Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-10
THE BRITISH CRISIS.
xxv.-A Military Estimate.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

BELFAST. May 2o-The estimate of
the present situation in Ulster from a
military viewpoint may not be uninter-
esdng 70 American readers, the more es-
pecially since the average military man
here turns to American history for his
comparisons and proofs. The whole of
this letter is devoted to a TRANSCRIPTION
Of views of several English and Irish
military men in Ulster, preserving their
own peculiar outlook, for which l am in
nowise responsible
The student of military affairs sees in
the Ulster volunteer force certain facts
to which the party politician is blind, and
IN these Facts the soldier realizes the
grave danger Of the present situation.
No. British officer is permitted to enter
the Stan College until after he has mas
tered the details of the history Of the
Virginia campaigns Of the American civil
war. AS a part Of this preparation he IL
told to read Col Henderson's Life of
Stonewan Jackson"
In the Introduction to that volume
written by Lord Wolseley. there are pas
sages showing complete analogy be-
tween the situation in Virginia in 1861
and that in Ulster today. It is pointed
out that the famous "Stonewall Britade''
OF the shenandoah valley was largely of
Ulster.
Inc passage Of Col. Henderson's book
often quoted here nowadays, is:
mo better
Comparison Drawn material for SOL
in Henderson Book 'stad ever ever e the
men of the Shenando.h r.1,., Most ~
them were Of Scotch-Irish descent, but
from the moro northern counties came
many of English blood and from those in
the center Of Swiss and German. But
wnatever Their origin. they were thor
oughly well qualified for their new trade.
All classes mingled in the ranks, and all
ages; the heirs Of the oldest families and
the humblest of the sons Of toll; boys
whom 1t was impossible to keep at school.
and men whose white boards hung below
tnelr cross-belts; youths who had been
reared In luxury. and rough hunters from
thelr lonely cabins. To social distinctions
they gave little heed. They were united
Tor a common purpose; they had taken
arms to defend Virginia, and to maintain
her rights. and their patriotism was
proved by the sacrifice of all personal
consideration and individual interest Nor
is the purity of their motives to be uues-
toned. They had implicit faith in the
righteousness of their cause"
written of Ulster today. United for
common purpose and with an implicit
faith in the Righteousness of their cause
are the hundred thousand Ulster yolun-
teers. They. like the Virginians, have
sunk every class distinction. In the ranks
stand wealthy merchants. manufacturers,
professional men and farmers shoulder to
shoulder with the artisan. the mill hand
and the laborer, all of them covenanters,
with the one fixed resolve not to have
home rule.
1t fs useless to point out to these men
that the Stonewell Brigade, great as 1t
was. did not win
Useless to Hint at its way. and that
Possible Defeats, the virgtnians lost
in the war. It Is
useless to point out that good fighting
men are grown also in Leinster and
Munster and Connaught. where they do
want home rule. 1t Is just as useless as
1t would have been in Virginia in 1881 to
talk about the fighting qualities of Mas
sachusetts and Pennsylvania
The Ulster volunteer believes, and his
military commanders believe, that he is
worth from two to a dozen other men.
Such beliefs may sometimes be justified,
out even then they are dangerous if the