HOME RULE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1250, 26 May 1914, Page 3

HOME RULE.

CRISIS APPROACHING. FEVERISH ACTIVITY IN RIVAL CAMPS. WAITING FOR PASSING OF HOME RULE BILL. London, May 24. There is tremendous tension in Ulster. It is feared the rival volunteer armies will come into collision on Tuesday evening, when the Home Rule Bill is passed in the Commons, under the Parliament Act. Both armies are feverishly preparing, and are fully supplied with arms and ammunition for active service. Fifty motor cars distributed rifles this evening from the County Down to various centres. At Fermanagh two hundred Covenanters were out all night guarding certain houses. The police, on bicycles, unsuccessfully attempted to trace the motors, but the numbers ot the cars were changed, and in some cases the numbers of Nationalist cars were substituted. Every commander of a covenanter regiment has received an order reading: “In view of the possibility of Nationalist rowdyism on the passing of the Home Rule Bill, commanders are authorised to take whatever steps they deem advisable to maintain peace and prevent disloyal processions, the burning of bonfires, or displays taking place in Unionist territory throughout their command.” The Covenanter, the official organ of the Ulstermen, contains an appeal signed by officials of various societies in the North of Ireland to fellow trade unionists in Britain to assist them in the crash, and assuring them that the democracy ot Ulster is soul and body in the Ulster movement. Irish Americans have promised j£20,000 for guns, ammunition and uniforms for the Nationalist volunteers. An official ot the Nationalists fears that the American support will be diverted from the Parliamentary funds. The Dublin correspondent of the Observer states that the Hibernian Society has officially recognised the Nationalist volunteer movement, which is daily growing. Mr Joseph Devlin, who first regarded it as a menace to the Nationalist machine, has now decided to identify the machine with the volunteer movement. An urgent message from the Liberal Whip intimates that in view ot the uncertainty of future proceedings, an early attendance of members at the Commons on Monday is imperative. It adds that possibly the third reading of the Home Rule Bill will be taken forthwith. A hurried meeting of Cabinet was held on Saturday. It is supposed the meeting dealt with Monday’s procedure in the Commons, arrising out of Thursday’s scene.