The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-28
BRITISH ARMY HEADS STILL OUT


H'ers reply. burst OF Opposition
laughter greeted the statement that the
Cabinet was still sitting.
Bonar Law, leader Of the Unionists.
asked for an adjournment. The Speaker
said the rules did not allow this. where.
upon the Opposition leader exclaimed
holly that II was impossible to deal with
what was nothing less than q public
scandal ...
II was the day for the discussion Of
private members bills. and this business
went on for while until Mr.. Jowett.
Laborite. arose to speak to thlnned
benches. At that moment the peers in the
gallery who had stayed out for the pur-
pose for which they came--that Of hear.
Ing Mr.. Asquith's statement--arose to
leave.
This was apparently regarded as a
slight to the Laborites, who rose In their
places and turned toward the retiring
peers with a torrent OF hooking cheers.
The peers turned In surprise at the
noise. wondering what had happened. but
continued on their way out. while the
Laborites and Radicals yelled contcmptu-
ously. Such demonstration against the
peers In the House OF Commons liz de-
ciared to have been unprecedented.
Premier Asquith's speech.
The Premier went to the House imme-
diately after the second Cabinet meeting
Of the day. Field Marshal Sir John
French was present at both meet!ngs Mr..
AsQuith said that the two Generals had
asked to be relieved Of their offices not
because Of any difference of opinion with
the Government as to conditions under
which the army should serve In UNFOLDING
tho civil authorities but because Of the
awkward position In which they found
themselves after having issued the memo
randum to Brig. Gen. Cough. commander
of the Third Cavalry Brigade Mt the Cur
ragh. Gen Cough had been told that the
army in Ireland would not be used against
Ulster.
Mr.. Asquith added that It was clear
to the Government that n genuine mlscon-
ception had arisen and that the two Cen
erals had believed that they were justified
in considering that they were transmitting
instructions Of the Cabinet to Gen. Cough
He went on to say that the new army
orders had been determined upon as n
means Of preventing the possibility Of the
recurrence of such misconceptions.
The new order to the army" he said.
els headed Discipline II has three ar
ticles. which are as follows:
I'D No officer or colder shall In
future be questioned by his superior Of
fcers as to what attitude he will adopt
or as to his action In the event Of his
being required to obey orders dependent
on future or hypothetical contingencies
"'t2) An officer or soldier Is forbidden
In future to ask for assurances AZ to
orders Itch ne may be required to fulfl.
"'t3) II Is the duty Of every officer
and soldier to obey all lawful commands
given them through the proper channels.
either for Safeguarding public property
or to support the civii power In the
ordinary execution Of its duty or for the
protection OF the lives and property OF the
in case Of disturbance OF
the peace
After reading the order he said that II
seemed necessary to repeat that II was
altogether untrue that the Government
or any member OF the Government ever
active operations OF an ax-
gressive character In Ulster or any op-
erations which now or In the future would
impose upon the army any duty or service
which was not amply CO. cred by the
terms Of this ORDER
"Orders a. lnsslt to Army"
Capt. Ernest Fitsroy Morrison Bell.
Cnionist member for Devonshire. said no
would be voiclng the view Of all ranks Of
the army by. saying. the new orders were
an Insult 10 the army, where thcre mad
never would be the least hesitation In
obeying interests.
Field Marshal French. said Capt Nor
rison-B Bell. had stultihed himself in sign
Ing them. II the Government had be-
never been and where, he believed, thete
haved like men, said the speaker. and had
gone straight to the officers and asked
their views instead OF asking them
through Lieut-Gen. Paget the question
would never have arisen.
Bonar Law followed Mr.. Asquith. He
said he would not refer to the resigna-
lions Of Field Marshal Sir John French
and Adjt.-Gen. Ewart until after Mon
days debate.
Mr.. Law said he saw nothing excep-
tionable In the army orders. because they
contained nothing but what was covered
or implied in the existing orders, but
he pointed out that the fact that the
Government thought such orders were
necessary was due solely to the incredi-
BILE folly OF the Ministry. He reminded
the Premier that his statement in the
Times on March 90 said there would be
no inquisition. which subsequent events