Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 25 February 1915, Page 35

Notes

The Diplomats and the Organ-Grinder At the fashionable Metropolitan Club in Washington, according to the correspondent of the London Telegraph, they are telling the following story at the Expense of Count Bernstorff, the German Ambassador ‘ An Italian, with a hand-organ, stopped in front of the German Embassy and began playing' the “Marseillaise.” The Italian played the air once, twice, and was in the middle of the third round, when Count Bernstorff called a flunkey, gave him a dollar, and told him to give it to the organ-grinder, and* tell him to go to the French Embassy and play the “Wacht am Rhein. The flunkey went out to the organ-grinder and exhorted him to stop playing, and offered the dollar. The Italian told him he would take the dollar and stop playing after ho had played the “Marseillaise” once more. He said that he had to do this, as M. Jusserand had given him two dollars to play it five times in front of the German Embassy.’ Ireland and the War When referring to this topic some few weeks ago wo pointed out the disastrous effect upon Home Rule which would follow if Ireland held aloof in the present crisis, and expressed the view that there were strong grounds both of policy and of principle for an attitude of cordial co-operation on the part of Irish Nationalists. We note that in a recent important speech at Limerick Mr. John Redmond has been stressing precisely the same point. After reviewing upwards of 12.000 National Volunteers in the spacious Greenpark racecourse and presenting the colors to the Limerick battalions, Mr. Redmond, addressing the immense crowds gathered round the platform, declared that every day that passed showed that the attitude of their leaders was an absolutely necessary one. The Home Rule Act was not, in the Kaiser’s words, ‘a scrap or paper,’ to be torn up; it was a solemn treaty between the people of Great Britain and Ireland, and Ireland would cover herself with dishonor if she went back on her pledge. Another reason for that attitude was the merits of the war. After reading of the destruction of churches and cathedrals, in Belgium and France, and the murder of priests and nuns, was there an Irishman living who would not endeavor to maintain right and justice and punish these crimes? Was there a Catholic Irishman who would not blush with shame if it could be said that the only Irishmen who came to the succor of the friendly Catholic nation of Belgium were the Orange Volunteers from Ulster? Happily, there was no such danger at this moment, because Ireland had 150.000 men of Irish birth with the colors, and the Irish Brigade was rapidly filling up. When the war was over and the small nations of Europe were vindicated and Prussian militarism was dead, then Ireland would be able to boast that even out of proportion to her means she had vindicated the valor of her sons. A third reason could be summed up in the word ‘ policy.’ If when the war was over it could be truly said that whereas the Volunteers from Ulster had done their duty, the South and West of Ireland had refused, he asked them what they thought the effect would be when the Amending Bill was considered. He would not press that argument too far, but it was right that he should point it out. Two War Items There are two personal items in Monday’s war cables which are not without interest. The incidents have doubtless been a little embroidered in the telling, but it is not improbable that the main facts are substantially as stated. The first concerns one of the French soldier-priests, regarding whom we have had something to say elsewhere in this issue. ‘ Paris reports,’ runs the cable, ‘that the French colonial troops made attacks on an important position and suffered severely. A battery of 75’s, commanded by an enor-

mous captain, clean-shaven, supported them, . The captain climbed a tree -and made observations, and the Germans were speedily annihilated. The captain .was a priest, and after the battle he celebrated Mass in a ruined barn, preaching a stirring sermon and exhorting the soldiers to pray for those German gunners who had just been exterminated.’ * ■ The other describes an Irishman dash and daring: ‘O’Leary, a crack shot, and formerly of the Mounted Police of Canada, led the assault of the Irish Guards in the brickfield engagement at La Bassee, 150 yards away. He easily outstripped his companions, and, when nearing the German trench, he dropped to the ground and picked off the whole five of the crew of a machine gun before they could slew the gun. Then he reached the second barricade and shot three more. His comrades completed the rout, and the brickfield was captured in half an hour. Had the Germans been able to use the machine gun the whole of the company might have been wiped out. O’Leary brought in three prisoners.’ Doubtless we will get full particulars later; and if the facts are as stated, there is a decoration in sight for O’Leary.