WAR CHIEFS RESIGN

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2109, 28 March 1914, Page 5

WAR CHIEFS RESIGN

ULSTER CRISIS.

SIR JOHN FRENCH AND THE J GUARANTEE, PROTEST AGAINST ITS REPUDIATION. LIBERALS HOPELESSLY BOGGED. By Telegraph—Pies? Aiifloeiatloffl-CopyriEht London, March 26. A dozen generals, holding tho most important divisional commands, held a conference, lasting an hour and threequarters, at tho War Office, with Field' Marshal Sir John French and General Ewart. , It -was reported that Sir John French (Chief of the Imperial General Staff) and General Ewart have resigned. The report of Sir John French's resignation was later confirmed, Tho Premier (Mr. Ascjivit-h), who had seen the King,'promised to make a statement on the. matter tomorrow. Telegrams from' Dublin and tlio Ourragli state that tlio majority of the cavalry officers iciteme their determination to resign rather than act against Ulster. BOTH GENERALS RESICN. A REPUDIATED GUARANTEE. (Rec. March 27, 11.5 p.m.) London, Marph 27. Field-Marshal Sir John French arid General Ewart have tesigned, owiftg to the repudiation nf the guarantees they •and Colonel Seely gave Brigadier-Gen-era'l Gough. After Mr. Asguitli informed the King of his resignation, Sir John French visited the. Palace and later the House of Commons. Tho resignations were not accepted. Lord. Haldane - is drafting a precis of tlio documents which wera addressed by Sir John French to Brigadier Gough, to the satisfaction of both. It is rumoured that Mr, Lewis liarcourt, Secretary of State for. the Colonies, and Colonel Seely afo likely to exchange offices. London, March 27, Tho "Daily Telegraph's" DubHn corjespondent states- that the Prime Minister's of Brigadisr-Goncr;;! Cough's guarantee has excited profound resentment in military circles. Brigadier-General Hough, interviewed, said that he was not so much concerned as tho officers wore as to what wiis said in Parliament. He took his orders from his military superiors, not from Cabinet Ministers.

. PRECEDENT IN 1832. IRON DUKE BEATEN. (Reo. March 27, 11,5 London,' March 27. Mr. Harold Cox recalls the fact that 15,500 people in May of 1832 signed a. covenant to pass the Reform Bill; Tho Duko of Wellington (then Pria.e Minister) was confident that ho could quell .any rebellion, but tho officers and men refused, stating that th<sy Wero ready ts suppress disorders, but not to destroy tlip liberties of the,, people for tho benefit of the, politicians. Tho Bulie confessed that he was beateii. HOME aULE BILL. SECOND READING! ANNOUNCED. London, March '25. The Chancellor ef tho Exchequer (Mr. Lloyd Georgo) _ has announced that tho Home Rule Bill will como up for tho second reading on, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Lord Charles Bcrcsford asked if the Navy would bo gives a similar assurance to that given to the Army, that it would not bo employed against Ulster. Mr. Winston Churchill said that tho Navy would ho expected to-oT>oy without question orders received through tho proper channels.

At question- time a tie House, Mr. P. Hall (Unionist member for Dultrich) protested against Ministers delivering provocative sneeches in too provinces during the crisis. Dr. ff. Chappie (Liberal member for Stirlingshire) suggested a coimmti.an of representative men, similar to that held in Australia' to franie a Federal constitution, being held in the United Kingdom. "Times" <uid Sydney "Sua" Services. London, March 26. Mr. Bonar Law, in sympathising with Colonel Seelj-, stated that lis. had heard of people being thrown to tlie wolves, but never before with a."ftavgain on tiie part of tho wolves that thoy would not eat him.

COALITION PLOT. SIR EDWARD CARSON INTERVIEWED. (Rec. March 27, 11.5 p.m.) London, March 27. Sir Edward Carson, the Ulster leader, interviewed, attributed the haie.hffig of tho plot against Ulster to Sir. Churchill and Mr. Lloyd George, who were desirous of remaining in tho confir dence of tho Liberal-Nationalist coalt tion. The plot was far more far-reaching, said-Sir Edward Carson, than the public yet understood. Ulster Was ljot going to make overtures to the Army and the Navy. "These will act upon ilieir own traditions said conscience," he added. "DEEPER IN THE BOC." PUBLIC OPINION ON THE CRISIS. London, March 26. Nine Unionist members, m a letter to tho "Westminster Ka/.ett-e," support development of the Federal sy-stem. "Times" and Sydney "San™ Services, London., J larch 213. "The Times" in a leading article -Sajrs: "Mr. Asquith and bis. colleagues have only sunk deeper hit® tho bog, which must soon closo over their heads," New York, March 2(5. Cardinal- O'Connell, Archbishop of Boston, in an address, snid: "The heroic patienco of tho Catholics "i Ireland at present is a wonderful spectacle of dignity, really sublime in its import." (Rec. March 27, 5,00 p.m.) London) March 2G, Tho Continental Press is eagerly canvassing tho situation in Ulster, and asserts that tho absence of attention to foreign affairs in Great Britain is tending to weaken the strength of British diplomacy in the cowNsits of Eoropo. The resignation of Sir John- i\ewh has astonished the Freseli, fflw had expected him to lead the British expeditionary force in tho event of a European war. AN EARLY ELECTION. (Rec. March 28, 0.35 a.m.) London, March _ 37.

Tho " Daily Chroftie's" (Liberal) states that the country is bound to have a general election shortly, probably 5n June. The' issue, "popular freedom versus tho Army," is bound to dominate it. Tho Government" .(adds the "Chroniclo"), must alia democfatiw tha ofliccrihj* of tlio Avmx.