“Amazing Rumors.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 81, 26 March 1914, Page 5

“Amazing Rumors.”

“SPREADS MG SEDITION.”

ULSTER AMD THE ARMY,

LAWS WITHOUT INTERFERENCE Lv Electric Telegraph—Copyright l (United Press association.,] (Received 8.15 a.m.) London, March 25.

The Daily Telegraph, The Times, and other newspapers state that amazing rumours are in circulation that the Government, impressed with reports of the increasing efficiency ol die Ulster volunteers, determined the volunteers should bo surprised and disarmed. Mr .Churchill, suggested that troops should. be movvl .-•eeivtly anil rapidly. The warsVm s auoped on the Lilfey, and the Third Battle Squadron were ordered to Lamlash in the Firth of Clyde. The Fomih l ohiroye,- Division sailed from Southampton ■or an unknown destimuuou. General Paget, at •» conference officers, revealed the sMiems. V. unless messages stopped the nom-.cmts of the battleships on Sot,u-. lav and the destroyer division returned to Southainntou.

A WARM DEBATE.

■my CLASS will FIGHT YOU 70-

MORROWI”

In the Commons, in the debate on the Army Estimates, Mr Amery ''Unionist* member for Birmingham) loved a reduction to emphasise the ,dcw that the Government was not entitled to use the Army for paity purposes. He said the officers were prepared to support civil powers agapiist riots and disorder, but hud t ie ,-ight to act as their consciences direffihl, when the Government for party mds were risking civil,war. Mr John Ward (Labor member for Stoke-on-Trent) seconded from a different standpoint. The House, he ;a id, had decided 'whether Parliament in future would have to go U a committee of military men and ask ;f they would allow this or that n il passed into law. Mr Ward read syndicalist leaflets pleading to the Army not to shoot the strikers. Mi vVard accused the Unionists of spreading similar sedition in the Army. “H wealthy folk want to employ such means to decide political problems, laid Mr Ward; “We Labour Party s willing. My class will, light you 1 0-morrow.” He concluded: “What ,ve demand is the right to make laws vbsolutely without interference either )y tlie King or the Army. ’. There followed, a remarkable ciemenstration, the Ministerialist mil Nationalists cheering for two i.unites. Mr Beck (Labor) said many Liberals would resign to-morrow rattier titan sit in a house dictated to by the Army officers. Colonel Seely had shown deplorable weakness.

“MAINTAINING LAW AMD

ORDER.”

, THE POSITION MAOE CLEAR.

(Received 9.15 a.m.) London, Maich 25

The White Paper continued: Gereral Gough reported that his officei s ivere unanimously of opinion that further information was essond.ii he■fore being called upon at sneJi sho’t notice \o form decisions vi l filly affecting their future, especially n king for a clear definition regarding the duty required in Ulster. If n consisted of the preservation of property and the maintenance of order, all were piepared to carry out orders; if it involved military operations against Ulster they would prefer d ism u sal. On the 23rd inst., General Gough asked whether, in the event of Home Rule becoming law, they would he called upon under the expression “maintaining Law and Order ’ to enforce Home Rule. He insisted on this point being made clear. The reply, initialed by Colonel Seely (Secretary of State) and Oei.erals French (Chief of the imperial General Staff) and Ewart i AdjutantGeneral) on the 23rd, a.it ho used General Gough to inform the Brigade that the Army Conned was satisfied there had been a misunderstanding. It was the duty of all soldiers to obey the Council’s commands for the protection of property and the support of civil power in the event of disturbances and in the protection nl lives. This was the only point. Ihe Council intended General Paget to put it to the officers that the Government must retain the right to use the troops to support civil power and maintenance of order, but it did not intend to take advantage to crush political opposition to the policy principles of Homo Rule.

THE KING’S PREROGATIVE

Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received ~> a Paris, March 25. The Figaro conceives it possible for the King to refuse his signature to the Homo Rule Bill. Socialists might secure a majority and declare a republic.

NEW YORK HOME RULERS.

WILL FIGHT IF WANTED.

(Received 8 a.m.) New York, March 25

Mr McDonald, president of the Dublin Club, declared that 500 were ready to sail for Ireland to fight the Ulstermen. They were fully armed