Evening journal., 1914-03-26
Field MARSHAL
FRENCH Leaves
british ARMY
Hero of South African and
Soudan Campaigns Resigns
Because of Home Rule Row
ALL OFFICERS OF
Army IN conference
BY The United Press.

LONDON. March 26-The Evening
News this afternoon announced the
designations of Field Marshal Sir
John French and General John
Spencer Ewart from the British army.
AS members of the War Council,
General French and General Ewart
signed the Cough treaty" with War
Secretary Seely. The Reputation of
the assurances given Cough that the
Irish officers would not be expected to
serve against Ulster led TO their
designations. The two generals, It
is said. we're led TO believe that the
two paragraphs repudiated in the
House of Commons by Asquth had
been approved by the cabinet
Field Marshal Sir John Denton
Pinkstone French served in the army
since 1874, when he was an officer
in the Eighth Hussars. During the
Soudan campaign of 1SS4-S5 he
served with the Nineteenth Hussars.
In 1899 he was appointed to COM
mand the cavalry disislon in Natal
and commanded the cavalry in the
battles of Reitfontein and Lombard's
Kop. lie was one of the leading
commanders during the Boer War
commanding the troops i'm the oper-
ations around Coleburg and also the
cavalry I'm the movements which
eliminated in the relief of Kimberly
in February, 1900.
During the operations which ended
I'm the capture of BloemfOntein and
Pretoria, General French commanded
the cavalry division of Lord Roberts
forces. He then commanded the
forces which captured Barberton and
those operating in Eastern Trans
yaal.
The breach between the army anC
government again opened. renewed
attacks upon aristocratic domination
and the facing Of another crisis b!
the Asquith cabinet were the net re
suits today Of the stormy session il
the House of Commons yesterda,
when War Minister Secly assumed
full responsibility for the Irish tan
gle and Premier Asquith repudiate'
the concessions made General GOugl
and other officers who resigned rathe
than serve in Ulster.
A conference of practically all thu
general officers of the army in Eng
land was in progress at the War of
fee today. The purpose of the. con
ference was not stated, but in Dub
lin General Cough declared the of
ficers would hold the War Council
to its promises.
The atmosphere was far from clear
ed today. The question was still "Shal
the army rule England
The general impression is tina
Premier Asquith's belated repudiatio
of the Cough treaty i'm the Common
yesterday only temporarily averts IN
downfall of his cabinet. Many LibeT
ais regard the retention of Colone
Seely as war minister as a most SER
GUS blunder. The premier repudial
ing his temporizing with the officer
stationed in ireland. but by failing
accept Colonel Seelys resignation the
believe Asquith placed the governmer
in a position from which it will nc
be able to emerge without disruption
The designations of Field Marsh;
sir John French and General Ewal
are momentarily expected They ar
said to be incenscd at the temporii
ing and then the withdrawal of til
promises given the officers. The az
ton is regarded as conducive to an,
thing but good discipline.
Il is declaredl that the officers {
the Irish commands will never col
sent to fight Ulster. Brigadier Generi
Cough stated his position in an intel
view: 1--WE have a guarantee signed 1
the army council" said Generi
Cough. 1--WE will hold the council
its promise, but if the premier stanC
by his statement made yesterday,
fear the entire question may be r.
opened"
In all opposition quarters, as well
Laborites. Socialists and Nationalists,
Is emphatically declared that the fig,
Is far from conclusion. Rising out of u
struggle will be the drawing of cle'
line as between the aristocratic an
democratic factions.
The cxtents to which the opposite
forces might carry their reforms IN cai
Of victory, are all but limitless insof'
As the army is concerned. Driven
desperation by the setting up Of tN
standards of loyalty--one for Office
and one for the men-the abolition
The old system of drawing Offices on
from the wealthy or titled families
night follow, and the man in the ranl
D. given his chance to rise.
The Daily Citizen. Labor paper. .
iav describes yesterdays development
Is "the death OF court AMI military j
.rigue.'