The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-28
MUTlHY NOW the ISSUE.
REFUSAL OF ARMY OFFICERS TO
OBEY ORDERS OVERSHAD~
OWS HOME RULE.
John Redmond, the Irish Leader
triticiscs the Arlstocratic Army
Clique. Accusing the Officers With
Conspiring with Ulster Leaders to
Defy the Government.


over what the Liberals now denounce
as the "mutiny OF army aristocrats"
against democratic government. The
fact has been established from all
Gvalaole evidence that Gen. Hubert
Cough and the other officers of the
Third cavalry brigade demanded and
obtained written assurances that they
would not be ordered 10 fight against
sir Edward Carsons Ulster volun-
teers. and that these assurances were
obtained largely through the personal
Intervention of the king.
Before they left London yesterday
the officers telegraphed to their
brother officers in Ireland that they
had found support from the highest
quarters" On their arrival at the
Curragh camp they were welcomed
by guard OF honor and related the
outcome of their summons to the war
office.
The section OF the Liberals who ie-
nounced as surrender to the mill
tary oligarchy" are consuming the king
with the greatest freedom. They re-
sent his action in summoning to the
palace Field Marshal Lord Roberts,
who. In his speeches. advised the OF
hcers that they might properly refuse
service in suppression of the Ulster
irreconcilables. They criticise his
majesty for dealing personally with
Field Marshal Sir John French, chief
OF the general staff. and Gen. Sir Ar
thur Paget. commanding the forces
in Ireland, who should have been
dealt with. they think. only by ;he
sccretary vf state for war. ia accord
~ with the customary official
THE government has promised to
throw more light tomorrow on recent
history by giving parliament all the
written communications with Gen.
Paget and officers who refused SER
vice, but how far the negotiations
were carried on by written communi-
cations remains to be seen.
The governments two spokcsmen.
Col. Seeley, secretary for war. in the
house OF commons. and Viscount Nor
ley OF Blackburn i'm tho house Of
lords were confronted today by per-
sistent demands for explicit informal
tion. They were asked as to exactly
what assurances the government gave
the military officers and whether they
were written or oral. Both refused
TO answer any question before the pa
pers were presented to the house.
III these papers disclose that the
government surrendered to those vino
refused duty in Ulster. Premier AS
quith's administration will face great
danger from rebellion in it's own
ranks. The most reliable parlia-
mentary writer's will make this state
ment in the morning papers.
The Labor party members. who.
throughout Mr.. Asquiths administra-
tion. have been criticised by many CT
the rank and file of their party FOR
seeming To- he willingly chained to his
chariot wheels are in open revolt.
They harp on the fact that Tom Mann
was sent To prison for six months for
inciting soldiers TO refuse to fire IN
strikers when ordered and demand to
he informed as 30 whether there is to
he one law for aristocrats with COM
missions and another for plebians in
tho ranks. when il comes 10 matters
OF conscience and obedience to or
dcrs.
John Redmond, leader OF the Irish
Nationalist parts. in statement to
the Associated Press today. declared
the question is whether the atmos-
phere Of the aristocratic London
drawing rooms or tho will of the ma
jority of the people shall prevail. The
house OF commons today witnessed "a
telling demonstration of how the land
Lies. II showed where not only The
Irish home rulers and LAboritcs. who
made Premier Asquith's majority and
held the balance OF the house. stand,
hut that many Liberals arc opposed to-
what. from their present Information.
they consider surrender To the army
officers.
The army appropriation bill was
under discussion and the Unionist
Leopold G. Amcry. moved rcduc-
tion for the purpose of criticising the
government. on the ground that it
was not entitled To use the army FOR
party purposes, which is the basis of
the UnlOnist position in the present
crisis
The I.aborlte. John Ward, who was
n dock labOror and at one time a