The Irish standard., 1899-11-11

OF these, Clive's old regiment organized
by him in 1856, were nicknamed the
dirty shirts on account of their unfn-
ished toilets-a la the Irish brigade at
demonstrating a conflict, a century
later, at Delhi The second, organized
in 1887, also fought in the Indian mu-
tiny and had part, dozen years ago,
in the English land grab in Burmah
The Munster Fusileers are reported as
forming part of the English forces in
South Africa, but as yet they have not
been heard OF in any engagement.
Among the troops that encountered
the Beers at Elandslaagtc was a squad
ron of the (Fiftl) Royal Iris, Lancers.
whose natty bite, red-breasted uniforms
and black oil-slsin square-topped skull
caps-like students mortar board"
elcvated-havc been iamilarized to
Americans by Buffalo Bills show The
Lancers were originally organized, like
the Inniskilling Dragons, to help Will
liam OF Orange to take the crown from
his iatlcr-in-law, James II. They were
then dragons. The Fifth dragoon
guards fought, or protested to fight, to
suppress the Irish instruction OF 17oS
But what change from the original
Orange character OF the gallant squad
rons! The English government discov-
cred with alarm that they were all, or
nearly all, ardent United Irishmcn anx-
lous Tor an opportunity to charge for
Erin and her flag OF green Therefore,
i'll 1900, the regiment was taken to Eng
land and there disbanded. And not until
1868, when the last OF the old frebrands
was naturally supposed to be dead or
lnnocuous. was it recognized.
Readers OF Levers virilc and ever
popular novels are familiar with the
Eighty eighth, or Connaught Rangers,
llaillrg from the Irish province west OF
the Shannon and one OF the best known
regiments i'll the British army. The
corps was organized in 1898 by Colonel
Thomas De Burgh, aitcrward earl OF
Clanrickard Its initiatory fighting was
done i'll Flanders, and it took part in
Whitclock's unsuccessful attempt on
Buenos Ayrcs. But it was in Spain that
the Rangers achieved their reputation
as a select grcgation OF reckless and
abandoned darcdcvils.
Since then they have been fighting
the world the while the crowbars oil the
cvctors have been ringing on the walls
oil their prosecuted parents cabins amid
the glens and boys of Connaught. The
first battalion OF the Rangers is now on
sea, headed for the Cape On arrival
they will be pushed to the front with
the promptcst dispatch, especially ii
assertions to the enemy have not oc-
cured in the other Irish regiments.
The cavalry barracks On the Curragh
OF Kildare is lonely since the Innis-
killing dragons packed UP their be-
longings and took shipping for the
Cape. This crack corps. which takes
its name from the town OF Enniskillen
in the County Fcrmanagh, Ireland, were
originally Orange volunteers King
William led them i'll person at the
Boync water, and afterwards as the
Black Dragons they fought at Dun
blame in Scotland, at Dettingcn, Font
ENJOY and other continental battles De-
spite their anti-Irish origin. they were
military iavoritcs in Ireland, and the
theme OF queer old popular song dc
scribing their peculiar, warlkc iascina-
tons.
They fought at Waterloo and Balak-
lava, and they will be slow to under
estimate the valor OF the Beers, which
they experienced in the war OF 1881.
The Royal Irish regiment. late the
Eighteenth, is also on sea and going
as fast as steam can bring it, to fight
the Beers 1t is about the very Oldest
Irish regiment, tracing its origin to in
dependent companies OF foot which
acted as garrisons in the days OF Crom-
we'll All robust Orangemcn. the Royal
Eighteenth fought at the Boyne and sui
icrrd severely at the siege OF Limerick.
In America the Eighteenth served in
the assault on Bunker Hill. 1t has
served in India. Burmaf. Australia.
]lgypt-whercvc there was hard fight
ing and strong grabbing to be done on
the part OF England. Or course. it
ceased to be a distinctively Orange
corps a century or more ago. when it
began to depend on the peasant lads
OF Munster to fill its ranks. .....
Of Ireland accents:
The Royal 1nniskllings' First battal-
ion, late the Twenty seventh foot, will
soon be heard OF in the war news, for,
like other famed Irish regiments, they
are being hurried to the front as first
food for powder. 1t dates its origin
from New Years Day, 1000, and is the
only corps using the "old Irish war
pipes 1t fought throughout the Will
lamitc wars in Ireland, joined in the
slaughter Of Culoden, made roads in
Scottish highlands and exchanged VOL
leys with the American ccntinentals at
Long Island, White Plains and other
places. 1t helped to gain English VIC
tories in the West Indies and Spain and
fought at Waterloo, where, posted in