Arms for Ulster.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5, 27 April 1914, Page 5

Arms for Ulster.

MUCH GUN-RUNNING.

A SUCCESSFUL “BLIND” AT BELFAST.

MOBILISATION OF THE ULSTER VOLUNTEERS. SPEECH BY COLONEL SEELY. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [Ujited Press association.] London, April 24. There was anxiety at Belfast when it was rumored that the authorities were planning a police attack on the volunteer organisation. Ten thousand, at Belfast and twenty thousand elsewhere were readily mobilised. The test was pronounced a complete success. ■lt included ambulance and signalling corps, the men in responding to the call, being unaware of the leaders’ intentions. It has boon explained that the volunteers were ordered out for the purpose of testing their efficiency on the assumption that the police were preparing a raid.

Both Sides on the Watch. The authorities apparently expected a gun-running attempt. The police closely watched a coal steamer in the harbor. Meanwhile the volunteers m the vicinity watched the police. The Telegraph’s Belfast correspondent states that the steamer Fanny’s Hamburg consignment of seven thousand rifles was landed in three lots, at Larne, Bangor and Sough/., late last night, and were distributed early to-day throughout Ulster. The Gordon volunteers severed Larne from communication with the outside world. The cargo was transferred to another steamer at sea and again transhipped to two smaller vessels, of which one, containing nine-tenths of the rifles, proceeded to Larne, where the police were powerless spectators, as they wore unable to communicate with Belfast. Help of Motors. The unloading began at 10 o’clock, and terminated at 3. Over a hundred motor-cars, besides motor-lorries, were waiting, and were despatched to various parts. The first consignment readied County Tyrone at four o’clock. Meanwhile a big force of volunteers, with waggons, had assembled overnight as a blind at the Belfast docks. Inquiry Demanded. .Mr Chamberlain has given notice of a resolution that in view of the seriousness of the Government’s recently contemplated naval and military movement against Ulster, and the incompleteness and inaccuracy of the Ministers’ statements, and the Government’s failure to deal frankly with the situation, there should he a full and impartial enquiry into all the circumstances. ‘‘The Came Is Up.” Captain Faber, at Andover, Hampshire, said a true story was going the rounds that a noted field-marshal had sent for a general at the War Office and demanded that he should make a plan of campaign against Ulster. The general replied, ‘Til be (1 d if I do.” The field-marshal, without a word, turned on his heel, and went to Colonel Seely, and told him “The game is up.”

ARMS FOR THE SOUTH. NO GOVERNMENT WATCH. London, April 24. While the Government has been watching “mystery” ships on the North Coast of Ireland, large consignments of arms are being smuggled into the country through southern harbors. These are not intended for Ulstermen. POLICE AS SPECTATORS. (Received 8.40 a.m.) London, April 26. The mobilisation was carried out with amazing precision. The police were powerless, and were simply onlookers. Gun-running went on for six hours. The identity of many officers who interfered with the police has been established. < Colonel Seely, speaking at Newcastle, asked, What of the plot on the other side? Who were the .‘50,000 mobilised against? He demanded an answer from the Protestant Bishop of Down who blessed the colors, and who, if he did not denounce the use of weapons, would go down in history as (ho arch hyprocite of Christendom. Colonel Seely laid the whole blame on Mr Bonnr Law, who was the only man out of forty-five millions who did not believe Mr Asquith’s word. COASTGUARDS OVERPOWERED. (Received 8.35 a.m.) London, April 26. The Ulster mobilisation kept the authorities busy while gun-running was carried out. The volunteers patrolled 30 miles from the coast on the road between Belfast and Larne Harbor. The Fanny, which had been re-named the Mount Joy, crept up the harbor followed by two small steamers. A swift transhipment followed, and the consorts departed for Bangor and Donaghadee. After landing a large portion, the Mount Joy re-sailed. A coastguardsman

sighted a suspicious vessel at Donagliadeo and rushed to not it y the tact , hut dropped dead with excitement. As tlie vessel entered Donaghadee, the Bangor volunteers, armed with staves, surrounded the coastguards, and imprisoned them at the coastguard stations. It is stated that Captain McCalmont of Donaghadee, Captain Craig, M.P. for Bangor, and Mr Asquith wore sumomned from the country and conferred with Mr Birrell, Mr "Harcourt and General MacHeedv.