THE IRISH SITUATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 24 April 1914, Page 5

THE IRISH SITUATION.

AN IMPORTANT PARLIAMENTARY i/APl^t.

THE NAVAL AND MILITARY PLANS.

GENERAL PAGET'S ACTION

BY CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT LONDON, April 23. A revised White Paper includes the Admiralty orders to the third battle squadron and fourth destroyer flotilla to go toMiammsh, the Pathfinder and Attentive to Gibraltar, and the Royal Arthur to Kingstown on March 21 "to embark troops for Carrickfergus. The Afctentlve's captain was directed to land in plain clothes, and go to Carrickfergus and confer with the commander of Holyrood barracks regarding the eventual co-operation of the Army and Navy. The orders added: Carrickfergus must be defended, even if naval guns are necessary. Brigadier-General Paget's written statement of April 2 contains detail of a conference of seven brigadiers and senior officers, whereat he explained the Government's plans and asked whether he could rely on them all in certain eventualities, but he did not intend the question to be passed on to the subordinates. General Paget explained that he would obtain concession for the officers who might feel deeply, and with Field-Marshal French's help, officers ! domiciled in Ulster would be permitted to disappear, but others not prepared to carry out their duties would be. dismissed. General Paget added that Colonel Seely hoped there would be few cases of officers, claimins; exemption. General Paget states that he does not know how the misunderstanding arose, but it is easy to see that it was a natural step to infer that something in the nature of an alternative was to be put to the offers; at any rate, certain officers left tiie conference under a wrong impression. General Paget roncludev by accepting the responsibility for the misapnrehension. : PRESS COMMENT. The Times states that the White Paper has estabalished the fact that serious operations were in full swing when Mr Asquith intervened, and that Mr Asquith was ignorant of his colleagues' plans until the crisis they provoked came to a head.