Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-23
Government Intention To-
wards Army Officers
Misrepresented.
ASOUITH IN ASSURANCE
Sir Edward Carson Tells of Re-
ceipt of Letters of Sympathy
From America.

Belfast. ireland, March 23-The Cap
i-al OF Ulster in which. are abe best
CHARTERS Of the provisional govern
ueut 10 day perhaps was at least excit-
ed city outwardly IN the United King
dom. No more troops arrived and
uoue are expected. however, the IN
ionists are determined to be prepared
for all eventualities.
London, England, March "a
much easier feeling has been created
in the British Isles by the reassuring
statement of Premier Asquith that
troops movements in Ulster were or
dered only as a precautionary measure
for the protection of government prop
srty.
misunderstanding was the keynote
Of Premier AsQuith's explanation on
today's crisis brought about by the
resiguations OF army officers when the
regiments were ordered to prepare TO
proceed To Ulster. Speaking in the
house Of commons, Asquith made il
dear however, that officers and men
Of the British army refusing TO obey
the orders in connection with opposi-
ton Of Ulster to the introduction OF
home rule. were liaSie to dismissal.
The inference generally drawn from
he premier's remarks IS that the gov
srnment's intentions toward army Of
teers who did not desire to serve
against the Orangemen has been mis-
Interpreted.
Interest in dissaffection in the army
arising out of the newest phase of the
home rule situation was displayed in
the hou-e Of commons this afternoon
When the house was crowded to listen
to . statement by Colonel Seeley. sec
retary OF war. Seeley's communica-
ton was brief and utterly vague. 1t
vas that some officers had Informed
Commander-in-chief Paget in Ireland
hat they could not serve in certain
sEentualities. There was, he said,
misunderstanding, and these officers
Tsre ordered TO rejoin their regiment
The movement OF troops, he declared,
vas solely TO protect government prop
position. declared nothing could save
ne army now but a clear declaration
hat officers of the navy and army
would not be compelled . engage in
cEl war against their wish
Detection Causes Jubilistion.
Belfast, March 23.-The detection of
ne army officers is the cause of great
IN
o1cials OF the provisional govern
nent who are keeping in close touch
With events at Curragh and other mill .
iary depots in Ireland through secret
Jurisprudence. The Associated
Press was shown a letter which the
PROVISIONAL authorities have received I
irom an officer at the Curragh station, |
stating that more than one hundred
o1eers had resigned, including all the
e1valry officers. General Sir Arthur
Fsget, commanding the troops in Ire /
and. had them paraded and told them, /
according 10 the letter. that he had
an express order and request from /
'He king himself TO ask every officer
% 90 as ordered. that they might 1
lever be called upon TO fight and that
they refused to go there might be
nutiny in the army, which would
mean a revolution in England, and in
'n months there would be no king
and no army"
Appeal On Deaf Ears.
Despite this appeal all officers re-
-sed 70 reconsider their designations
general officer OF high standing in
ne regular army was offered the post
Commander in chief OF the force
mich is TO operate against the Ulster
olunteers.
when he declined the offer the war
nee Informed him that his refusal
leSnt the severance OF his connection
m the army. lie persisted and the
.tnorities offered the post TO another
neer, said 10 be General Friend, now
oommsnding at Belfast, who accept
A denial was issued of the reported
auny Of the Dorsetshire regiment
tequent reports have been current
late Of the strong sympathy OF the
ofset men with the Ulsterites owing
taetr extended stay in the garri-
- here The same partisanship has
sen ascrbed TO the NOrfolks, caus-
The authorities keen anxiety
4he officers Of these regiments were