The Irish standard., 1914-06-20
THE IRISH vOlUN.
1EER MOVEMENT
Temporary Organization Perfected
in United States to Assist
Cause
Committees Representing All Sec
tions Of Country Cooperating
with Body and Ireland.
Influence will be Felt in Settlement
of Home Rule Amendments.


of Home Rule Amendments.
The most remarkable development
Vt the past few weeks in Ireland has
been the phenomenal growth Of the
Irish National Volunteers. The move
ment began some months ago in Ath-
lone. It was then taken up in Dub
lin, where a meeting was held In
the Rotunda. But the movement
hung fire until after the Curragh in
cident and the Carsonite gun-running
at Larne. Bangor, and Donaghdee.
The effect which the Carsonite Vol
unteers produced in high and official
quarters in England did not go unno-
ticed by the ardent spirits amongst
the Irish Nationalists. who felt that
their patience had been misinterpret-
ed. and who desired to prove that. II
the appeal to force could serve Car
sonism, that was a game that two
could play at. II the government
could not depend upon its army. its
police, or its navy. to protect the
lives and properties of the National
lists of Ulster. then the manhood OF
Nationalist Ireland was equal to the
duty, and felt bound in honour to
undertake it. These most probably
were the considerations which influ-
euced tens of thousands of men OF
all creeds and classes to join the
ranks Of the National Volunteers.
The movement has spread like wild
1ire. A moderate calculation places
the number Of men already enrolled
at 128,50O. OF these, Ulster has
41,000; Leinster, $4,000; Munster.
$4,000; and Connaught. 1880. And
recruiting is going on at the rate OF
some 1000 a day. In Ulster. in par
ticular, the increase of the National
Volunteer force is extraordinary. The
men are described by competent
Judges as frst-class fighting material.
Many of them are ex-army men. Tney
are drilled by ex-army men. and men
like Colonel Moore, formerly of the
Connaught Rangers, and Captain
White, son of the late Sir George
White, the defender Of Ladysmtth'
have placed themselves at their head.
All over the country, the tramp OF
the National Volunteers is heard al
ter the days work is done. The
Times and other leading Unionist pa
pers in England have already taken
serious notice of the movement, ana
warned all concerned not to make
the mistake of despising 1t. The
movement is in sympathy with the
Irish Party. Its object is to defend
the rights and liberties of 1rishmen
without regard to class or creed. 1t
is one of the most extraordinary and
portentuous Irish movements of ouz
time.
Method Of County Organization.
The following rules have been
adopted to govern the organization:
/. Till distributed in battaltona
the organization Of the Volunteers Of
each county will be administered by
a board consisting Of one delegate
from each company. The companies
are now invited to send immediate
" representatives to county COM
mittee. and to arrange between them
selves a date and place OF meeting
II these cannot be agreed on the Sc
lection will be made by headquarters
but In any case q weeks notice OF
any such meeting must be sent to
Dublin. and q secretary will be ap'
-pointed at the first meeting. and MS
name communicated to headquarters
for confirmation. A scheme will be
drawn up by the secretary as soon az
-possible for the organization Of bat
talions in their respective baropies'
After the formation Of such q county
committee, the secretary appointed
shall be the medium Of communities
. ton between the companies and head
quarters, and all communications
will be sent through him.
2. When a company has been
: in proper order for at least two
months, and is fairly proficient In
!. squad and company drill. 1t may be
presumed that the members VIII
have formed some opinion ~ to the
qualifications Of those who appear
suitable for the position Of officers
The company should then select (as
4 meeting convened for the purpose
and Of which there should be at least
q weeks notice) . company com
mander and two half-company com