Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-03-26
POSSIBILITIES OF
ULSTER OUTBREAK
AR0USES ENGLAND

AR0USES ENGLAND
London. March 2S.-The outstanding
feature of the news from ireland today
was the dlSaffection among the officers
of the regular army under orders to
proceed to Ulster with their regiments.
The actual number of designations
among them was still problematical,
but that it was consideredable was evil
dent from the earnest early morning
consultations of cabinet ministers re-
gardlng the best means of counterfeit
ing the movement.
The actual a Of this disaffection is
the more discomforting to the military
authorities since the army is already
seriously short of commissioned Of
Ulcers.
Threats of a crisis In the army if a
movement of regular troops was I'M
dertaken against Ulster had long been
current and In some quarters it is be-
lieyed that the sudden marching of a
limited number of troops was ordered
so that the military authorities might
gather an idea as to how widespread
the threatened disaffection was.
Disaffection Is Widespread.
Immediately after Colonel Seely, the
secretary of state for war, had been
in audience with King George at BUCK
ingham palace this morning, Colonel
Seely. summoned a meeting of the
army council, which took the necessary
steps to replace officers who had re-
signed.
According to reports, however, the
number of vacancies is rapidly increas-
ing, and it's seems possible that all the
regular regiments which have been
serving in Ulster may have to be with
drawn and replaced by fresh troops,
40 both man and officers ho va Onpp1U
expressed their disinclination to take
the offensive against men with whom
they have been fraternizing. This mo-
mentary shifting of the immediate crisis
from Ulster to the army may give the
p~eaceInakers their desired opening.
The return of Arthur ]. BalfouI,
former u%nionis premier. to London,
has given heart to the advocates of a
compromise. He and Premier Asquith
have served long years side by side in
the political field and understand and
appreciate M another.
p~artisanship Bitter.
Premier Asquith and Andrew Bonar
Law, the official leader of the OPPOSE
ton in the hous OF whenever
they have come into contact have
given embittered displays of partisan
ship.
1t was thought in many quarters to-
day that if the government would con-
sent to give the counties of Ulster per
petual local option on the question of
home rule, instead of compelling them
to come undei the Dublin parliament at
the end of six years, Il way out Of the
present difficulty would be opened.
The ~nationalities always have con-
tended that The FISHERMEN would be
glad to join the home rule scheme once
it had been demonstrated that their
fears of unfair treatment We're UNI
founded.
King Takes Hand.
King George himself is taking an
active part in the negotiations. He is
not contining his conferences to mem
bers of the cabinet. but has been in
communication with Arthur j. l~3alfour
and gave an audience to Field Marshal
Lord Roberts after he had seen the
secretary of state for war. Lord Rob
erts subsequently conferred at length
with Colonel Seely and the wal office
executive staff. which has been work
ing at high pressure.
Lloyd George Firm.
Liberalism will not llinch one inch
before the arrogant and insolent
plague of toryism," was the message
conveyed today by David Lloyd
George, chancellor Of the eXchequer, to
a mass meeting of liberals at Hud-
derstield. The chancellor was talking
about Ulster and the attitude of thu
u%nionists. He said:
The country is confronted with the
sravest issue in the history OF demo-
cratic government since the days OF
the StuartS. Representative govern
ment in this land is at stake. | am
here IN behalf of the government to
say we mean TO confront this defiance
of popular liberties with resolute and
~unwavering determination, whatever
the hazard may be. We are not fight.
ing about Ulster or about home rule.
We are fighting for all that is essen
tai to the civil liberty Of this land
An official communication issued
this afternoon says
The recent movement of troops in
Ulster are purely precautionary, with
the object of giving adequate protec-
ton to depots of arms and anlnuni-
ton and other government property
against possible risks
1t adds: There has not been, and
is not now, any intention to move
troops into Ulster, except for these and
like purposes"
London, March 21.-The utmost &C
tivity prevails at the war office and in
other departments OF the government
affected by the apparently grave situa-
ton in Ulster. All the secretaries of
state today cancelled their usual week
end trips to the country. Col. John
Seeley. secretary of state for war, and
Winston Spencer Churchill. first lord
of the admiralty, conferred at the war
department this afternoon. After the
conference. a statement was issued
confirming the report Of the resignation
Of some army officers serving in Ire
land and stating that these cases will
be dealt with in due and normal course
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