The sun., 1917-09-30


An Interview with Brig.-oen. w.
A. white, Head OF the British
Recruiting Mission 60 the
United states and
.A@Ix bayoncts! irish. up ana
+ Overt" 49,. .,.,. Nv
platoons, with half minutes inter-
VA, between them. The Germans
opened fire, but those Irish lads formed
I'D in four splendid lines. with bayo"
nets fixed and rifles at the slope be-
fore they charged"
I was waiting at the British recruit
ing station at $50 Broadway to inter-
view one Of the busiest men In New
York and hence one of the most diff
cult to reach on matters pertaining to
anything but his own business. My
errand was to ask him questions about
the Irishman as soldier. In Just
such charges as the one about which
I had been reading he had taken part.
He was Brig. Gen. w. A. White. head
!, of the British recruiting mission to the
United States and Canada.
While I waited I read on about the
thrilling charge Of tho Irish soldiers
at I-oos:
"Then II was that the grand secret
was disclosed, a thing almost incred-
ible and unthinkable indeed. A foot
ball was dropped by members Of the
London Irish Rugby Club in the ranks,
and a. they charged they kicked 1t be-
fore them across q plain as fiat. grassy
and bare Of cover as the fifteen acres
in the Phoenix Park or the upper
stretch of Wimbledon Common.
"A game of football on the border
between life and death! What q fan
tastic conception! No wonder that
the French troops who were watching
, the advance were astounded by the
/ spectacle.
"'On the ball!'
''They kicked. and away before them
sped that ball into the unceasing vol
4, leys Of shrapnel and rifle fire which
brought down many Of them dead OF
disabled. But on and on went the bal
until 1t was kicked into the enemy's
trench with a Joyous shout Of 'Goal!'
The Irishman as q Soldier.
1.-THE General Will see you now" Mr.
Gunter was saying as 1 closed my
book on the story of the Irishman II
France, and / was ushered into tn,
next room.
A man Of medium stature in tn
uniform Of his rank In the British
army. we'll built. and every inch ,
soldier in appearance, rose from be
hind a fiat topped desk to greet me
Very quickly l knew his eyes wer,
blue and keen, and kind withal. A
once this man with the numerou.
medals Of honor gives the impression
OF being dignifled and unassuming
and sincere.
But had come for an interview no
for review. so as took the chat
offered, said:
You are an Englishman, believe :?
Yes; born in Hertfordshire'
But you know the Irishman as /;
soldier?"
II should say do know tie Irish
man as a soldier" And I knew
had discovered ono of Gen. White
enthusiasms. For twenty-five year
have known him; for twenty-fiv
years I have been one Of the Con
naught Rangers"
There is no regiment more Irisl
than that. You may have read abou
it. 1t is recruited from the very sol
Of Ireland. from all the counties o
Connaught. from Galway, Roscom
mon, Mayo. Sligo and Leitrm.
And fine fellows it's Irishmen are
I've seen them at work and at play
and I've seen them In the very thicl
OF the fight
And loyal?r suggested
Loyal to the DEATH, and happy" II
lighted a cigarette and waited unit
, the smoke wreaths formed before h
continued: my respect for the Irish
man cannot be shaken.