The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-03-24
WAR IN ULSTER IS
BEING FOUGHT IN
NEWSPA PERS
Paget Blamed For the Threat
Of Mutiny
SITUATION NOT SERIOUS
General Feeling that Affair is Easing
Down and Danger Less
Acute

London, March 24.-The detection
Of the army officers who refused to
serve in Ulster Is now closed Incl
dent, but it's consequences are likely
to prove far-reaching. Premier AS
quith and Col Seely, secretary of
state for war, made explanations be-
fore an excited and turbulent House
at London yesterday that the whole
affair was the result of misunder
standing.
This misunderstanding, it was in
ferred, although they did not directly
say so, was due to miscons.ruction of
the governments plans by the COM
manding general, Sir Arthur Paget,
whereby he informed the officers in
Ireland that they were to move on VI
ster for repressive campaign. Gen.
Paget and three senior officers from
the Curragh camp-Gen. Cough, Col.
McEwan and Col Parker-were sum-
moned to London for conference.
According to official statements, the
misunderstanding has been cleared
away, and these officers returned to
Ireland last night. Prior to their de-
parture. they said they were entirely
satisfied with the results Of their Wis
1t. The terms on which the officers
remain at their posts were not dis
closed, but the general belief is that
they were assured that they would
not be compelled to fight against the
tinct surrender by the government.
Lord Morley of Blackburn explained
in the House OF Lords significantly
that he did not think, In the inter
ests Of the efficiency of the army,
that all that transpired in the army
council should be made public and
that the king approved the orders to
the officers to return.
The part the king played in the
crisis has not been disclosed. Army
officers address their designations TO
his majesty, and the report is that
the King insisted that the resigna-
tions in the present instance should
not be accepted and used his infu-
ence with the cabinet for a comprom
Use with the army.
The unionists firmly believe the
government has participated in flas
CO. They think the two most enter
prising spirits of the cabinet, David
Lloyd-George and Winston Spencer
Churchill, were the chief movers in
the pan and that the government
proposed a wholesale movement Of
troops into Ulster to overcome the
covenanters by the display of super
Tor force and the arrest of their lead
ers, and that the plan was frustrated
only by the opposition of the officers.
Some of the unionists members as
sert that Andrew Bonar-Law recent
ly received letter quoting one of the
highest officers in Ireland as saying
by Saturday there will be hundreds
of dead in Ulster" The unionists al
so accuse the government of making
a scapegoat of Gen. Paget for their
own colossal blunder."
The future of the home rule bill is
wrapped in clouds. No declarations
of full steam ahead" or meeting
force with force" we're heard from
the liberals in the debate in the
House Of Commons yesterday. None
of the fire and firmness which perme-
ated the speeches of the ministers on
ly last week was in evidence The ar
my has checkmated the government
according to the unionists' view, and
the covenanters Of Ulster have won
their fight.