New-York tribune., 1920-01-11
10 Lie Wasted
On Truce Dav.
SAYS Perslling
Conceal Declares lie Did
Not Know Of Armis,icc
su.ii Few Hours Before
:; Signing of Terms
Action Planned by Foch
Advance Stopped as Soon
as Orders Gould Be
Transmitted on Front

WASHINGTON, Jan. TO-. Charges
made before House war investigation
committee tina. lives of American SOL
aiers were wasted in needless attacks
on armistice day are denied IN
letter from General Pershing mace
public to-day by Representative Fuiisi'
Republican, of Massachusetts.
General Pershing said the American
forces were acting under genera IN
structions issued by Marshal Foch 70
all Allied commanders on November y
1918. and that orders for attacks were
withdrawn as soon as possible after he
was advised of the signing Oh 1he ar
mist;ce. He also said statements that
American troops were ordered to the
stack while French divisions remained
stationary were wholly erroneous.
The generals letter IS dated Novem-
Der 21. 1919, and is in reply to charges
contained in letter 70 Mr. ruler
from Captain George Il. Livermore, OF
Winchester, Mass, formerly operations
ofsicer of the 167th Field Artillery bri-
rade of the 92d (negro) Division. Mr..
Fuller explained that he made the let
ter public in view OF statements re-
Gently made before the investigating
committee by Brigadier General Sher-
burne, commanding the artillery divi-
SION of the 92d Division, about which
much of the controversy regarding
Armistice Day losses has centered.
The letter follows:
II had no knowledge before a. m.
November IL that the armistice had
been signed and that firing was to
cease at II a. NJ. November IL.
Rumor Proved Correct
"The armistice, effective at IL a. IN.
November II, was not signed until 5
a. n. November IL, hence the infor
nation which Captain Livermore states
he received about mldnight OF Novem-
Der 10 was only rumor, although that
rumor proved to be correct.
For several days prior to November
IL false rumors of the signing Of an
mistice were prevalent IN all the
armies. You may recall that at least
one OF these rumors even reached the
United States, and that November Z, !
| think, was made a day of celebration
on account of false report.
All armies took steps to correct
these rumors, and at 5:l5 2. IN. No
vember 9 the following telegram was
received by me from Marshal Foch:
1.-The remy, disorganized by our
repeated attacks, is withdrawing along
I whole front. 1t is important to
peal to the energy and initiative OF
tae commanders in chief and their
arm es to secure decisive results
'A of the Allied commanders re-
c ed similar kilograms from Marshal
ech.
shar British nor French head
rs ordered firing to case priol
i.c roing into effect Of tie armis-
thar is at II 4. m. November II
il. general firing by all the Allies
y The enemy continued on the /
front from Switzerland to the |
uat that kour. In places the fir I
lied away prior to II a. M, and |
- Il few p aces firing continued unit
a. =. that hour.
Il ne 92d Division, astride the Mo
sale attacked at Z a. m. November 10
snd at q. m. November ii advanced |
4 short distance. but the troops had |
retire, to cover in the face of reporteo
heavy fire when the commander of the |
attacking brigade received information |
ut T:18 a m. that an armistice wou.t |
pc effective at II a. n. The brigad |
commander reports that he ordered al
firing stopped at 10:45 a. m. and tina
the firing was so stopped. The CASUALTY
records show that on November IL tn
.le DIVISION loSt II XII led ana rs
wounded, OF whom 80 were gassed. The
casualty records of the marines show
that their losses on November II were
8 killed and 172 wounded.
Order of Attack Explained
"The attack of the 92d Division OF
November 10, continued at 5 a. m. or
the morning of the 11th, was not pre-
liminary to the proposed attack o
November IA.
Captain Livermore states: Another
point of interest in this matter is the
fact that the 92d Division was oper-
ating under orders to advance along the
Nose lie while the French on its riga