South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-25

Easements principal IeUtenants in the attempted
formation Of an Irish Brigade from among Irish
prisoners O Germany. for service the
German side The author Of this diary
o unhappy little band Of NAL
contents who induced by Easement 10 desert
their colors. his candid account Of the miser-
ole fiasco that followed loses OF its point
from his obvious hatred OF England and eager
ness downfall the We print
ing the article practically it reached us
Ii only remains add that the whole Of Ma
tionast Ireland today. without distinction OF fac
ton. appears have realized, Corporal Q.
eventually came 70 realize that the promises OF
the kaiser and his government were worth exactly
nothing. and that. had the opportunity arisen.
they would have deceived and humbugged the
misguided recruits Of the Irish Brigade.
Some Of the cieverest y c. O's in camp
that scheme afoot TO ALLEVIATE the
British, or Irish, soldiers affection from Eng
land but of them were capable or deep think
ing. possessed Of much initiative, no move was
made by them TO avert the danger. not until Sir
Roger Easement paid them visit ala IL Degn 70 dawn
the boys that attempt was 10 be made TO form
an Irish Brigade.
"A DISTINGUISHED IRISH GENTLEMAN"
It was The melodious voice of the German feIdwebel
&c camp. y. c. O's. and the men Of the different
Irish regiments tumbed their huts and formed
Up in line outside. II a beautifully clear. cold
day the win shining brilliantly down the
FsnOw-covered roofs Of the houses In Limburg, and
lighting the sDire Of the Sankt Elizabeth Krche
into FURNISHED coppery ray All the sCrgeanlS ana
corporaIs were marched away where
they wait, distinguished Irish gentle
man would be there shortly and wished 10 speak few
words his countrynen.
Everyone wondered who this Irishman could be who
apparently held in such esteem by the Germans
about hours wait, two German officers, one
Of them Marshal Biberstein. entered the
companied by d tall, bearded gentleman and an or
DERBY who carried bundles of the Gaelic American and
Iratherlaud civilian then introduced him
self simply Roger Easement and spoke few words
Whilst distributing the newspapers he
red 10 impress uEon the men the duty OF every man
bore towards his country, and endeavored TO
point out TO them mat oernlany haa oeeh loIceu
TO draw the sword In defense His views We're not
received with much enthusiasm, for most OF the \.
q. O.s old codiers.
\ SOLITARY RECRUIT
Sir Roger stayed half hour, and before going
asked If there any \. G. O's present who would
volunteer a notebook and enter the name of
any Irish soldier DESTROYS of becoming a member or
Brigade @, refined looking, in
teIigent fellow Immediately stepped and vol
unteered q followed by a sergeant, who after
wards changed his mind, however. Sir Roger then
drove away from the camp in his car. Q. took the
books % his bunk. and did little propaganda work
amongst the He argued that they were now OF
no further England, and in any case they, as
Irishmen. owed allegiance TO the king OF England
Unfortunately O., the English in camp worked
hard keep the Irish loyal and succeeded only too
we'll More OF the men would certainly have joined
i'm December had the propaganda been pursued more
inteuizenty- Interpreters and officers
not at any time really sensible of the great i'm
porance of the work and had not the fantest idea
why an Irish Brigade should be formed. In fact many
Germans expressed open disapproval of the idea Of
seducing British soldiers from their duty 10 kns and
"PoOR SIR ROGER"
ON Dec II. g visited Easement the Hotel
Preussicher Hof in Ldmburg and told him that the
chances OF forming Brigade
nucleus of il were very small Sir Roger was laid up
"a the time suffering from throat. and APP
parenty in a very bad mood, the German government
having expressed surprise and annoyance the failure
az his scheme. Roger He of the most
noble hearted men whom II has been my fortune TO
meet His pity all for the Irish boys who had
beguiled into the English army 10 fight for that
freedom denied Ireland
AS soon as it became known in camp. where there
were about 5000 men. that Irish Brigade
and a pro-Cierman. my life became a hell upon
earth Taunts and gibes were flung at me 10y every
scoundrel in camp and had the greatest diff
Guilty sometimes in getting ration of food. had
friend. Father Nicholson Irish American priest
who chaplain TO the camp. lie was superseded
by a Father Grotty. who afterwards the cause of
preventing many from joining the Irish Brigade
AT this time there was a fellow knocking about the
camp supposed 90 do some propaganda work,
but he disappeared after couple of weeks. Sir
Roger afterwards told that this had sienified
willjn gneSs 10 20 the T. = 4. and convey udinss
q Easements arrival and work but ne got into Hol-
land and there TO Erglaud. where he presented
his report at the usual quarters.
RECEIVE, MORE REBUFFS-
*. a lance-corporal of the --- regiment came
down TO me just before Patricks day and after
beatinr the bush "A began sound the
probabilities of forming the Irish Brigade and what
would eventually happen 20 the after the
Is and myself then wrote a letter 90 Sir Roger Case
would lay before him chance for recruiting the men
into Irish Brigade X. began % earn the hatred
fellows IN the because the uuerC fact of
talking branded fellow who did 80
Irish BRIGADE man. found very "a
any propaganda work. and couldn't any
the other companies lines. The Germans never took
the slightest interest, and perhaps it we'll
don't why, but those prisoners OF hated
Germany and the Germans with hatred appalling
its thoroushness when ventured 20 point out TO
some Of the men THAI England was 40 the bottom or
the war. and that the German people undoubt-
edIv peaccaDle and industrious nation i the
world 1 laughed and called pro-Gcrrnan. etc.
what "a German landing iu Ireland would mean FOR
country. and OF the great impression which the nauS-