A CRAZE FOR WEAPONS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14843, 8 December 1913, Page 7

A CRAZE FOR WEAPONS.

SHORTAGE OF AMMUNITION. ACTION AGAINST ARMY OFFICERS URGED. (Received December 7th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 6. It is reported that eighty thousand arms are- already stored. A number of revolvers have been purchased by Belfast Unionists and Nationalists. During the past fifteen months the purchase of revolvers has become a popular craze. One tradesman at Londonderry booked orders last spring for three thousand of these weapons.

Government agents, who were recently enquiring in ' Ulster, have reported that, apart from local supplies, tho Unionists in Ulster claim to have sufficient rifles, also that several Maxims have arrived, but ammunition is short. .

The "Daily Chronicle" hopes that the arms proclamation will promptly be followed by action against Army officers thereafter using rebellious language. A more outrageous spectacle, it says, has never been presented than by influential Conservatives endeavouring to sap tho loyalty and ur.dcrmmo the discipline of the Army. The "Chronicle" rejoices that Lord Derby, Lord Selborne, and Sir Edward Carson have markedly dissociated themselves from such violent and anarchidH courses

Tho "Daily Telegraph," commenting on Mr Asquith's speech, says the Government waited until Ulster was armed before believing that she was not bluffing.

Other papers consider the proclamation as belated.

Unionists in Dublin regard tho proclamation as the Government's recognition of the seriousness of the situation in Ulster, and a prelude to all poss.ble steps to avoid the calamity of civil vrar.