralty, for a very brief he, thought that it had. The nor and the cancellation came very bse together, so close that the wspaper men who had taken occa- m to check up were disappointed most at once
 Admiral Wilson, at Brcst. together tn others, was ono of those who re temporarily fooled by the nc ,- ge He undoubtedly got the same ! kders as did the fleet at sea. t obab happened that d newspaper ln interviewed him at the psycho- yical moment and rushed from his ice to spread the good news before admiral had time to deny tn, bort. Thus it probably got to this 1ntry.
 SWAPPING THE IT. C. OFJ.