The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-23
ULSTER REJO|CES
AT DETECTION OF
ARMY OFFICERS
Despite Direct Request
From King, They Re-
fuse to Reconsider.
TROOP MOVEMENTS
ARE CARRIED OUT
British Government Declares
They Are of Precautionary Ma
ture - Frequent Conferences
Between High Officials.
Next Move of War Of
fice Eagerly Awaited.

Belfast. March 22.-The detection OF
army officers is tho cause of great
jubilatiou in Ulster. and among the
officers OF the provisional government
who are keeping In touch with events
at Currash and other military depots
In Ireland, through secret corrcspon
dencc. The Associated Press tonight
was shown a letter which the provi
sional authorities have received from
an officer at the Curragh station, say
Ing that more than 100 officers had re-
signed, including all the cavalrI, Of
ncers. General Sir Arthur paget.
commanding the troops in ireland, had
them paraded, and told them, accord
ing to the letter. that he had IAN cX-
press order and request from the King
himself to ask every officer to go
ordered; that they might never be
called on to fight. and that if they re-
fused to go. there might he n muriny
in the army, which would mean n revo-
luton in England. and in six months
there would be no King and no army"
Despite this appeal. all the officers
refused to reconsider their resgna-
tions. a general officer OF high stand
Ing in the regular army was offered
the post of commander chief OF the
force which is TO operate against the
Ulster volunteers. When he declined
the offer. tlH War Office informed him
that his refusal meant the severance
OF his connection with the army lie
persisted and the authorities offered
the post to another officer, said to be
friend of the general now in COM
mnnd at Belfast. who accepted
A denial was issued to-day of the
reported mutiny of the Dorsctshire
Regiment. There has been no diminu-
tion in tho activity OF the Ulster
army.
Centre of Ulster Movement.
oficers oil the so o-called headquar-
ters staff on duty at Craigavou, now
the centre OF the Ulster movement. to-
day were busy taking the ranges of
the various polls and other strategic
points or Belfast Lough. which the es-
tate ovcrlooks. The military admin
istration will begin the issuance to-
morrow of the drab-colored field uni
forms TO special service corps OF 1000
men. especially organized, as "a mobile
striking force for the first attack, in
event of hostiiities. A sufficient num-
Der OF motor cars are available to
transport at least 5000 men. with
ri''SS and ammunition, from Relfast to
any threatened point in Ulster in three
hours.
Ulster awaits with curiosity the next
move OF tho War Oiflce, otherwise the
situation remains unchanged. Abso-
lutte order prevails in the city. Eighty
special service ''minutemen," on duty
'.siNoii' inarchcu 10 the PreSby
tcrian C!1rch at Belmont early to-day,
taking their hospital camps and ambu-
lance men. even the surgeons, but leay-
ing fifty men behind TO guard the rifles
and patrol the estate while the others
prayed in the pews behind Sir Edward
Carson and other leaders.
Sir Edward tonight said he had re-
ceived letters of sympathy and en-
couragement from the United States
Replying to tho statement that the
troop movements were purely precau-
tionary In consequence of the discov-
cry OF an Ulster plot to raid the mill
tary depots, he said:
There never was the least intention
to take any provocative or aggressive
action. nor Will any be taken"