New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-21
Orders Issued to Warships
at Plymouth and
Bantry Bay.
SIR JOHN FRENCH
DIRECTS OPERATIONS
Firing of Two Rocket
Bombs the Signal to
Take Up Arms.
MACHINE GUNS MOVED
One Hundred Officers Who Object
to Fighting the Ulstermen
Resign Their Commissions.
[Rv Cahl. 70 The Tribune. J


Belfast. March 20.-There can be no
gainsaying the appalling gravity of the
/ situation in Ulster. The government is
taking the initiative, having drafted
| troops from the south TO various
strategic points in Ulster. The great
est activity prevails among the troops
/ in Dublin and at Curragh camp, and
more troops are expected in Ulster
| within the next few days. Some of
these are being embarked in warships
in Dublin Bay. II is stated also that
a battleship and two cruisers have
been ordered to proceed from Plymouth
to Belfast Lough.
All these military movements are
Field Marshal Sir John French, chief
Of the imperial General STAFF. These
rapid movements OF troops are for the
puprose Of guarding the large guam
titles of ammunition and stores in the
North OF Ireland, as is feared by the
authorities. who are being served by
spies in the Unionist camp, that an at
tempt will be made by the Ulster vol
unteers 10 seize the stores. The gov
ernment believes that the Ulstermen
have not sufficient arms and ammu-
milton.
The fact remains, however. that nj
any moment one spark may iniiame
the whole Of Uulster. The volunteers
20 hA fAg
instant action, and they are waiting
for the firing OF two rocket bombs over
the headquarters Of the provisional
government In Belfact 10 take up arms.
Belfast Regiment Transferred.
The movement OF troops is being
carried out on the principle that in the
event Of hostilities no soldiers shall be
exposed 10 the possibility Of encounter
ing persons with whom they have
formed friendships. In accordanceX
with this principle the Dorsetshire
Regiment, stationed In Belfast for the
last year, was transferred TO the Holy
wood Barracks, four miles distant.
The men marched with full equipment,
taking with them twelve carts loaded
with rife ammunition and also ma
chine guns.
II was expected that the Bedfordshire
Regiment. from Mullngar. Westmeath,
would take the place Of the Dorsets In
the Victoria Barracks during the night.
While the Dorsets were passing Craig
avon. County Down, the residence OF
CAPTAIN James Smith, one Of the volun-
teer leaders and with whom Sir Edward
Carson is staying, the guards OF the
Ulster volunteer force turned out and
stood at salute. Many Of the Dorsets
returned the salute.
Troops tonight were moving all along
the Ulster border. Messages received
from Enniskillen, Newry, Armagh and
Omagh said that detachments from va
rious regiments from Dublin, Carragh
and Mullingar were drafted in. Their
expected arrival was made the occasion
for enthusiastic demonstrations by the
loyalists. Automobiles with dispatch
riders sent from Belfast on Thursday
TO volunteer headquarters in all parts
Of Ulster returned to-day. 1t is be-
lieved they carried orders arranging for
a. quick mobilization Of the Orange
forces II this should become necessary.
Sir Edward Carson Guarded.
Craigavon, where Sir Edward Carson
went on his dramatic arrival to-day
from Westminster, Is guarded by VOL
unteers, each man armed with rlne
and bayonet and carrying ball car
.ridges Sir Edward was met on his
arrival by the military commander OF
the Ulster Volunteers, General Sr
George Richardson, retired. The resi-
dences Of the other orange leaders arc
also being guarded.
The Marquis Of Londonderry arrived
from London this afternoon and par
ticipated in the conference Win the
Ulster leaders. The conference resulteo
,r q proclamation urging the Orange
men TO continue their attitude OF cam
waiting.
The proposed parade OF Nationalist
volunteers announced in Londonderry
for Sunday, which was regarded In
many quarters as likely TO result III
conflict which would set the heather
on fire in Ulster, will probably be aban-
doned. John Redmond, the Nationalist
leader. to-day telegraphed an urgent
appeal TO the promoters Of the parade
10 cancel the affair which was, he said.
Calculated to infiict the gravest injury
on the Nationalist cause, as 1t was
playing the game OF their bitterest enc
mics and affording them the pretext
they were particularly looking for