Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-19
INQUIRY into
IRISH R Ev0LT
OPENS THURSDAY
Testimony That Govern
ment Was Informed
of Preparations
Sir Mathew Nathan as Witness
Makes Detailed Statement

London, May 1S.-tTom testimony
developed today at the hearing opened
by the Royal Commission under the
qure into the Irish rebellion, it APP
peared that the government had re-
Ceived advance infoi nation of pre-
para tons for an uprising with help
from German sources. The testimony
was given by Sir Matthew Nathan.
who resigned as under secretary for
Ireland, after the rebellion broke out.
The government had received advices,
said Sir Matthew, that AN attempt
would be made to land arms in Ire
land from German submarines; also
that rifles had been purchased from
irish soldiers on home leave while
others had been taken into the coun-
try in passengers baggage.
Volunteers Formation
The former under secretary gave
this testimony in the course of long
statement outlining the formation of
the National volunteers. of which, he
declared. small section only had
shown themselves disloyal, the lead
ers of this section having issued a
manifesto declaring that Ireland
should provide for its own defence and
indicated an intention to establish a
free national government of Ireland.
The leaders of the movement he said,
directed their efforts to securing more
rifles and ammunition and to storing
as large an amount of material as
possible. This was where the real dan
ser came from, he added as it was
felt that an attempt at disarmament
might lead to bloodshed.
The executives in Ireland. being in
possession Of sufficient evidence Of the
association of the movements of lead
ers with a foreign enemy, said Sir
Matthew had decided upon their ar
rest and were discussing the matter
on April "A, when the rebellion broke
out He defended the failure of the
government to disas m the volunteers
on the ground that such action might
Save alienated the sympathies of many
loyal volunteers and added: There
are $4,000 Irish Catholics enlisted in
the army"
Strength Of Constabulary
The Royal Irish Constabulary was con-
sidered strong enough to cope with dis
orders, the witness continued. A mobile
force of 500 mounted men and 1000 others
with three machine guns was always in
readiness, and these, with $500 men from
the Curragh, were thought capable OF
dealing with the outbreak in Dublin, but
contrary to expectations, they were in
sufficient.
In the course Of his examination Sir
Matthew declared that the fear that the
military service act would be applied to
Ireland induced a number of the national
volunteers to join the Sim Fein move
ment. so that at the beginning Of the
disturbances there were 5000 hostile vol
unteers throughout Ireland. Of whom 5000
were in Dublin.
Considerable sums Of money, he said,
had been coming from America, the funds
being used for the purchase of arms and
the printing of seditious papers and leaf
let's 1t was estimated. he added, that
$4,000 had been received from America
and paid into Dublin banks from the
middle of September 1914 to the following
April, when the money was Withdrawn.
The police estimated before the out
break that the volunteers had about 1900
rifles, pistols and other firearms and that
there were s25 rifles in Dublin. Explosives
also had been found in different parts of
the country, he said.
Continued on Page 5Column q