IRELAND AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2266, 28 September 1914, Page 5

IRELAND AND THE WAR

STIRRING ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER SECONDED BY MR. REDMOND (Rec. September 27, 4 p.m.) London, September 26. The Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, in speaking at the Mansion House, Dublin, at a recruiting meeting, said he caine to summon Ireland to take her place in defence of the common cause. Germany had been preparing for this war for a generation past, and had taught her youth to seek the supremacy of German power. There whs nothing in the Austro-Servian quarrel that could not hav.e been settled pacifically, only for the judgment of those guiding.German policy that the hour had come to strike. In their hands lay the choice of.peace or war, and they elected war. The ground must now be cleared of militarism, so that small nations might have an independent existence and a place in the sun. The Germans made two miscalculations. First, that Belgium would not resist; and, second, a capital blunder in regard to England. The invasion of Belgium and France had contributed some of the blackest pages to the sombre annals of war. Rarely had noncombatants suffered more severely, and rarely had monuments of piety and learning been so shamefully and oynically desecrated. "Great is our responsibility," said Mr. Asquith, "for allowing our country to be drawn into Buch a welter, but wnat was worse than to take such'a responsibility was to shirk it."

"How could Ireland, with.the cry of smaller nations, delay to help them ip the struggle for freedom? The Empire has been always proud of the Irish regiments, and now asked them for their best. There were two things which had become unthinkable: First, that one section of Irishmen was going to fight another: second, that Britain was going to fight either. (Cheers.) He' appealed to the nation for volunteers, to contribute a worthy contingent to .the second half-million of the army. He wanted to see an Irish Brigade, or, better still, an Army Corps. The old animosities between us are dead and scattered like autumn leaves. We are a united nation, enjoying • liberty, for which we are now fighting for others." Mr. John Redmond followed Mr. Asquith, and said Ireland had heartfelt sympathy for the war, and would bear her share of the burdens of suffering. Having been conceded autonomy, Ireland was iii honour bound to take her place with the other autonomous portions of the Empire. He said to the people of England: "You kept faith with Ireland. Ireland will keep faith with you." The meeting concluded by singing the National Anthem, the first time such a thing has occurred for a generation. IRISH FOREIGN SERVICE ARMY. (Rec. September 27, 10.30 a.m.) London, September 25. The Ulster Foreign-Service Army totals 10,524 men. Major-General Powell commands, and Captain Craig, Unionist M.P. for County Down, is assistant Ad-jutant-General. •

SINN FEIN MANIFESTO. London, September 25. Twenty members of tbo original Committee of Irish Volunteers identified with the Sinn Fein, have issued a manifesto repudiating Mr. John Redmond, and declaring that he is.;np;"do.ngor;,entitled to any place in the administration of the volunteer organisation, therefore his twenty-five nominees have ceased to bo members. The action is taken on the ground that Mr. Redmond had declared that it was the duty of the Irish volunteers to take foreign service under a Government which was not Irish. As Mr. Redmond had not included the Committee of Volunteers or' the people of Ireland, they propose calling a convention of; Irish volunteers for November 25 to oppose any diminution in the measure of self-government now it is a statute on paper. (Rec. September 27, 10 p.m.) London, September 26. : Regarding the Sinn Fein manifesto, Mr. John Redmond states the majority of'the Provisional Committee are volunteers, and will meet at Dublin on Wednesday tb constitute a new governing body to be elected by the rank and file.'