New Britain herald., 1916-01-28

to do was to tell Premier Asquitl1 that it would be necessary for hint to put the matter up to the Irish people, for he knew that 37, 1000 Cath olics would refuse to go to the front. It would have brought England face to face with conditions that confront. it now and would aid Ireland in the demand for Home Rule. Instead Mr.
 Redmond stood on the floor of the House that day, and pledged the whole army of Ireland not for Ire land but for England. Anyone who has read of Parnell knows what he would have done if they don't they should read his history
 MT. Devoy said that recently Q friend of his. who had been in Ire
 land, discussed the attitude of Red
 mond with John Dillon and the latter
 said that at the beginning of the war the Redmond felt the war would not last three months and the Germans would be beaten, but they placed their money on the wrong horse, this time, (applause.) He was glad Redmond had failed to take advantage of the Home Rule bill for with him so doing it would have meant that Irish gen.
 erosity would have been the means Of 5OO,0OO Irishmen going to the front and this would have aided greatly 1n British progress.
 Feelngly the speaker told a recent incident where 750 Irish troops fell in battle because the assistance Of British troops was not forthcoming. In this fight the speaker lost a nephew "the first of the family of Devoy ever to fight for England.' The foa n " of the Irish troops now at the front
 are badly disabled, and will receive no pension when the war is ended. If more go to the front they will receive the same treatment. so what are We to expect in the cause of justice?' he asked.
 MT. Devoy spoke of the changes i'll government that occur with frequency in English rule, and propheS1ed that the Tories will again come into power, which would mean the overthrow of the Home Rule bill He said it was often claimed that Ireland was not capable of self government, but evl- dences of its wonderful progress in agriculture in the past few years dis pelled this. and. without Ireland, England would be reduced to a third class nation
 'Germany Would Help Ireland.'
 We are told that Germany would oppress Ireland," he continued. "Why should she? It would be to her inter ests to aid Ireland. Germany is pledged in this war, and Germany has never broken it's faith with this Irish people and will keep it's word.' He said the notices published in the press of the atrocities committed in Bel gium were false. he having received word from a justice of the supreme court of New York who has a sister who is nun in that country, that the treatment of the German officers and police is courteous and polite towards the Sisters of Mercy Conditions un- der the Germans were as good as they had ever been. she wrote.
 He said there are over 40, 900 Irish volunteers ready to resist the n- famous conscription bill, and if these men have to die they prefer to wet the soil of their own country with their blood. rather than the soil of France or Belgium. He said that while the conscription bill has been killed for time it will come up again.
 MT. Devoy spoke of the new Ger man submarines which he said will greatly deplete the British navy. and which was the invention of an 1rish- man, the late John P. Holland. By these Ireland will be able to secure aid from Germany, assisted by the Zep- pelins, which will drop superior of- ficers into that country to assist in the cause, he said He said that prior to the death of MT. Holland, England had purchased eight submarines, and when the inventor had learned where they were going he "iXed' them-and tom of the sea.
 He predicted that the Germans will eventually invade England and cap
 ture London. and not until then will
 Ireland take it's place among the
 nations of the world.'
 The speaker called attention to meeting to be held in New ork in March, when the real conditions in Ireland will be made known. It is planned to make the meeting the greatest since 1881. and plans will be made for an organza ton which will protect Ireland from the treachery of England, he said. Tt is hoped that
 the meeting will have it's effect on Washington, D. C., where it is so sadly needed just now," MT. Devoy said in
 closing.
 A banquet was held at the close of the meeting at the Hotel York, for mem bers of the club, the speaker and invited guests. MT. Devoy was pre- sented with $50 in gold, but he re. fused to accept it except on condi- tion that it be added to the Clan-na- Gael fund.