New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-07
INVASION OF IRELAND
The Armed Force That Is to Sail
from America.
To the Editor Of Tie Trih"ne.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The announcement IN yesterdays
papers that an armed force OF 100000 IRISH
men was to leave America to resist conscrip-
ton in Ireland and establish on independent
government there Is highly interesting news
A German invasion Of Ireland is also 70 be
effected n an carly day to aid the force that
is 10 be dispatched from this country. There
is. too. n force Of 200 600 armed men IN Ireland
ready TO cooperate in this work. The work
will no. be at all dflcult, and the object viii
be easy of attainment, because, according to
General Spellissy, England Is on her last
legs.
1t seems strange, though, II England
is in the sorry plight they have pictured her
70 DO that the 100000 armed men In ireland
should not % able to accomplish the over
throw Of English rule without the aid OF the
e.rntidable contingents from america and
Germany. No doubt the mon who organized
Iris armed force would regard this question
ss lust rs trivial as the question Of the trans
portation Of the men to the other side.
Where the newly armed force is located and
Row Il was trained and equipped plainly are
questions Of too impertinert nature 10 be
Idignifed By an answer. The army is organ
lied. we are solemnlv told, and that should
settle the question.
II appears that the stimulus 70 this sud
den activity on the part Of the leaders OF the
Physical Force party in America, whose pol
icy Of "watchful waiting" has not been alto
rether satisfactory to their followers, was
the pretended fear Of conscripton and its
Gireful consequences. A large order for riot
shrapnel has been placed with some Ameri-
can manufacturers, and this is to be used to
slaughter Irishmen who attempt 70 resist con-
scription, they excitedly tell US.
No doubt there are some well meaning
I,ishmen who will gulp down all this and be
heve it implicitly. The fraud however, il
tee transparent 10 deceive any intelligent
man. In the first place, conscrption in Brit
ain has never got beyond the debating ground
No step has been taken by the English gov
eminent looking to that form of military ser
vice. The best informed men in England and
| in Ireland are one in their belief that con.
scription will never be resorted TO In this
dsy and generation by the government. And
nobody knows this fact better than the lead
crs of the movement referred 10.
/ But they found themselves in bad situa'
ton and it had to be relieved in some way.
For wears they have been telling the Irish
people in America that they were only wait
/ Ing for England to become involved in q
European war 20 strike a blow for Ireland
The present war brought them the oppor-
tunity they pretended 70 be looking for, but
Of course they made TO move 70 take ad-
vintage OK il. The men who followed and be-
/ lieved in them became Disguised with their
do-nothing policy and left the organization
until il has become a miserable remnant OF
what was once powerful body. Fear that
even this remnant would disappear and would
leave the little bosslets who have thrived on
I the Irish cause without job compelled them
/ 70 make this grandstand play and thus pla-
cate their followers.
When conscription fails 10 materialze in a
month or year they will loudly proclaim
that il was their mythical army and brave
TAX that made England "back down" on con-
scripton. They will claim that il was their
work that saved the Irish in Ireland from
being sent to the slaughter pens Of the Con.
tinent to fight under the English flag The,
will then have rehabilitated themselves in the
eyes Of the Irish race throughout the world
and will be enabled to continue their old
game Of political buncombe
Another view Of the warlike pronounce
rlent OF these advanced" Nationalists will
AFFORD fair test Of their sincerity II these
political play actors had an armed force OF
the proportions they claim, and il they really
intended 70 send that force 70 Ireland. they
would never talk about il from the house
tops. They would never announce their plans
TO the public and furnish the enemy with in
formation they must know would be used 10
Illustrate their attempt But they know
what they are doing. They realize that the