The Rival Armies.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 28, 25 May 1914, Page 5

The Rival Armies.

ARMS AND AMMUNITION.

WHEN THE BiLL IS PASSED.

PBt Eliotbio Telegbaph- Cofybight l [United Pbes« ABsoniAwoN.l London, May 22.

There is tremendous tension in Ulster, and it is feared the rival volunteer armies will come into collision on Tuesday evening when the Home Rule Bill is passed in the House of Commons under the Parliament Act.

Both armies are I'everishly preparing, and are fully supplied with arms and ammunition for active service.

Fifty motor ears were distributing rifles in the evening from County Down to various centres in the County Fermanagh.

Two hundred Covenanters were out all night guarding certain houses. The police on bicycles made an unsuccessful attempt to trace the motors, but the numbers of the cars had been changed, and in some cases the .numbers of the Nationalists had been substituted. Every commander in the Covenanter regiment has received an order to be ready. In view of the possibility of Nationalist rowdyism on the passing of the Homo Rule Bill, commanders are authorised to take whatever steps they deem advisable to maintain peace and prevent disloyal processions, the burning of bonfires or displays taking place in the Unionist territory throughout their command, The "Covenanter," the official organ of Ulstermen, contains an appeal, signed by officials of various societies in the North of Ireland to fellow trades unionists in Britain, to assist them in the crisis, assuring them that the Democracy of Ulster in the soul and body of the Ulster movement. CABINET MEETS HURRIEDLY. London, May 24. A hurried meeting of the Cabinet was held on Saturday, supposedly to deal with Monday's procedure in the Commons arising out of Thursday's scene.

GROWTH OF THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT. (Received 9.15 a.m.) London, May 24. The Dublin correspondent of the "Observer" states that the Hibernian Society officially recognises the Nationalists' volunteer movement which is daily growing. Mr Devlin, who at first regarded it as a menace to the Nationalists' machinery, has now decided to identify the machinery with the volunteer movement. POSSIBILITY OF DISSOLUTION. ATTITUDE OF THE CABINET. (Received 10.5 a.m.) London, May 21. "Reynolds Newspaper" asserts, on good authority, that an increasing number of members of the Cabinet favor a dissolution. IRISH-AMERICANS FIND £20,000. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, May 23. The Irish-Americans have promised £20,000 for guns, ammunition and uniforms for the Nationalist volunteers. Officials of the Nationalists fear that the American support will be diverted to the Parliamentary funds.