The Columbia evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-28

n. famous srmistice celebration OF No
1 vember I would never have occurred.
4 By the time had shown Howard q
few of Bres,'s sights tnothing much to
see) and We had Iunched al the Navy
Club. il was after two O'Clock. ! then
took him back to his hostelry. the Con-
,ipep,al, where lie had been lucky enough
TO find quarters, The place being packed
10 The roof with congressional visiting
commiitees,'' known nnplessantly in The
army as ,.joy-riders," Y. NJ. c. A. work.
ers French demi.mondaines, hordes OF
ouartermaser officers and naval pay
masters, d few stray douehboys on special
pass, an assortment Of -Swiss" statesmen
Of considerable interest TO my depart.
ment, and an occasional, very occasional
Frcnchman, bearing an opologetic air for
seeming 10 inifude on 50 happy an Am
erican family. Then, having my days
work still before me, left. cautioning
Howard 10 be punctual al the naval Of
flee if he crayed the admiral's love and
respect.
SECTION THREE
AT 4:3O or thereabohi, as ! sat al my
desk mulling over some reports ! heard
great shout go up somewhere in the
general direction Of the Place du Presi-
dent Wilson. Exuberant behavior Of all
sorts being more the rule than the ex.
ception Of the Yankee4burdened Brest Of
those days, paid no attention to the
racket; but shortly afterward one Of my
men entered with the report that official
news had been given out to the effect
that an armistice had been signed and
the fighting had ended at the front. Had
been given out, what more. by naiul
headquarters!
Astounded at the suddenness with
which truth had been given to the old
rumor that had hovered over Bresi all
day, started inquiries that quickly dis
closed what had occurred. 1t was moi for
some time that l located Howard, who.
with Major Cook of General HAIRLESS
staff, was going from one official bureau
TO another in his endeavor 10 procure ad.
ditional information. From him | learn.
ed that the armistice tidings had been
pronounced official by Admiral Wilson
and that Howard had sent a cable TO the
United States saying that the war was
over.
II the news was true. Howard probably
had scored the biggest news beat Of MIS-
tory. And from Howard's recital Of the
facts there seemed TO be no question of
the news being authentic. Back in my
office, he told me what had happened,
beginning by tossing on my desk copy
of his message to the United States. 1t
was addressed to the United Press office
in New York City and read:
Urgent. Armistice allies Germans
signed IL smorning hostilities ceased
two safternoon.''
Ii was signed Howard. .Simms.' Simms
was the United Press man in Paris. Ap.
parently Howard wanted to let him
share the glory Of his '.beai." Where and
how the latter had arisen SO suddenly in
Brest, several hundred miles from the
'front.' i could not imagine. / looked up
wonderingly and heard the story.
Promptly at four o'clock Howard had
been presented to Admiral Wilson. They
had been chatting awhile when the ad.
miral remarked that he had just received
a message which might possibly interest
Howard, and handed j, to him for his
perusal. Howard beheld an official
telegram. signed by Commander Jackson
OF Admiral Wilson's office in Paris and
naval attache at our Paris embassy. 1t
said:
"Armistice signed this morning at IL
all hostilities ceased at 2 p. m. to-day"
Howard was amazed. So the war had
ended! Rather suddenly, perhaps, but
none the less surely. There could no,
possibly be any doubt abou, it. Any
question as to the authenticity Of the re.
port that might have arisen in the minds
Of the two men was jus,ifiably dismiss.
ed by a consideration Of the telegram
source. Naval officials are scarcely
given to making so flatly the report Of a
highly impotant fact unless it is based
on truth; much less so TO the command.
ing naval officer in France. whose re.
ceipt thereof might entitle him TO believe
that submarine warfare had likewise ter.
minated and that his destroyers might re.
lax their vigilance. 1t was incredible
thai, however surprising, the message
might be fallaeious.
No other official source, French o,
American, appeared to have the grea,
news, and, desirous that the people Of
Brest learn Of ii. Admiral Wilson de.
spatched an orderly to bulletin the lid.
ings in the public square, where the ma.
val band happened to be giving its week
ly concert.
The tiny spark Of news set flame tha,
within ten minutes had spread like prai
RE lire from one end Of Brest to the
other. Into the streets pressed the people
stunned at first, literally dazed by tht
victory that had come to France. ther
gradually opening up into a mad reioic
rlble years rolled from their hearts. A.
ibie years rolled from their hearts. A,
Howard spoke. the crowds surged out
side my windows, laughing, screaming
sobbing, singing. They celebrated, YES
but il was a different sort Of celebration
to the gay-hearied, happy holiday ant
madcap carnival into which, thanks I.