The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-09
IRIsH IN THE BRITISH ARMY
A Proposed Regiment of tho Gunrds-The
Eight Regiments in the Service.

LONDON. March 20.-The Irish have always
furnished more than their share OF lighting
men. They have fought for themselves. they
have fought for others. There was an Irish
man. "Guillermo Ires.' or William Harris.
with Christopher Columbus. who was left at
Hispaniola by the Admiral. and undoubtedly
had some fighting to do before he met his
death with his companions: there were Irish
at Fontenoy. and Irish in the Kings army and
In the American army during the Revolution {:
there were Irish in the war Of 1872. and in the
Mexican war: the civil war had Irish every
where, on both sides of Mason and Dixon's lire.
In fact. wherever there are blows to he given
and others to be had, the Irishman has been.
The principal Generals OF the British Army
have been and are Irish. Wellington was an
Irishman; Wolseley and Roberts are Irish
men; Kitchener is another. But the British
Army. though it is made up largely OF Irish
men and has several Irish regiments OF the
line which have always distinguished them
selves. has never had a regiment Of the Guards
made up ostensibly and publicly OF Irlshmen.
Now the Horse Guards is talking Of organizing
such a regiment.
The Government. as every one knows has
never tried to placate the Irish. As soon as
the Scots insurrection Of 1745 was put down.
the British Government started in to appease
the Scots heart, Regiments were raised. the
men OF Wnlcn. alone OF the scots, were allowed
to wear the Highland costume: and they wear
that costume to this day. But no such treat;
ment has ever been accorded to the Irish. and
1t may be too late Ia. begin It now. Cndouht-
eddy the agitators will rage and argue an de-
nounce any 1rishnan who enters an Irish regi-
Irish in the regiments Of the Guards which
are not Irish. that perhaps the creation OF an
Irish regiment would not strain Irish loyalty
There are three regiments OF Foot Guards in
though not the Oldest. is the Grenadier Guards.
composed Of three hattalions. Then comes the
G Slassdd re aIin wi,b in tt the army; the cola as cam
and a third battalion authorized. The feeling
Of the Bellman in The Hunting OF the SHARK"
f fSres his ;i@ 0sn q sta item s. I wi,h IT, ! tell you
s!sas i Bfiyis S's Dn SGGs 2 2@ 'S!T tsat ; sSinss sns
sionally one battalion Of The Grenadier Guards,
the tn S Sste n"Iiisa EdpG idr regiment is sent abroad
Guards are stationed in and around London
He H"rs neaGGm na%5se w r e1eh regimen gin ntr is IL putthhe
quarters Of the empire. The men get higher
PAY than those Of line regiments: as do the
n the line ofifhe British Armythsre are eight
non regiments, These ayowedly Irish
Fay an buG GTe 'G Fus GiIH}ena"E stbe Rq 1mSI!fi u the
Rfo"yya'iT fish R Ree fiinsnt the fF,' Royal api irish Rid fhe
the Leinster Regiment Originally the Royal
The fifth itanSersi by the way; is the Royal
lnntskillinG Dragons. These regiments have
their home stations in Ireland. but have no
d,istinctiye %colnrs to INDICATE that they are from
the Old Sod. The men. OF the ROYAL Irish Regi-
ment wear on, their collars an Irish harp. but
no other Irish regiment has any distinguish
ing badge. and men have been court -martialled
Ior wearing spriGs. OF shamrock on their
These regiments not so long ago had MI
merical titles, instead Of territorial designa-
tons: Thus the Connaught Rangers were the
Eighty-eiGhth Foot. and won their reputation
OWN" under the old designation. The ROYAL
Eublins were once the 1924 and l03d the In
niskilling Fnsiliers were the Twenty:seventh
and the losth Foot; the Royal Irish ,Fnsiliers
fought, as the, Eighty-seventh or the Eighty
ninth Foot. those regiments being now the
first and second battalions of the present regi-
mment; The SECOND battalion. while i was the
Bloodhonnds The Royal Irish Regiment was
the Eighteenth Foot. the Irish Rifles was the
Elghty-third and the Eightv-sixth: the I.eins.
ter Regiment is, made up Of the old Tooth and
fought as the 1O1st and 1O4th Foot. So It is
evident that there is a plenty Of good fighting
material in the British Army at present drawn
from across the Irish Channel.
are really thinking Of a fourth and Irish regi-
ment OF Foot Guards. II may be that there IL
more in the. proposition than appears on tho
surface; OF one thing the Irishmen may he
their share Of fighting when there's any worth
doing: and they'll do It with neatness and de-
spatch. They need never fear to rust away in
idleness In Wellington or Chelsea barracks.