Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-03-25
British Soldiers Told to Arrest
200 Leaders.
CRISIS IN THE KINGS ARMY
Many Officers Resign to Avoid Mill
tary Service in North of ireland
All Face Courts
Martial.


taking command at Ulster or retiring.
General Cough, who was allowed two
hours for consideration, resigned i'm
mediately. The Observer says also
that the government has decided to
issue 200 warrants for the arrest Of
the leaders in Ulster.
Crisis in the Army.
The governments military precau-
tiOns to preserve order in Ulster pre-
cipitated crisis without parallel in
the history Of the British army. Rather
than be placed in position where
they might be called on to act against
the Ulster covenanters, numerous OFF,
GERS resigned their commissions.
While the war Office refused to say
how many had resigned, popular be-
lief, based on reports from the differ
ent regiments, was that the number Of
Withdrawals had crippled the whole
military organization in Ireland and
prevented carrying out the orders for
moving several large bodies of troops.
Recalls American Revolution.
The Marquis of Londonderry, one Of
the Ulster leaders, said that nothing
of the sort had occurred in the British
army since the days of the American
revolution.
The entrance of King George on the
scene as peacemaker was the dramatic
event Of the day. He had long confer
ences with the prime minister, Mr.. As
1Yifh. tho coorotorv IF cfofo for uuor
Colonel Seely, and several high off,
GERS, and afterward summoned Field
Marshal Lord Roberts, who had been
criticized by the liberals for utterances
which they construed as encourage
ment to the officers to refuse to obey
orders.
From the palace the veteran field
marshal drove to the war Office, where
he had long talk with the secretary
for war. The army council held long
sitting at the war Office, generals and
lesser officers Of the staff coming and
going throughout the day.
Unable to Move Troops.
Meantime the movement of troops
continued in Ireland. The center of
interest shifted to Curragh, Is miles
from Dublin, where the Third cavalry
brigade under General Cough and the
Fourteenth infantry brigade under
Colonel Rolf we're stationed.
Gen. Sir Arthur Paget, command
ing the forces in Ireland, passed the
day in camp. He held a conference
with SO officers of the Curragh, Dublin,
Kildare and Newbridge garrisons.
1t was said that orders had arrived
for the dispatch of the Third brigade
to Ulster, but that these could not be
carried into execution, because vir-
tually all the officers had resigned
Orders for the dispatch of the Six
teenth lancers also failed of execution
by reason of the same wholesale re-
ttrements Of officers.
Reports Of Mutiny Also.
A Dublin dispatch said that the res
ignations from the Curragh forces
numbered 40. Other advices placed
the number at 100.
L Many rumors we're afioat throughout
the day. Among those published and
degTied were reports that the govern
ment had issued an ultimatum to the
officers giving them IL hours to decide
whether to obey orders and that two
companies of the Dorsetshire regiment
In Belfast had thrown down their arms
! in mutiny.
Mutineers to Be Arrested.
A Dublin message to London press
association said that the officers who
refused to obey orders would be ar
rested and that many Of those who had
undertaken to go to Ulster had done
so on condition that they were not to
carry arms against the unionists.
Immediately after Colonel Seely, sec
rotary Of state fer war, had been in
audience with King George at Buck
ingham palace Colonel Seely sum-
moned a meeting Of the army council,
which took necessary steps to replace
officers who had resigned.
Reports, however, were that the
number Of vacancies was rapidly in
creaSing.
It seemed possible that all the regu-
lar regiments which had been serving
in Ulster might have to be withdrawn
and replaced with fresh troops, as
both men and officers openly expressed
their Discrimination to take the Of
fensive against men with whom they
had been fraterniZing.
1t was thought in many quarters
that if the government would consent
to give the counties of Ulster perpet-
ual local option on the question Of
home rule, instead of compelling them
to come under the Dublin parliament
at the end of six years, way out Of
the present difficulty might be opened.
Soldier Shot by Sentry.
Dublin, March 23.-The first victim
OF the existing state of excitement in
Ireland was a soldier at the Curragh
camp, who was late for roll call. He
attempted to scale a wall Of the bar
racks and was shot by sentry. 1t f.