The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1914-03-25
TROOPS MUST
SERVE OR QUIT
English Government Hopes TO
Check OiSaiteCtiOn
STATE AENT MADE ON ULSTER
Premier Asquith Says "Misunderstand.
ing" characterized Whole Affair in
Regard to the Motive For Sending
Soldiers Into Northern Ireland-Ex.
Premier EaIfour Denounces Insane
Policy Of the Government"

London, March 24.-"Misunderstand.
ing" was the keynote of Premier AS
quith's explanation of the crisis
brought about by the designations of
army officers when their regiments
were ordered to prepare to proceed to
Ulster.
Speaking in the house of commons
the prime minister made it clear,
however, that officers and men of the
British army refusing to obey orders
in connection with the opposition OF
Ulster to the introduction of home
rule for Ireland were liable to dis
missal.
Details of the revolt of the army
officers against service in Ulster had
tiUn 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 misunderstood
ing" arose through General Sir Arthur
Paget placing a wrong construction
on the orders given him by the wal
office and telling his subordinates they
were to be employed in quelling an
uprising in Ulster.
The number of officers who re
signed their commissions, the extent
of the disaffection in the army and
other details were not disclosed.
Colonel Seely was derisively jeeret
during his explanation. Andrew Bona,
Law, leader of the opposition, hat
stated that nothing can save the arm.
now except that a declaration that OF
ficers will not be compelled to engage
in civil war against their wish. Wher
he said that officers refusing to serve
against Ulster were only doing theil
duty the Labor members shouted
'How about strikes?"
The whole affair is generally accept
ed as demonstrating that the army
cannot be counted upon to fight Sil
Edward Carson's volunteers if such d
contingency should arise. Opposition
politicians declare that this means the
collapse of the home rule project and
express their belief that the govern
ment may soon relinquish Office by it:
own choice.
Arthur ]. Balfour, former Unionist
premier, ridiculed Premier Asquith''
efforts to minimize the occurrences In
the army and declared that Brigadiel
General Hubert Cough had been rein
stated after he had still declared that
he would not fight against Ulster.
"The insane policy of the govern
ment,' Mr.. Balfour asserted, "haE
brought about a crisis OF infinite harm
and evil to the community, crisis
which will live for years and which
the government would have escaped i
| II had ascertained what Ulster thought
and what her supporters were ready
| to sacrifice"
In view of the partisan claims lie
garding the number Of men, the or
ganization and equipment of tho
Ulster volunteers, statements by
Colonel Dacourt, military correspon
dent of the London Times, and H. w
Nevinson, a Liberal writer of the
Nation, who have been touring Ulster
are important.
Colonel Dacourt says the 10000
men enrolled are in the flower of theil
age and of excellent physique. Decen
tralization has been the system of or
ganization. Each county forms q
separate unit.
Eighty thousand rifles, according 70
Colonel Dacourt, have been distributed
in parcels each containing five 10
selected men so that wholesale seizure
of the weapons would be impossible
Nevinson estimates that between Co.
900 and $4,000 men would respond to
a call for the mobilization of the
volunteers. He thinks the rifles OF