The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-03-27
WAR SECRETARY
MADE BLUNDER
COL. SEELY ASSUMED ALL
THE BLAME UPON
HIMSELF
STATE OF SUSPENSE
Remains in Regard to Gen.
Cough and His Fifty-Nine
Comrades
STATE OF SUSPENSE
(By Associated Press)


London, March 25.-The government
to-day published its promised state
Icent of its dealings with the revolu-
tion officers of the Third Cavalry bri-
gade and the house OF commons held
Ia heated and disorderly session. Be-
tween the documents presented and
the various statements drawn from
the cabinet ministers, vital facts of
the affair were made clear. They re-
veal comedy, or tragedy, of errors
perpetrated by Colonel Seely, socre-
tary OF war, and Sir Arthur Paget,
commanding the troops in ireland.
Col. Seely took all thu hlamn on
himself. He frankly declared he had
made great mistake. His written
assurance to General Hubert Cough.
that the government must retain its
right TO use all the forces of the crown
IN ireland or elsewhere to maintain
order and support the civil powers
III the ordinary execution of their du-
", put has no intention whatever of
taxing advantage of this right to crush
political opposition to the policy or
the principles of the home rule bill.
was given without the knowledge Of
the cabinet a1d contrary to its poll
icy.
RESIGNATION Tendercd.
Tho war secretary rendered his re-
signation to Mr.. Asquith, but the pre-
mier refused to accept it. The gov
prnment has Withdrawn Col. Seely,s
guarantees, according to a statement
by Eiseourt NJ oIley In .ai,a osise ISie.
s5ff isdyeard ffay Id Il q sSs
mousse OF commons that the goyern&
ment's decision would be made known
to General Cough tomorrow. Thus the
sltuation with respect to General
cough and his 50 comrades, who sent
In their papers, is still in a state of
suspense.
The most important revelations of
the day were that the government did
plan an important military and naval
demonstration on Ulster. Winston
spencer Churchill, first lord OF the
admiralty confirmed reports that
ne had ordered the third battle SQUAD
:cs and torpedo fiOtiiia To Irish wa
tGIs, Dut explained mat when the mill
fary arrangements had been made out
he countermanded the orders by wire
Tess, an explanation which the Union
lists received with jeers.
Ihe btunder General Paget made.
appears to have been in giving a prac-
tical ultimatum to officers of the cav
airy brigade, to say whether they
would take active service in Ulster or
accept dismissal
Tho cabinet Monday framed g gem
eral statement of the officers position
and duty under the law, and Col
LSeely freely admitted that his error
was In yielding to General Coughs
demand for written assurance that
the army would not be used to sum
press the covenanters.
/ Premier AsQuith's statement that
the officers should return to their dn-
ties Internationally, II Is declared.
were made in good faith, since he
learned of Colonel Seely's address TO
the cabinet memorandum only yester-
day afternoon. The prime minister
made plain to the house OF commons
the governments position regarding
tne army, declaring he would not as
sent 70 the claim of any body of men
"a the service OF the crown to demand
assurances Of what they would be
required to do in circumstances that
h9d not arisen.
Ihe resignation OF Colonel SeeIy
followed quickly after publication to-
Gay or the lite Paper" giving details
Eof Inc crisis N the British army, whose
othecers refused tn participants in &C.
tive operations against the iahabt-
tante OF Ulster, who had prepared to
o1er armed resistance to introduction
EOT home rule.
Col, Seely, In his valedictcry address
70 the house of commons. denied thai
AtHs George had taken any initiative
Tof any kind in the army crisis. He
said:
The suggestion is absolutely with
out foundation In the broadest sense
His Majesty took no Initiative of any
{; Lord Morley, In his speech in the
h0use or ioFds, made the Important ,,ti-
ssionthat the two unauthorized par
IagtaphB added to the Cough letter
Were drafted by Col See1y. The con-
servatire morning papers, comment
Ing on this admission, contend that
Lord Morley, who holds the ONCE OF
LAIRD President OF the consul, also had
resigned. - .
The view or the Liberal morning
aDers is that though yesterday was
the bIackest day the, governmant, had,
Experienced in IT'S whole existence.
now the air has cleared ana the gov
eFnfasnt is fehabilitated and is Il, n
stronger position than ever,
-