The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-24

London, March 23-The detection OF
the army officers who refused 10 serve
in Ulster !s closed incident. but its
consequences are likely TO prove far
renching. Premier AsQuith and Colonel
Seeiy. Secretary Of State ror War. made
explanations before ali cXcitei and
turbulent House to-day that the whole
affair was the result Of misunJcr-
standing
This MISUNDERSTANDING. 1t was IN
fcrred, although they did not directly
say so. was due to misconstruction OF
tho eovcrnmeht's plans Ivy the com
mandinE general, Sir Arthur Paget,
whereby he informed the officers in
Ireland that they we're to move OH Ul-
stcr for Il rcpressivo campaign.
General Pagct and three senior OF.
fcere from the Curragh camp-C;cncral
Cough, Colonel McEwan md Collrcl
farker-were summoned 10 london FOR
conference. According to o:iicirl
statements, the misunderstanding has
trcn cleared away. and these officers
are returned to Ireland Prior TO their
return they said they were entirely
satisfied.
The terms under which the officers
remain at their posts We're not dis
closed, but the general belief is that
theM wcres assured they would not be
compelled to light against the Ulster
men. This Is considered distinct sur
render by the government Lord Nor
ley explained in tho House of Lords sig
mica rtly that he die not think, in the
interests OF the efficiency Of the army,
that all that transpircd in the army
council should be made public. and that
the King approved the orders TO the
officers 10 return.
The part the King played in the
crisis has not been disclosed. Army
officers addressed their rcsignati ms 20
itiS Majesty, and the report is that
the King insisted that the designations
In the present instance should not be
accepted. and used his influence with
the Cabinet for a compromise with tho
army
Believe II Finsco.
Tho tnionists firmly believe that the
government has participated in Il
haSco. They think that thc two most
enterprising spirits OF the Cabinet
David Lloyd George and Wins on
spencer Churchill, were the ch.ct
movers in the plan. and that the gov
ernmcnt proposed "A Wholesale move
ment or troops into Ulster to overcome
the covcnantcrs by the display OF su-
perior force aud the arrest or their
leaders. and that the plan was frus-
trhtcd only by the opposition OF the
officers. Some OF the Unionist mem
hcrs assert that Andrew Bonar Law
recently received Il letter quoting one
Of tho highest officers in Ireland as
saying:
by Saturday there will be hundreds
OF dead in Ulster"
The Unionists also accuse the gov
erninent OF making scapeGoat OF
General Paget for their own colossal
blundcr."
The future OF the home rule bill is
III doubt. None OF the fire and irm-
ness which permcated the speeches OF
'hc ministers only last week are in evil
dehce. The army has chcckmatcd the
government, according To the Cnionists'
view ana the covenantcrs OF Ulster
nave won their liEht No one will bu
surprised il the government soon re
ihHuishes armed force. rs its action
mad the immediate result of striking
shower or sparks OF class jealousy.
Liberal newspapers of high stand-
ing, like the Daily Chronicle and the
paily News, print bitter denunciations
OF the oi'icers as part OF the Tory aris-
tocfacH, which insists upon the preroc-
atve OF ruling the country against
lhc VIII OF the people. and demand tho
uemocrati"ation of the army, and that
the system OF oiiiccring il from tb,
sons Of the rich he superseded hv :,
system whereby officers may be pro
NOTED from the ranks The lahor
parers are equally bitter and demand
10 Know why privateS should not havo
the same privilege of refusing to fire
upon workiNgmen when called upon 10
suppress strike riots.
w hat about the strikers?" was th,
shout with which the Labor nlembers
tried To drown Bomar Laws de-
Tense OF tho rights OF tho officers to
refuse TO obey against their cunyic.
tons.
Conferences OF high officers with the
N'nE continued to-day Sporadic
tesiSnations OF officers were announced
including those OF several OF the VOL
untccr forces
Refuses to Move Squadron.
Nt the Carlton Club. which is a,
Conservative stronghold. II was assert.
ea e mat the First Lord OF the Admiraitv.
onurchiil on Friday ordered the
'hlrd battleship squadron to Belfast.
with the object of landing marines anI
'hat Auhiral BAILEY replied that th,
squadron was not in condition Ia ro
to sea
Speaking in the House, Prime MIN.
tster Asquith to-day made II clea,.
mat officers and men refusing To obey
orders In conection with the opposition
or Ulster to, the introduction OF home
rule FOR Ireland were liable 10 dis-
mssal
Details OF the revolt OF tho army
officers against service in Ulster hal
been awaited with strained cNDcctn-
Tons by The whole country. Only brief
Secretary Of War ana the Premier. and
the Sist of these WIS that the whole
afair was due to misunderstanding"
ahn that all the officers had now re-