The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-30

London, March 30-Premier Asquith himself decided to take the secretaryship Of war in place Of Col. Seeley.
 London, March 30-Sir John French, chief of the imperial general staff of the British army, and Sir John EWart, ad- iutant general, definitely re- signed from the service today.
 London, March se@.eCoI. seeIy's re- signation mas been acceptedl" This was the euphenaistic expr ession eEn- ployed by Premier Asquit1 in an nouneing to the House of Commons today that his war secretary had paid the penalty of his indIscretions in adding to a cabinet document the two paragraphs which have aroused such feeling as to threaten the existence of the entire cabinet
 The first inti1nation received by members of parliament that Col. Seely had definitely retired from the cabi- net was when he entered the House and took a seat on the back benches instead of among his late colleagues
 CAUSES OF CRISIS.
 The paragraphs which caused the dunn written to Brig. General Hubert Cough and contained the following:
 :. The government must retain it's right to use all the forces of the Crown in Ireland or elsewhere to maintain order and support the civil power in the ordinary execution of their duty but it has no intention right in order to crush political op- position to the policy or the principles of the home rule bilf-' =
 These guarantees were afterWard repudiated by the cabinet and this was taken as a rebun by Field Mar shal Sir John French, who. as head of the imperial general staff, was vir- tuaI commander in chief of the army, and by Sir John EsWart, the adjutant general of the forces. The two gen. erals immediately resigned and all eff. forts made by the king, the premier duce them to change their minds Their resignations were made definite today
 ACTION A SURPRISE.
 Premier Asquith's further announce ment that he himself would take up the portfolio of secretary for war came in the nature of a surprise Having announced his intention to take up the office he declared he would retire from the House of Com mons in accordance with the law "un- til it pIeases my constituents to sane ton my return.
 The premier then dramatically walked out of the chamber amid fran tic cheers from the Liberals the Ma <I,e. whole body of whom rose to their feet and waved handterehiefs and papers as left.
 MT Asquith, having accepted "an office of profit under the crown" must now return to his constituency of East Fife, Scotland, for reelection On the last occasion he received 5,149 votes against the 3,350 of his Unionist opponent and was thus returned by majority Of 1,799.
 When Premier Asquith entered the House today he was greeted with a the ministerial side. He shortly af- terward rose before the crowded chamber to make his promised state ment on the army crisis.
 PRAISE FOR CEN ERALS.
 The premier said that. after full consid iteration, Field Marshal French and Adjutant General Ewart had per-
 
 their offices and in the public interest he deeply deplored the decision of these gallant officers and I cannot speak too warmly or gratefully of the ability, loyalty and devotion with which they have served the state and army and will, I hope, continue to serve
 The premier proceeded to tell the House that Col SeeIy had informed him that it was with deep regret that he felt bound to take the same course and resign the secretaryship for war. Mir. Asquith then sprang his sensation on the House. He said:
 .sIn the circumstances and after much consideration I have felt it my duty to assume the office of secre- tary of state for war, although I have taken the step only with the great est reluctance. in what I believe to be a great public emergency
 That the Premier announcement WAS a complete surprise was evident