VALIANT WEXFORD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 187, 27 October 1876, Page 14

VALIANT WEXFORD.

At present some of our militia regiments are in England taking part in that mimic warfare, which, if we may believe our military Solons, is destined to work wonders in the efficiency of our army. Angry and hostile voices have been raised to denounce the demeanour and soldierly bearing of our fellow-countrymen. English critics have derided the qualities of the mere Irish, and credited them with being boisterous and drunkards. Friends, however, and impartial foes, have vindicated the character of our countrymen ; and even the ' Times' has been compelled to make kno»vn to the world that the Irish auxiliary forces are equal, if not superior, to any other troops composing the two army corps now in the field, and. fighting iininaginary enemies in the South of England. Some of our militia regiments were mentioned with honor — notably the Armagh and the North and South Cork, but there is one regiment which was certainly passed over, although, as we have now abundant evidence of their prowess, they should have been amongst the very first in the role of honors. Until the telegraph wires flashed to every corner of the United Kingdom the mighty deeds of the Wexford Militia, but few amongst us even knew that these gallant men had been drafted from their own green shore to play at dummy warfare in England. Yesterday they were unheard of ; now they are justly famous. Regulars have a thorough contempt for militiamen. Unfortunately for the character of the regular forces the Wexford Militia were camped in close proximity to the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment. For some little time the regulars and the auxiliaries fraternised. The sturdy Wexford men rather liked the 95th, who are almost an entirely English regiment, and were willing to live on friendly and familiar terms with them. But the regulars despised the auxiliary. The men of the line "believed they could with impunity insult Irish militiamen. They tried the game and paid the penalty. The old Wexford spirit was roused. Irish militiaineti could not understand English regulars insulting them. Insults offered to Wexford militiamen could not be "brooked, and they turned upon their tormenters. The Wexford boys were brought to England to teach them to fight, and soon they put their lessons in practice. They assailed the 95th. They demonstrated beyond a doubt their fighting qualities. The enemy were foemen worthy of their steel. On the colors of the Derbyshire regiment are inscribed the various successful battles in which they were en- 1 gaged — Alma, Balaclava, Sebastopol, Central India. Never did they turn tail until they met the famous Wexford militia. At the '• battle of Salisbury, which should be inscribed upon the colors of 1 the Wexfordmen, the 95th met the boys from the "banks of the Slaney, and drubbed ignominiously, they were chased from their tents. They were put to flight, ajid but that the other troops interfered, few of the 95th would have been left to tell of the disaster. The Irish militiamen, whom the Englishmen and the English press affect to scorn, beat a regiment of regulars in fair open fight, and an entire corps d'armee is requisite to disarm them, and prevent them from annihilating the heroes of Inkemian, Alona, Balaclava, and Central India. The Wexfordmen are a fair example of our countrymen. England should take care how she provokes their animosity. — ' Ulster Examiner.'