THE RUNAWAYS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 15, 19 January 1916, Page 2

THE RUNAWAYS.

.WEST OF IRELAND SHIRKERS. Nearly 600 runaways from National Service who arrived at Liverpool from-Ireland with the intention of sailing in the Cunard liner Saxonia for the United States are still in this country (says a correspondent of the London “Express”). For the present they have been foiled owing to the crew refusing to put to sea if they were-allowed on board. The Cunard Company have also instructed all their agents to refuse to boolc accommodation in their At.antic- liners to men eligible for the Army.

The military fitness of the men who vainly sought flight yesterday was all that a recruiting officer could require. Hailing from the west and south-west of Ireland, where they followed the occupation of agricultural labourers, they were big and lusty in body,I’whatever 1 ’whatever they might lack in courage. They were dressed in their “best” clothes, and had with them a good deal of luggage. These who had arrived in the city on Friday slept overnight at emigrants’ shelters. Their numbers were greatly increased yesterday morning by fresh arrivals by the Holyhead boat.

The public was in an angry mood an dseemed determined to make the men’s departure as uncomfortable as possible. Recruiting officers, despite unavailing efforts on Friday to get a

single recruit, renewed their exer-

ticns, and when the Irishmen ignored i the straight question, ‘Will you join j your fellow-countrymen in the ranks.” the crowd became restive and hurled taunts at them. Women threw white feathers and shouted sarcastic invitations to wear them. To all appeals, sympathetic or other-

wise, the Irishmen turned a deaf ear. Net a word would they answer. Their mdst severe critics were Irish men and women. “They are a disgrace,” shouted one woman native of Ireland, “to the gallant Irish at the front, and sure, they don’t represent old Ireland one bit.” When it seemed that they had successfully run the gauntlet and were get away after all it was learned ■that the sailors and firemen of the 'iner had refused to sail if the runaways were allowed to embark. “It is more than British flseh and bleed can stand,” declared one of them. The r ~rw,\ cheered the news. The Cuu--rd Company promptly notified agreement with the sailors’ action, and word was passed to the waiting crowd that the Irishmen would not be allowed to sail- Avould-be runaways seem edunable to credit the news and avouM not leave the landing stage. ■ 5 f*' i|T !

All Americans and all other neutrals and ■ ordinary passengers were a'lowed on beard after the strictest investigation of their bona fidea by the alien cfflcer.s Meanwhile the recruiting officers get busy again, but all to no purpose. Then men were told that they could enlist or go home to Ireland, where their passage money would be returned to them by the Irish agents. A short-statured artilleryman with a pronounced American accent told them of the cold reception they would have had in the Untied States, where was the passport to success. “There is no room for cowards there,” he declared. “If you go away you will for ever disgrace yourselves. Isn’t there one of you with the pluck to s tep forward?”

The Irishmen turned their ba.cks on him and said not a word, but the crowd of Americans looking on from the decks of the ship cheered, and one shouted, “We’ve no room for shirkers in America.” At dusk the liner moved away, leaving the crowd of wouldbe runaways disconsolate on the stage. The soldiers present raised three hearty cheers for the sailors and firemen, the National Anthem was sung, and the crowd went away.