The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-25
OFFICERS ASSURED THEY WILL NOT HAVE
 ID FIGHT ULSTER
"Mutiny of Army Aristo- crats" Causes Turmoil in England-King Bit
 terly Criticized

London March M-westminster con tinues to be a seething caldron over which all the liberals now denounce as the .'mutiny of the army aristocrats' against democratic government. The fact has been established from all obtainable evil dence that General Hubert Cough and the other officers of the Third cavalry brigade demanded and obtained written assurances that they would not be or dered to fight Sir Edward Carson's Ulster volunteers, and that these assurances were obtained largely through the per- sonal intervention of the King.
 Before they left London yesterday the officers telegraphed to their brother of ficers in Ireland that they had found sup port from the highest quarters" On their arrival at Curragh camp today they were welcomed by a guard of honor and related the outcome of their summons to the war office.
 Criticizing King
 The throne which traditionally has kept out of party controversies is invested in tne O1ScubSlOI Us II HcNcT beloiS HdS been during King Georges reign or that of his diplomatic father. The section or the liberals who opposed what they de- nounce as a surrender to the military, are lcriticizing the King with the great est freedom They resent his action in summoning to the palace Field Marshal Lord Roberts, who, in his speeches, ad- vised the officers that they might prop erly refuse service in suppressing the Ulster irreconcilables. They criticize his majesty for dealing personally with Field Marshal Sir John French. chief of the general stan. and General Sir Arthur Paget commanding the forces in Ireland who should have been dealt with. they think, only by the Secretary of State for War, in accordance with the regular GUS tom routine. The government has prom ised to throw more light tomorrow on recent history by giving Parliament all the written communications with Gen. eral Paget and officers who refused serv- ice, but how far the negotiations were carried on by written communications re- mains to be seen.
 Ask Confirmation
 The government two spokesrnen, Col onel Seely, Secretary for War. in the House of Commons, and VtscOunt Morley of Blackburn. in the House of Lords, were confronted today by persistent de- mands for explicit information. They were asked as to exactly what asslir- auces the government gave the military officers and whether they were written or verbal Both refused to answer any questions before the papers were pre- sented to the houses.
 If these papers disclose that the gov ernment surrendered to those who re- fused duty in Ulster. Premier Asquith's 2 administration will face great danger from rebellion in it's own ranks. The most reliable parliamentary writers will make this statement in t..t morning pa pers
 The labor. party members throughout MT. Asquith's administration have been criticized by many of the rank and file of their party for seeming, to be docilely chained to his chariot wheels, are In open revolt They harp on the fact that Tom Mann was sent to prison for melting sol diers to refuse to fire on strikers when ordered, and demand to be informed as to whether there is to be one law for aris- tocrats with commissions and another foe plebeians in the ranks. when it comes to matters of conscience and obedience to orders. John Redmond, leader of the Irish rn- tionalist party. in a statement to the Associated Press today. declared the question is whether the atmosphere of the
 
 kContinuea On Rage Uleven)