The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-03-24
FlASC0 OF ARMED INVASION OF ULSTER
MAY SOUND DEATH KNELL OF HOME RULE
DETECTION OF OFFICERS FROM RANKS Is NOW CLOSED
NCIDENT-WHOLE TROUBLE SAID TO BE THE
RESULT OF A MISUNDERSTANDING
Claim Made That Government Made Col Paget to Cover IT,
Own Blunder-Fiery Talk Of Opposition Missing at House
Sesion-Ulsterites Jubiant-Home Rule in Doubt

LONDON. March 23.--The detection
OF the army officers who refused to
serve In Ulster is now a closed Incl
dent. but its consequences are likely
TO prove farreaching. Premier As
Qufth and Colonel Seeley. secretary OF
state for war. made explanations be-
fore an excited and turbulent house
to-day that the whole affair was the
result of n misunderstanding.
This misunderstanding. Il was in
ferred. although they did not directly
say SO. was due 10 misconstruction OF
the governments plans by the COM
manding general. Sir Arthur Paget.
whereby he informed the officers IN
ireland that they were to move on
Ulster for a repressive campaign.
General Paget and three senior Of
hcers from the Curragh camp-Cen-
eral Cough. Colonel McEwan and Col
onel Parker-were summoned to Lon
don for a conference. According to
omclal statements the misunderstand-
Ing has been cleared away. and these
omcers returned to Ireland tonight
Prior to their departure they said
they were entirely satisfied with the
results OF their visit The terms on
which the officers remain at their
posts were not disclosed. but the gen
eral belief Is that they were assured
mat they would not be compelled TO
night against the Ulster men. This is
government.
Objects To Publicity.
Lord Morley of Blackburn ex-
plained in the house OF lords signif-
cantly that he die not think. in the
interests OF the efficiency of the army
that all that transpired in the army
council should be made public, and
mat the king approved the orders 10
the ofhcers to return.
The mart the EirF piayad In .b..
crisis has not been disclosed. Army
ofncers addressed their designations
10 his majesty. and the report is that
the king insisted that the designations
In the present Instance should not be
accepted and used his influence with
the cabinet for compromise with the
army.
The Unionists firmly believe that
the government has participated in n
fiasco. They think that the two most
enterprising. spirits of the cabinet.
David Lloyd George and Winston
Spencer Churchill. were the chief
movers In the plan and that the gov
ernment proposed a wholesale move
ment of troops into Ulster TO over
come the .Coyenanters by the display
of superior force and the arrest OF
their leaders. and that the plan was
frustrated only by the opposition OF
the officers.
Ulster Wins FIGHT.
Some OF the Unionist members as
sert that Andrew Bonar Law recent
ly received letter quoting one OF
the highest Officers in Ireland as
saying:
BY Saturday there will be hun
dreds of dead in Ulster"
The Unionists also accuse the gov
ernment of making n scapegoat Of
General Paget for their own Colossal
blunder."
The future OF the Home Rule bill
IS wrapped in clouds.
No declaration of Full steam
ahead" or meeting force with force"
were heard from the Liberals in the
debate in the house of commons to-
day. None OF the fire and firmness
which permeated the speeches of the
ministers only last week was in eyf-
dence. The army has checkmated
the government, according to the
Unionists view and the Covenanters