Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-03-21
UNlONlsT ARMY" ACTIVE
is PREPARING TO RESIST ANY At
TACK MADE ON IT BY THE
SOLDIERS
WAITING TROUBLE" POLICY
THE NORTH IRELANDERs HOPE
VIOLENCE WILL BE PRovoK-
ED BY MILITARY

London, March 21.-The outstand-
ing feature Of the news from Ireland
today was the disaffection among the
officers Of the regular army under
orders to proceed to Ulster with their
regiments. The actual number of res
ignations among them was still prob
lematical but that it was considerable
was evident from the earnest early
morning consultations Of cabinet min
listers regarding the best means Of
counteracting the movement. The
actual fact Of this disaffection is the
more discomforting to the military
authorities since the army is already
seriously short of commissioned Off
GERS.
Threats OF crisis in the army if
a movement Of regular troops was
undertaken against Ulster had long
been current and in some quarters it
it believed that sudden marching of
a limited number of troops was order
ed SO that the military authorities
might gather an idea as 70 how wide
spread the threatened disaffection
was.
Immediately after Colonel zeeley,
the secretary of state for war, had
been in audience with King George at
buckingham Palace this morning,
Colonel Zeeley summoned a meeting
OF the army council which took the
necessary steps to replace officers
who resigned.
According to reports, however, the
number Of vacancies is rapidly in
creasing and it seems possible that
all the regular regiments which have
been serving in Ulster may have to
be withdrawn and replaced by fresh
troops, as both men and officers have
openly expressed their disinclination
to take the offensive against men with
whom they have been fraternizing.
This momentary shifting Of the i'm
medite crisis from Ulster to the army
may give the peace makers their de.
sired opening
The return of Arthur ]. Balfour,
former unionist premier, to London
has given heart to the advocates of
a compromise. He and Premier As
quith have served long years side by
side in the political field and under
stand and appreciate oneanother. 4n'
Premier AsQuith and Boner Law,
the official leader of the opposition
in the house Of commons, whenever
they have come into contact, have
given embittered displays Of parts
anshin. ssw
1t was thought in many quarters
that today if the government would
consent to the counties Of Ulster per
petual local option on the question of
home rule, instead OF compelling them
to come under the Dublin parliament
at the end Of six years, a way out OF
the present difficulty would be open
ed. The nationalists always have con-
tended that the Ulster men would be-
glad to join the home rule scheme
once It had been demonstrated that
their fears Of unfair treatment were
unfounded.
King George himself is taking an
active part in the negotiations He is
not confining his conferences to mem
bers Of the cabinet, but has been in
communication with Arthur J. Bal
four and gave an audience to Field
Marshal Lord Roberts after he had
seen the secretary of state for war.
Lord Roberts subsequently conferred
at length with Colonel zeeley and the
war office executives staff, which has
been working at high pressure.
liberalism will not finch one inch
before the arrogant and insolent
plague Of Toryism, was the message
conveyed today BY David Lloyd
George. chancellor Of the exchecauer,
to mass meeting or liberals at ITud-
dersfisld The chancellor, speaking