The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-03-25

the Chicago Tribune in Germany, has
furnished to that paper personal &C.
count Of her visits and interviews with
Irish soldiers now interned in Ger
many. The article in question, which
Is published below, will give the read.
er a clear insight into the real spirit
of the Irish soldier fighting in the
English army and gives additional
light to the many statements made
concerning the manner in which Irish
recruits are obtained. Although forced
into the British army the Irish SOL
der longs only to fight for Ireland on
Irish soil. The following is from the
pen of the Chicago Tribune's CORE
spondent:
What would you say if you were to
see handsome blue-eyed fighter with
black hair and a smile full of mis-
chief and trouble, and dressed in a
fine German uniform with harp on
either side of his collar embroidered
with tiny colored stones.
Allow me to introduce Capt. Robert
Monteith, erstwhile servant of his
majesty in Egypt, Africa, and India.
Independent follower of fortune in
South American revolutions, and now
captain of company of grass-green
Irishmen in the German army doing
the goose-step to the tune of They're
hangin' men and women for the wear
in o. the green"
think the tune is singularly well
chosen and there would certainly be
some hanging if these same wearers
of the greenland what a green-ever
came within the boundaries of the
British empire again.
Most Are German Prisoners.
Most of them are Irish prisoners
taken during the early days of the
war and now exercising a pleasant
freedom rehearsing for the downfall
of England.
Well leave them out there at Zoz-
zen, a huge training camp for 1000
soldiers, doing the goose-step, while
we@proceed to Capt. Monteith, a gen.
tleman Of adventurous past, color
full Imagination.
'Tve been fighting since I was a
lad" he said, "at first with the Eng
lish because knew no better. I came
from the loyal Irish, ye see. But
don't believe in war-it's murder.
There's no such thing as honor or
fair fighting or international laws in
war. I believe in complete disarma-
ment for every country. That's the
only way you could ever stop it. War
is the curse of the poor man."
To the hint that troops were some
times necessary to quell riots, enforce
military law in ruined cities, or catas-
tropics, he answered.:
eyes, but who are they out to pro-
tect-not the poor but the rich. It
is always the rich man that gets the
benefit of an army and pays the least
proportionately toward it. That is the
reason I'm fighting with the Germans
because they have the most demo.
cratic government in the world and
because they protect their poor.
'tGod give my sword power to run
down a tyrant!" and he looked fondly
at it. ut should bring me luck, to
be sure. One of the prettiest girls in
the world kissed it and bade me
Godspeed, herself an American. Ye
see, escaped from England and took
my wife and babies to America for
safekeeping-then slowed away on
a steamer to Christiania. There was
little of the ground they didn't go
over at Kirkwall, but they didn't dis
cover me.
"In Norway, however, somebody
found out about me an most excitin'
time 1 had maxim my escape to Ger
many. An now it's the interest of me
life, knowing on which front I'm to
fight. We've been training out there
so long. I'm aching to be at it again.
And all we boys are bit restless
with inaction.
Has Hatred for England.
20, for whack at England. You
know what they should do, the Ger
mans? Give Alsace and Lorraine
back to France and make a separate
peace, then 60 to it and lick England
There is no such thing as honor
or clean fighting in war-it's all mur
der and murderers aren't particularly
honorable or fair, gentlemen"
do you think you represent the
feeling of Ireland, then, in coming
here and joining the Germans?"
There's not an Irishman living but
would like to be free of England, and
those of us who have come here be
lieve this is our only chance. People
call Ireland poor and decaying. Why
it's rich country. Under proper rule
it would be wonderful country. Lool
at the way its literature is coming tt
life again. o, after the war, we'll b.
strong"