The Washington times., 1920-01-11

General Pershing, commander OF
the A 4. r.. denies there was
needless. sacrifice OF American sol
diers' lives on Armistice Day.
In a letter TO Congressman Aivan
g, Fuller OF Massachusetts,, just
made public. the American COM
lnander says:
"In analyzing the questions which
nppear to be raised In your letter
ind that of Captain Livermore. which
you enclose, the following points
ieem pertinent:
II had no knowledge before 9 a. m,
November II, that tho armistice had
Leeu signed and that firing was TO
cease at IL a m. November H.
Many False Rumors.
The armistice. effective at III a
m. November II, was not signed
antil 8 a. m. November IL, hence the
.nforma ton which Captain Liver
more states that he received about
.nidnight of November 10 was only a
rumor, although that rumor proved
30 be correct
/, ..For several days prior to Novem-
GER II false rumors of the signing
II an armistice were prevalent In
.iI the armies. You may recallt tthat
At least one Of these rumors even
reached the United States and that
November 7th, 1 think. was made
lay of celebration on account OF
"AIl armies took steps 70 correct
.hese rumors, and az S:45 p. m, No
vember 0, the following telegram
was, received by me from Marshai
E'och: H"
''The enemy, disorganized by our
repeated attacks, Is Withdrawing
slong the whole front. 1t Is import
ant to maintain and hasten our ac-
zion. / appeal to the energy apo
initiative of the commanders-in-c
end their armies to secure decisive
results"
All tho allied commanders-in-chief
received a similar telegram from
Marshal Foch.
Did Not Halt Fire.
Neither British nor Fr<hch head
quarters ordered firing to stop prior
20 the going into effect of the Arm
: istice, that is, at IL a. M. November
ii; and in general firing by all the
lilies and by tho enemy continued
on the whole front from Switzerland
20 the sea until that hour. In places
he fire died away prior to IL a. m.
and In few places firing continued
Until after that hour.
"The Ninety-second Division astTde
che Moselle, attacked at a m, No
vember 10, and at 5 a. m. November
II. renewed the attack. The renewed
attacks started at 5 a. m, November
Il, advanced a short distance, but
,he troops had retired to cover in the
cace of reported heavy fire when the
commander of the attacking brigade
,eceived information at 7:1S a. m,
That an Armistice would be effective
at IL a. m. .a..s
"The brigade commander reports
hat he ordered all firing stopped by
:0:45 a. m. and that the firing was
80 stopped. The casualty records
show that on November IL the Nine
,y-second division lost seventeen
killed and 2S6 wounded, Of whom
ninety nine were gassed. The casu-
atty records OF the marines, show
that their losses on November II
were nine killed and 172 wounded.
"The attack Of the 92nd Division on
November 10. continued at 500 a. m.
on the morning of the 11th, was not
preliminary to the proposed attack
OF November Is.
Worked Under Orders.
Captain Livermore states: Another
3oint of interest in this matter Is the
fact that the 92nd Division was oper-
sting under orders to advance along
the Moselle while the French on it's
right flank were ordered to mark
time until the 14th-the French well