Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-03-23
TO PROTECT THE ARSFNALS
RESERVATIONS or ARMY Off
GERS ARE INVESTIGATED
BY WAR OFFICE
CARSON SAYS WELL FIGHT
DECLARES NORTH IRELAND WILL
NOT SUBMIT TO RULE
FROM DUBLIN

London, March %. Misunder-
standing was the keynote Of Premier
Asquith's explanation today of the
crisis brought about by the resigna-
tions Of army officers when their regi-
ments were ordered to prepare TO pro-
ceed to Ulster. Speaking in the house
Of commons, the prime minister made
it clear, however, that officers and men
in the British army refusing to obey
orders in connection with the opposi-
tion Of Ulster to the introduction Of
nome rule for Ireland were liable to
dismissal
Details of the revolt Of the army
officers against such in Ulster had
been awaited with strained expecta-
ton by the whole country. Only brief
statements were forthcoming from the
secretary Of war and the premier and
the gist Of these was that the whole
affair was due to misunderstanding" !"
and that all the officers had now re
turned to their duty.
AS far as the minister's statements
can be interpreted, the ''misunder-
standing arose through General Sir
Arthur Paget placing wrong con-
struetion upon the order given him by
the war Office and telling his subor-
dinates they were to be employed in
quelling an uprising in Ulster.
The number of officers who resign
ed their commands, the extent of the
disaffection- in the army, and other
details were not disclosed. Colonel
Zeeley was derisiyely jeered during
his explanation.
Andrew Bonar Law, leader of the
opposition, had stated that nothing
can save the ary now except a de-
cIaration that officers will not be com
PEELED to engage in civil war agains.
their wish" When he said that Of
fcers fBfusing to serve against us
ter wers only doing their duty, the la
Dor member shouted How about
strikes?"
The whole affair is generally ac-
cepted as demonstrating that the army
cannot be counted upon to fight Sir
Edward Carson's volunteers if such
a contingency should arise. Opposi-
tion politicians declare that this
means the collapse OF the home rule
project and express their belief that
the government may soon relinquish
Office by its own choice.
Calm was created in the British
isles today by the reassuring state
ment given out by Premier AsQuith to
the effect that the troop movement in
Ulster had been ordered only as a
precautionary measure for the protec-
ton Of government property
The inference is generally drawn
from the premier's remarks that the
governments intentions toward army
officers who did not desire to serve
against the orangemen, had been mis-
interpreted
The interest in the disaffection in.
the army arising out OF the newest
phase Of the home rule situation was
displayed in the house Of commons
today when the house was crowded
to listen to statement from Colonel
zeeley, secretary Of state for war.
The communication made by zeeley
was very brief and utterly vague. The
gist Of it was that some officers had
informed General Sir Arthur Paget'
eommanderIn-chief IN Ireland, that
they could not serve in certain event
uallties. There was, he said mis-
understanding and these officers had
been ordered to reioin their regiments.
the movement 81 troops, ne concIud-
ed, was solely IA order to protect the
stores Of gcyemment arms and ann
munition.
Both Premier Aaquith and Andrew
Bonar Law, leader Of the opposition.
recognized the widespread anxiety Of