The Irish Question

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 223, 20 March 1914, Page 5

The Irish Question

PREPARING FOR TROUBLE.

GOVERNMENT ISSUES ARMS IN IRELAND.

A WAY OUT.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 19, 10.55 p.m. London, March 19.

The guards have been strengthened at Armagh barracks, the Antrim garrison headquarters, and at Carrickfergus Castle, which is used as a Government storehouse of arms and ammunition.

The staff is actively dispatching ammunition to tjie various military centres in Ireland.

The Daily Telegraph says that if thi Lords amend the Army Act forbidding the* employment of troops in Cflster, and make the Act a dead letter,^ o *: Government can utilise naval forces to suppress any disturbance in Ulster when Home.Rule is passed.

ANOTHER AMENDMENT.

Received 19, 10 p.m. London, March 19.

Captain D. V. Pirie has given notice of an amendment to Mr. Bonar Law's proposed . motion of censure in favor of the exclusion of Ulster until a general system of devolution of the United Kingdom is provided.

ULSTER MOBILISATION SCHEME.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 19, 6.35 p.m.

London, March 19.

The military correspondent of the Observer says that nightly drills are held of the Ulster' volunteers, and declares that it is probable that the whole of the volunteers could be mobilised in Ulster in a shorter tiffa than the British regulars would, require to mobilise.

ULSTER'S MILITARY STRENGTH.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, March 19. Ulster possesses 110,000 covenanters in the prime of life, divided into 63 battalions, organised on a democratic basis, electing their own officers, and having signalling corps able .to reach the furthest point of. Ulster, in four hours. Eighty thousand rifles are available, the bulk of them being entrusted in parcels of five to selected men dispr-rsed in all parts, together with ammunition, and 'ready immediately.