The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-23

Ni''ilcfeF, SECRETARY Tor war, was COm
PEELED to-day by the COMMISSIONS Presi-
dent, Lord Hardiugc. to retract the
charge that the war Office had refused
MS urgent requests TOR troops.
Lord Hardiugc. urged by Lord Kltche-
ner. O u letter in which Gen. Macready
reported the proceedings at the confer
ence OF March 20. ut which Birreli had
testified hat his request was turned
down. According to this letter the troops
asked by Birrell were to go to Ireland for
the purpose OF stimulating recruiting. and
that no mention was made by the former
cher Secretary of forces necessary for
tho quelling of the Sim Feiners' agita-
ton.
Birr-tI Explains Omission.
Birrell. In repiy to questions ~ TO how
no recouciled his forrer charge with
this letter, said he was surprised that
he should have omitted to mention at
tho conference the necessity to send
troops to Dublin. but that did not alter
the fact, he said. that he did urge this
necessity In Interviews with Gems. French
and Friend.
The letter from Gen. Macready quoted
Gen. Friend as urging the despatch OF
troops TO south Ireland In view of the
growing seriousness OF the situation
there.
Among the trio of witnesses who tes,l-
fed to-day Lord Wimborno appeared
the least concerned about any possible
lame being attached to him. In the
FIRST place, he wished tho commission
10 understand that since tho Chief Sec
rotary had displaced the Lord Lieuten-
ant In the Cabinet the powers of the
latter had been entirely usurped by the
Chief Secretary and Under Secretary"
Lord Wirborne told of warnings after
warnings which he said he had sounded
in interviews with Lord Kitchener and
Gems. French and Friend. His testi-
mony. like that of Birrell last week. left
the inference hat the War Office re-
fused to take these warnings seriously.
wimborne Conldn't Act Alone.
The witness stated that he had no
executive machinery with which he could
take action independent OF his colleagues.
nor had he any means Of asserting
his views when they contict"i viii
those OF my nominal subordinatesi'
After repeated representations. hc said.
h" obtained a pdrtia! insight into the
administration. afterwud receiving
daily reports for his Information.
This Information. however, went to
him not with a view TO Inviting his
opinion, Lor Wimborue added His
functions. he explained. were In fact con-
fined 10 unsolicited advice and energetic
representation" Later he advanced the
internal situation in ireland As a reason
that more troops were needed The
former Lord Lieutenant emphasized,
however. that Birrell too always advo-
Gated more troops for Dublin.
When early In the year the police re-
PORTS shovel that the Sim Fciu move
Mrnt was growing, Lord Wmborne said
he suggested the deportation or intern.
m"nt OF the ~lgltators.
IL imagine" said Baron Wimborne at
one stage Of the hearing. "'hat the chirr
Shat Is brought acains' the Irish Gov
umen is surre blindness and ir-
resolution IN dealing with the ptopa-
F1ndt and ~" hostile demonstration "
the Snn fciuer>"
Then hr toll how he had tried to in
press upon Lord Kitchener the tao, tina
ever since the departure to tho front ur
me fr!sI DIVISION the Tr.sl garrison was
quite ir~rdequrt".' and that, rceuforce-
inents were needed.
Wien lie urged upou Gen French las.
March tle ~dPSirahtltv ot sending "A d.
vision 20 ireland. Lord Wimhorne sail.
tho general replied that the War Office
objected 20 that proposal berause u
would DELAY sending troops to the front
NIt.Iu a fortnight.