AT THE CURRAGH CAMP RECEPTION TO RETURNED OFFICERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 72, 26 March 1914, Page 7

AT THE CURRAGH CAMP RECEPTION TO RETURNED OFFICERS

GENERAL GOUGH'S SIGNED GUARANTEE. STORMY SCENES AT WAR OFFICE LONDON, 25th March. The soldiers loudly cheered BrigadierGenerals Gough and M'Ewan on their arriving at the Curragh Camp. Speaking to the officers and soldiers! gathered at the gates of his house, General Goiigh said that the ofticera had all been reinstated and would not be called on to force Ulster. If they went for other duty, he had a guarantee that tluy would nob be aiked to feear. §rme

against the Ulstermen. (Great cheering) Brigadier-General Gough informed the | Daily Telegraph: — "I have a signed guarantee that under no circumstances shall I be used to force Home Rule upon Ulster. I am willing to undertake ordinary duty, such as the protection of life and property and the preservation of order, but if it came to civil war I would rather fight for Ulster than against." Another account states that when Brigadiet -Generals Gough, M'Ewan, and Parker reached the War Office there were stormy scenes. Field-Marshal Sir John French criticised their action as meriting the severest punishment. The intervention of Lord Roberta restored a better feeling. Finally, the officers received a document of ' many paragraphs, written in legal phraseology, setting out the conditions under which they should serve in Ulster Brigadier -General Gough replied: — "We are plain soldiers, and we don't understand all these legal terms. We want things put plainly." Brigadier-General Gough then read from a written sheet: — "Do we understand that we shall not be asked to bear arms against Ulster, or to enforce the present Home Rule Bill? Can we return and tell the officers so?" After; further argument, Sir John French wrote on General Gough s paper : "Yes; this is so," and signed it. Three copies of the document were made, and deposited with solicitors. VISIT TO SIR E. CARSON IMPERIAL OFFICER PAYS RESPECTS. (Received March 26, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, 25th March. Major-General Sir Cecil Macready, Director of Personal Services at the War Office^ whom the War Office sent to Belfast to confer with Count Gleichen, commanding the troops in Ulster, visited Sir Edward Carson at Craigavon. Sir Cecil was in uniform. He intimated that he wished to pay his respects to the Unionist Leader. General Sir George Richardson (retired), who is connected with the Ulster volunteer movement, was present. FEAR OF A REPUBLIC FRENCH PAPER'S THEORY. (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) (Received March 26, 8.10 am.) PARIS, 25th March. The Figaro conceives it possible that the King will refuse his signature to the Home Rule Bill, as the* Socialists might secure a majority and declare a Kepublic. TO FIGHT FOR IRELAND IRISHMEN IN AMERICA READY. (TIMES AND SYDNBY SUN SiRVICES.) (Received March 26, 8.10 a!m.) NEW YORK, 25th March. Mr. M'Donald, president of the Dublin Club, declares that five hundred men are ready to sail for Ireland to light against Ulstermen. They are fully armed, and have been secretly drilling for months. FUNDS FOR ULSTER VICTORIAN OFFERS TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS. (Received March 26, 10.20 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Mr. Horsfall, a prominent pastoralist, has cabled to Sir Edward Carson as follows: — "As Asquith refuses referendum, will give twenty thousand to help Ulstermen if driven to fight." The Union Defence League collected £54,029 in five days to assist the Ulster fund. The Hon. Herbert Gibbs is offering £1000 to the fund as a protest against Mr. Churchill's speeches. A HOSTILE MOTION GOVERNMENT MAJORITY OF NINETY-TWO. (Received March 26, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 25th March. Mr. Balfour formally moved the rejection of the Consolidated Fund Bill. (Received March 26, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, This Day. On a division the Consolidated Fund Bill was read a second time, the voting being :—: — For the Bill 314 Against ... 222 Majority 92