Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-03-26

command and explained to them that
an officer Of the British army was
compelled to obey orders to shoot only
in case the order was reasonable one
under the circumstances.
The secretary for war told them
that no one, from a general down to a
private, was expected to use more
force than was required to maintain
order and the safety of life and prop
erty. He continued:
IF, therefore, officers and men of
the British army have been led to
believe that there Is a possibility that
they might be called on to take out
rageous action-for instance to mas
sacree a demonstration of Orangemen
who are causing no danger to the lives
Of their neighbors-bad as would be
the effects of discipline in the army,
nevertheless, 1t is true that they are
in fact and in law, justified in re-
fusal to obey.
There never has been and is not
now any intention, however, of giving
outrageous and illegal orders to the
! troops.
The law will be respected and must
be obeyed. What must now be faced
is the possibility of action being re-
quired by troops in supporting the
governments power in protecting the
lives and property when the police are
unable to hold their own.
| Attempts have been made to dis
suade the troops from obeying lawful
orders given to them when acting In
support of the civil power. These at
tempts have amounted to the claim
that officers and men of the army
could pick and choose between law
full and reasonable orders. saying they
could obey in one case and not In an
| other"
After reciting that there had not
been single case Of lack of discipline
| In this respect in the British army,
Colonel Seely says:
.At the same time, as views and
statements uttered in the press and
elsewhere made my position clear, I
informed the general officers that
would hold each of them individually
responsible to see that there was no
conduct in their commands subNersiye
to discipline. l told them they could
llet 1t be clearly understood that any
| such conduct would be dealt with un-
der the kings regulations
IF any army officer should tender
his resignation / told the general that
he should ask for reasons and If he
which order he would obey 1 would
submit to the king that the officer
should be removed from the army"
This document was followed by
letter dated March IA from the war Of
fee, informing Gen. Sir Arthur Paget
\
lows:
In consequence of reports received
| by the government that attempts may
be made in various parts of Ireland by
evil disposed persons to obtain pos
session Of arms and ammunition and,
other government stores, 1t is consid-
cred advisable that you should at once
take special precautions for safeguard
/ ing the depots and other places where
arms and stores are kept as you may
think advisable.
\ Orders also were given to the officers
in command of barracks where arms
and ammunition We're stored that they
would be held responsible for the safety
of that property and that such places
never should be left unguarded. 1t is
said that this order referred to the
whole of Ireland.
General Paget telegraphed to the
war office on March 20 that all the
officers of the Fifth Royal Irish Lam
GERS stationed In Dublin had resigned
with the exception of two. He said
he feared that the same conditions pre-
! vailed among the officers of the Six
teenth Queens lancers stationed at the
| Curragh.
Cough FlatIy Refused.
That evening General Paget tele-
graphed' to the war office that the
brigadier general and 81 officers Of the
Third Cavalry brigade at the Curragh
prefer to accept dismissal if they are
ordered to the north.'
The war office replied to General
Paget: you are authorized to sus-
have rendered their designations, or in
any other manner have disputed your
authority. The designations Of all Of
ficers should be refused
The war office also said that other
officers were being sent to relieve
IL {O nh n
Of the Third Cavalry brigade and the
commanding officers of the Fifth and
the Sixteenth lancers. who We're or
dered to proceed to London.
Brigadier General Cough, in report
ing the feeling of his brigade as the
result of communication from the
war office conveyed to him verbally
by General Paget said:
The officers of my brigade are
unanimous in the opinion that further
information is essential before they
should be called on at such short notice
to take, decisions so. vitally affecting
their whole future and especially that
a clear definition should be given to
their terms duty as ordered and 'ac-
tive operations in Ulster
"If such duty consists OF the main
tenance of order and preservation of
property. all the officers. including
myself. are prepared to carry out that
duty. If. however, the duty involves
the initiation Of active military opera
tions against Ulster 81 officers would
respectfully and under protest prefer
to resign"
4. Cough Reinstated.
After an interview with Colonel
seely. Brigadier General Cough wrote
i to the war office:
"One of tine first questions asked by
our officers will be:
In the event OF the present home
rule bill becoming law. can we be called
on to enforce 1t on Ulster under the ex-
preston Of maintaining law and order
This point should be made quite clear.
Otherwise there will be renewed mis-
conceptions"
In reply. Brtgadier General Cough re-
ceived a letter. inifiated by Colonel
Seely, as secretary for war, and by
Field Marshal Sir John French, au-
thorlzing him to inform the officers:
THE army counsel Is satisfied that
the incident which has arisen in re-
garding to their designations was due
ito misunderstanding.
The letter continues that 1t Is the
duty of soldiers to obey commands for
the protection of life and property and
In support of the civil power in the
event of disturbances and the army
council held there never had been and
never would be any question of dis
obeying such orders.
1t continues; "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
4 power in the ordinary execution Of
their duty, 1t has no intention what
Il aver Of taLfnp adyauta0o of thto rfuh<