A SOLDIER'S DUTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11937, 26 March 1914, Page 5

A SOLDIER'S DUTY.

(Received Thursday, at 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, Wednesday.

The White Paper states that on December Kith an interview took place between Colonel Seely and the general officers commanding, when the possibility of resignation was brought to Colonel Seely's notice. Colonel Seely dealt. Avith the legal question laid down that a. soldier could not shelter himself from the civil buy behind his superior's order, if that order Avas unreasonable and outrageous. For instance, if the Army Avas called upon to massacre a demonstration of Orangmen who Avere not endangering their neighbours' lives the soldiers Avould be justified in refusing to obey. What they Avere required to face at present was the possibility of the troops being called on to support the. civil poAver and protect, life and property when the police were unable to do so. Colonel Seely declared that he would hold the officers individually responsible There was nothing in their commands subversive of discipline. The Army Council on March 14th, believing Armagh, Omagh, Carrick, Fergus and Enniskillen liable to attack, instructed General Paget to take special' precautions. General Paget telegraphed that all officers of the Fifth Lancers, except two, were resigning their commissions, and he feared tho same condition prevailed in the Sixteenth Lancers.' He also feared the men would refuse to move. General Paget telegraphed on the 20th that the Brigadier and fifty-seven officers of the Third Cavalry Brigade preferred dismissal if ordered North. Tho Army Council replied authorising the suspension of the seniors, and ordered General Gough and the officers commanding tho Fifth and Sixteenth Lancers to attend at the War Office. Officers were being sent to relieve them forthwith. The resignations of all officers should be refused.

The White Paper states that Brigadier General Gough reported" that his officers were unanimously of opinion that further information was essential before they were called upon at such short notice to form decisions vitally affecting their future, and especially to make clear the definition regarding the duty required of them in Ulster. If it

consisted ofv the preservation of property and the maintenance of order, all were prepared to carry out their orders. If it involved military operations against Ulster they would prefer dismissal. On the twenty-third Brigadier General Gough asked whether in tho event of Home Rule becoming IaAV they would be called upon under the expression "maintaining law-and order," to enforce Home Rule. He insisted on this point being made clear. The reply, received, which Avas initialled by Colonel Seeley and Generals French and Ewart on the twenty-third, authorised Brigadier General Govigh to inform the Brigade that the Council Avas satisfied that there had been a misunderstanding. It Avas the duty of all soldiers to obey the Council's commandu for the protection of property nd support the CiAdl power m the event of disturbances aud the protection of lives. This was the only point the Council intended. General Paget put it to the officers that the Government must retain the right to use troops to support the civil poAvcr and the maintenance Of order, but did not intend to take advantage of them to crush political opposition'to the policy and principles of Home Rule.