The ‘false news’ was generated when a cease fire was agreed on a section of the front to allow a Germans delegation to meet with the Allies. The message agreeing the ceasefire failed to mention that it was a local agreement and French and American intelligence officers misinterpreted it and started a celebration that went around the world! You can read the story in full athttp://www.thebaron.info/archives/reuters-and-the-false-armistice-of-7-november-1918