The Ulster Incident

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 278, 27 April 1914, Page 5

The Ulster Incident

THE ULSTER INCIDENT.

A TEST .MOBILISATION OF VOLUN-

TEERS.

iiy Cable—Press Association—Copyrigli London, April 24.

Notice has already been given of fifty questions requesting Mr. Asquith to givj further information about the Ulster incident.

A test mobilisation of volunteers wn.carried out at Belfast amid wild rumors last night. Great alacrity and discipline were shown and twojve hours' rations were brought..

Mr. Ai'land, in a speech at Selby, said I tlicro was bound to he a genera! election before the Dublin Parliament was established. If a civil war were started or a provisional Government set up between the time the Bill passed and cama mto operation the Ulster force would be met by the Government force. The debate on the vote of censure on the Government, in connection with Ulster, will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

IMPORTATION OF ARMS TO

IRELAND.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 25, 5.5 p.m. 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 tlie country through southern harbors. These are not intended for Ulstermen.

HOW THE POLICE WERE FOOLED.

A "BLIND" WORKED AT BELFAST.

AND RIFLES LANDED AT LARNE.

'•WITH PROMPTNESS AND

DESPATCH."

Received 25, 5.5 p.m. 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. It included ambulance and signalling corps, the men in responding to the call, being unaware of the leaders' intentions. It has been explained that the volunteers were ordered out for the purpose of testing their efficiency on the assumption that the police were preparing a raid.

The authorities apparently expected a gun-running attempt. The police closely watched a coal steamer in the harbor. Meanwhile the volunteers in 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 Lame, Bangor and Songhz, late last night, und were distributed early to-day throughout Ulster. The Gordon volunteers severed Larne from communication witii 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 Lame, where the police were powerless spectators, as they were uii' able to communicate with Belfast.

The unloading began at 10 o'clock, and terminated at 3. Over a hundred mo-tor-cars, besides motor-lorries, were waiting, and were despatched to various parts. The first eonsignmnet reached Countv Tvrone at four o'clock.

Meanwhile a big force of volunteers, with waggons, had assembled overnight as a blind at the Belfast docks.

THE ULTEB UNIONIST MANIFESTO.

A MOTION FOR ENQUIRY

Received 28, 5.5 p.m. London, April 25.

Mr. Chamberlain has given notice of 3 resolution that in view of the seriousness of the Government's recently contemplated naval and military movement against Ulster, an<l the incompleteness and inaccuracy of the Ministers' statements, and the Government's failure to deal frankly with the situation, the??, should be a full and impartial enquiry into all the circumstances.

" THE GAME IS UP."

A SOLDIER'S SPICY STORY. Received .26, 5.5 p.m. London, April 2!,. Captain Fabcr, 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, "I'll be d dif T do." The fieTA-marshal, without a worcl, turned on his lieel, and went to Colonel Seel)-, and told him "The game is up."