Washington sentinel., 1900-03-17
How England Gets Recruits

A feeling OF intense anxiety and rest
lessness peTvades the peasant class in
Ireland Never a newspaper reading
people, the rustic population has been
deeply stirred by the news of the early
British reverses in South Africa, which
are primarily responsible for the deeply
rooted conviction among the Irish
peasantrY that the British Government
intends TO intr oduce eonscription in
Ireland. The priests throughout the
length and breadth ofthe country report
that they are consulted every day BY
young men. who fear that they will be
pressed into the English army and who,
therefore, are making arrangements to
emigrate TO the United States Nor have
the assurances Of the clergy, that the
TumoTs are without foundation, suficed
to restore feeling of confidence, for
every outgoing steamer has more than
treble the number of emigrants usually
carried in February.
There has been much rejoicing in the
English journals over the apparent will.
Ingness Of the Irish militia regiments to
valunteer for the service at the front,
but the events Of the past weeks show
how little reason there has been for such
jubilalion. Instead OF a cause for
rejoicing, il appears that the volunteer
ing for these regiments was a grave
scandal, and the facts in connection with
it are now slowly leaking out. An
Interpolation by Mr.. O'Brien, M. P q,
asking the Secretary Of War whether
there is any truth in the rumor that the
consent Of several Irish militia battalions
to 60 to the iroEt was fraudulently
obtained, eliciteo the following reply
from the Under Secretary Wyndham:
"The militia battalions are ordered to
a parade en- masse, and the colonel
commanding asks the troops if they are
willing to volunteer for active service at
the front. Those that are unwilling 10
20 are invited to step OUT, and the others
are given time to reconsider their
decision Absolutely no eompulsion IS
being used" But it now appears that
the Louth Mi itia Regiment, whose
alleged consent to 90 to the front was
hailed with such delight by the London
press, had not understood their colonel,
They thought that only those who are
willing to 60 to the front were to step
forward, and never dreamed that their
remaining quietly in the ranks would be
taken for consent. Some one suggested
that q rDnu nj tha D,,ndaILy Da..o-~gF
found on one of the insubordinate
militiamen. containing an infianmatorY
article, was responsible for the "change
OF mind" The Dundalk Democrat
advised the militiamen to refuse to
volunteer for active service and proved
that in all South African engagements
the Scotch and Irish troops were placed
IN the front, while the English soldiers
were regularly given a safe position in
the rear. Besides, 1t is a shame. +"
continued the journal, "for Irishmen
who have been robbed of their freedom
to act as henchmen OF John Bull m de.
privinS other nations OF their liberty.
IL IS alleged that upon perusal of this
article fully one hall OF the baltal on
refused to 60 to the front The enraged
colonel, who had wired to the Secretary
Of War glowing descriptions Of the
scenes oil enthusiasm prevailing during
his harangue, declared that where the
majority ofa regiment has declared their
willingness 10 60 TO the front the rest
would be forced to go also or treated as
rebels With regard to the Dundalk
Democrat a charge OF instikation 70
rebellion is to be PREFER d against him
aud the London conservative journals
demand his committal aud sentence ol
penal servitude tor life, The act oi
Parliament which will form the basis o
prosecution, reads as follows: every
person who maliciouslv and advisedly
endeavors TO seduce any person in Hei
Msjesty's forces, by sea or land, from
his allegiance to Her Majesty, shall be
liable to penal servitude for life. q
Every person who commits the offense
ofinciting or stirring up any person il
Her Majesty's force to commit any
rebellious or mutinous act whatsoever
shall be liable to penal serTitude To-
life."
In 1.-THE case ofthe Third Royal Munste