A FIERY RETORT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2116, 6 April 1914, Page 5

A FIERY RETORT

ULSTER LEADER'S MESSAGE TOAimm IN REPLY TO MR, REDMOND'S. WHAT HAPPENED IN SOUTH AFRICA. EAST FIFE BY-ELECTION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. April 5, 6,5 p.m.) ' Londcn, April 4, Sir Edward Carson, leader of the Ulster niovepient, in a special message to Australia, states: "It is difficult to conceive , a more deliberate misrepresentation of facts than Mr. Redmond's message to his Australian, sympathisers. The Irish Nationalists' disgraceful attack on tho Army was quite- consistent with tho record of men who had never lost an opportunity to insult British soldiers and tho British flag, and among whom arc still men who fought beside England's enemies in South Africa. Lord Morley's statement in the House -of Lords sufficiently belies Mr. Redmond's insinuation. Speaking on th& Government's behalf last Mojtday, Lord Morlcy said that 'there had not been a single eauo of disobedience to orders by any officer or man in connection with tho recent event, ami tlie conduct of the troops had been exemplary.' ' "V, 16 Government, on its own iniiiative, continues tho message, "g&V'c officers at the Curragh the alternative of fighting against the Ulster loyalists, or resigning their cotfiaiissioHs and beini? dismissed. Officers wore free to choose, ?i. i ■! ehoso the latter course, although tlie.v thereby forfeited their tensions and ruined tlioir eareoFSj whicli in many cases involved the total loss of their livelihood. -Such self-sacrifice is a test of sincerity. These, seventy officers preferred to saeriflee thomaelves l atjier than lead tlieir troops against loyalist subjects of the King, and who rally under the Union Jack. Let it be'clearly understood," be concludes, 'that tho' Army has been diagged into the present struggle only because tho Government did not dare to ascortam the people's opinio. by a genoral election, or. a referendum, he-th-ugSii;;sen^aMous proi,osfl!s .

,J? eut i ei '! s Aeenoy, on March 2i last was JoVnit Cl i following a$ Mr. John Redmond's statement to Australian users : - : . T he Ulster ' Orang" plot EdJrdr com P l f' ely "sealed. Sir Ldward Carson and his armv have no* fight If™'' \' intention of nghtinjf. As a fiehtiug lores against tho Regulars they could .flirt hsld out a week, of °n. firrM WaS i° u Ut U; ? tllis WaWßce or a figl t, ttn d then, by sooiety influences seduce Army officers, and thus inn»nnt»' -n Go T,?, rlllr " BnJt im(l t! »o peoples will. Iho action of the' commanders m some of Hie tvrack cavalry regiments, officered by aristocrats,' Jifts now fully disclosed tlie plan sf cam»as;*n, JJie issue raised is wider erea than Home it is whether a democratic Covcrn- ! ne " L ' 'S to be brow-beaten a»«I dictated to by\ tlio drawing-rooms of Louden aiid r a section of Army ' ; vho are aristocrats and viplenfc Tory partisans, 'I'he cause of Irish' freedom "has in this fW'ht become tlio cause of popular freedom.and ordered liberty throughout the world. Jt is impossible to doubt the result of such a fight. The second reading will be taken ou !\lo n day, and tho Bill proceeded with until it finds a plaee on the .Statute Hook."

EAST FIFE BY'EUsGTfON. MR; ASQUITH LTSAVK-S FOR TUR FRONT. . . London, April 3. . , King s -Cross Railway Station was crowded ivitli people to farewell Mr. Asquith, who was leaving for Us electorate at East Fife. 'i'ho Liberal Federation arranged the demonstration. Mr. Winston Chm-ehi-11, Mr. -Reginald M'Eeima, Mr. John burns, and many members of the House or Commons wero present. Tiae crowd cheered, and sang, "Far He's a Jolly «ood Fellow and J'Rul-o Britannia." Ladies, except Ministers' wives, were not admitted, for fear of Suffragettes obtaining ontranco to the platform. Hie demonstration was renewed at jiaiithan, York, aiid Ne.woast.le., Mr. Asquith declared that 1m never lelt in better lioart.

A Suffragette attempted to board the train, but fell to tlie platform, being tendered unconscious.

(Rec. April 5, 5.5 p.m.) ~ . . London, April 4. _ Mr. Asquith is tl»q guest 0 f Sir Cupar, fo^£! ,WOtt oaStle " DBar

another ladybank speech, MR. ASQUITH OPENS HIS CAMPAIGN, (Rec. April 6, 0.25 a.m.) ti . London, April s. Ilio Prime Minister, speaking at Ladj bank, ridiculed the legend that the Government had selected a moment in making its proposals to settle- the Home Bule question, to engineer a plot to provoke Ulster, There liacl tieen, ho said, a genuine understanding on tinhonest mistakes which had been made regarding tlio Army, but ho had good reason to know the zeal, .devotion, and duty which pervaded the military and J o '' 008 - "I am certain/" hs said, that they can be counted on Irom tho highest to tlio lowest, without; exception, to undertaker tho duties which they may bo required to discharge. I pray that the Army is not to become a political instrument.. It lias no place, and no voice, ra framinn" our. policy or moulding our laws. TliS true doctrine of Army administration was laid down by William Pitt the older 1/0 years ago. My duty is to see that the Army is fit in over-shift-ing conditions for its primary duty. Tlig> ( Army will hear nothing of politics frofa.mc, and on my return I shall expect lo hear nothing of polities from tlio Army. Tho responsibility of pre. servine domestic peace lay with tlio Magistrates and police, "Tlio Army's aid could not, and ouciit not, to be invoked except in an emergency which is happily rare. When such occasions i arose .it was tlio duty of the soldier to comply wiMi the demand of tho civil power. The present Tory doctrmo struck at the vm - root not only of Army- discipline, but of dcmocratk 'government." GREAT GATHERING IN HYDE PARK. THE UNIONIST DEMONSTRATION. (Rcc. April 6, 0.25 a.m.) London, April 5. A remarkablo Unionist demonstration was carried out at Hyde Park. Despite tlie rain, twenty-two processions, representing seventy-six London constituencies, wtli bands and flags, marched to Hvdo Park. Tlio speakers, who were accommodated on fourteen platforms, included Mr. A. J. Balfour, Mr. Bonar Law (tho Unionist Leader), Sir Edward Carson, Lord Milner, Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Lord Selbprne, and Mr. F. E. Smith. Resolutions were parried .protesting against the Army being used to shoot

down the Ulster volunteers, imd di'Kinnding a general election. '■ Tho demonstration concluded wit.li thn singing of iboliymrt ."0 find Our 11olp in A(ics and the National Anthem: Thero 1 ft'erp some labour int.rrrnptlons irhich iiurhidetl tho singing oE "Hif! Red F!ag." : Tho SufiruKcltos a rival procession and mooting, which resulted in disturbances, Mrs. Dnimmond and others being arrested, . ... , THE MYSTERIOUS 'STEAMER .■ *.. I'AXXV. '■ .' . ■ _ ' Copenhagen. Ajnil 3. The Kortrcgian steamer Fanny, which left Longehvud suddenly last week 'with WO tons of rifles on Board (believed by some to ho destined for Ulster, and b'y Cithers for South America), has Osil'v sufficient coal for a fortnight. " I'liis fact precludes a vessel of'her jize reaching South Amcrica. " ' SUFFRAGETTE VANDALS IN -ULSTER. London, April -1. Suffragettes attempted to burn Lisburu Castle, seven miles from Belfast. EQUAt BEFORE THE LAW. SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS. (Reo. April I), 5,3 p.m.) London, April. 4, Lord Robert Cecil (Unionist), speaking at Ashvefl, said that the Army was not the instrument of the Government, but of the. Crown. . Soldiers and civilians were equal before the Law ns regards obedience to orders, finsl must consider whether these orders were lawful or not.

"BRITISH COVENANTERS." LEAGUE FORMED IN LONDON. (Rec. April 5, 5.5 p.m.) tendon, April 4. The Rigftt Hon. Mr. Walter Long presided at a meeting held in London to establish a League, of British Covenanters. Lord Roberts was elected President, and on rising to express his thanks, was cheered far several minutes, Sir Edward Carson 'received an ovation. He described tho Ulster volunteers as being vcrj largelycomposed of trade unionists. Lord Milner -declared that tho t-imo was short, ,biit there was still time to raise a storm of protest and compel an appeal to the country. MR. HGLMAN AND ULSTER. AN INDIGNANT PROTEST. m . ■ , „ .Sydney, April 4. riid Grand Council of tlie Protestant iDefeiace Association indignantly denies the tmtlifwliiess '/i the j iatcmeht, which was cabled to Eflriand by the Premier (Mr. Holman) regarding Ulster. ■ 'Iho local Ulster Association has qabled to the "London Times" and also to Sir lidward Carson, /stating that Mr. Holinau's message is misleading and has been questioned in Parliament.

»%• S\ A ' Holm , aD > Premier of' New .South Vvales, recently cabled to Mr. Re-d----i'i & Irish Nationalist tauter, to the client that Australian opinio® wltollv condemned tire disappointment and the de/ay to tho hopes cf the Irish people to make Ireland a .united nation.