IRISH NEWS

New Zealand Tablet, 16 May 1918, Page 35

IRISH NEWS

GENERAL. Mrs. Coen, Lecarrow, Ballyhaunts, died recently at the age of 108 years. The death has also occurred of Mr. Thomas Balfe, Riverchapel, Gorey, at the age of 103 years. He was an all-round sportsman in his day, and in his 85th year it is stated rode a winner at the old Ardamine Strand Races. Mr. Geo. Bernard Shaw has intimated to Most Rev. Dr. Foley that he is making a grant of the Assembly Rooms, Carlow, his property, for technical instruction purposes. A suggestion on the subject has been made at a meeting of the Technical Committee, and Mr. Shaw says he wants nothing for his interest except to see that same good public use is made of the building. The Sisters of Charity, Ballaghaderiu, County Mayo, in sending shamrocks to soldiers at the front this year enclose in each despatch a printed copy of An Old Irish Blessing, worded with all the affectionate cordiality of the Celt. Jt is a very beautiful prayer, and no wonder the boys at the front are wild to have it

Sir Alfred Keogh, who lately retired from the position of Director-General of the British Army Medical Services, was entertained in London, .land presented with a gold cup by the Consulting Physicians and Surgeons of England, the principal speaker saying that the medical body had no member of “purer motives, more exalted enthusiasm, more eager, zealous and efficient in his service to the State than Sir Alfred Keogh.” Sir Alfred is an Irish Catholic.

Cardinal Logue, in a letter to a conference held at Dundalk recently to further the work of afforestation in Ireland expresses warm sympathy with such an object. Ireland he says is “being denuded of trees at such a rate that it will soon be a wind-swept wilderness, and “hardly a shrub is being planted to retrieve the widespread ruin.” Military necessity is of course the cause. The Cardinal’s words are only too true. On a recent tour from Dublin to Waterford, Cork, Killarney, and back by Limerick and Maryborough, the most constant spectacle on the roadways was the timberladen motor lorry carrying off Ireland’s forest wealth for various uses in prosecution of the war. THE ULSTER ARMY. Undoubtedly the German Foreign Office believed that Great Britain would remain out of the war. The raising of the Ulster army by Sir Edward Carson, one of the most gigantic political bluffs in all history, which had no more revolutionary or military significance than a torchlight parade doing one of our Presidential campaigns, was reported by the German spies as a real and serious revolutionary movement, and, of course, it was believed by the Germans that Ireland would rise in general rebellion the moment that war was declared.” {Mi/ Four Years in Germany. By J. W. Gerard, American Ambassador, page 63). Bluff may have served Sir Edward Carson’s movement in the past. It is not likely to succeed again.

MAYNOOTH MISSION TO CHINA. In the course of a letter to Father Galvin the Apostolic Delegate in the United States says: Having always had a keen interest in the foreign missions of the Catholic Church, and particularly in those of China, it is highly consoling to know that Ireland has seriously taken up the work of bringing,the light of the Gospel to the pagan millions of China. As Ireland is rich in religious vocations, its contributions of priests to the missions of China would have been a godsend at any time, but it is particularly opportune at this season when, on account of the .war, the missions are suffering for lack of priests. I fondly hope that the assistance which the Catholic faithful at large will give to this noble enterprise will

not be less generous than that of the five professors and twenty theological students - who have already dedicated themselves to the work. I offer you my congratulations on what the Irish Mission to China has been able to accomplish during the first year of its existence, and I beg to assure you of my prayers and good wishes for its continued ' success. Invoking God’s choicest blessings upon you. and those affiliated with you in this work, and upon all your benefactors. I am, dear Rev. Father, sincerely yours in Christ. . ift John Cardinal Bonzano,

Apostolic Delegate.

THE FOOD PROBLEM IN IRELAND. A correspondent writes:—The food, shortage in Ireland is becoming more apparent every day, and in the opinion of many persons competent .to judge, there is danger of a famine in the near future if efforts be not made to prevent it. The Food Controller, Lord Rhonda, is an Englishman with no knowledge whatever of eland or its food position and necessities. His principal concern is to feed his own countrymen, let who will go hungry. Things are happening to-day that recall the state of affairs previous to the great famine of 1846-7-8. At that terrible time Ireland produced more food than it wanted, yet necessary food was exported to England, while the Irish as a result died in thousands of starvation. But this can never happen again. At the worst the exportation of food will bo forcibly prevented. The leaders of the people seem keenly alive to the position and were till recently taking active measures to produce and retain sufficient food for the people. They entered and ploughed up for crops untilled lands in the possession of non-producers, paying a reasonable rent for the amount tilled. This is the “outburst of crime ’ alluded to in the cables, which, on the menace of conscription, ‘ has now ceased.” A special correspondent of the Daily Chronicle (London) at present in Ireland reminds the English people that only for the food contribution of Ireland the situation in England would be very critical indeed. Even in normal times Ireland is the greatest of all the suppliers of food to Great Britain. Last year she cultivated 630,000 acres more than in 1916, and was prepared to increase the number of acres this year. The correspondent adds that there was a danger of Ireland depleting its own stock of necessary food. Now that conscription has been forced on the country it will be impossible to maintain, much less increase, the amount of tillage. The English Government cannot have it both ways. They cannot have food and soldiers at the same time. The opinion of those able to judge is that they will have neither food nor soldiers. Owing to the great export of food to England affairs even now are at a serious pass, and worse ■is expected, as the following extracts from the Irish papers will show. . r r On his re-election the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr. O’Neill, said “The food problem was an acute one and he feared that during the next twelve months it would be very much-worse.” * Alderman L. J. Kelly, President of the Children’s Court, Dublin, in a letter states: —“Such' a thing as one square meal a day is unknown to fully 25,000 human beings in Dublin at the present time.” Mr. T. Farren, ex-member of the Food Control Committee, speaking at the Mansion House said: If we are not prepared to fight for the preservation of our food supplies there will be a famine worse than than of 1846-7-8.” ' . These, it will be noticed, are the opinions of responsible public men who hold or held representative positions, not the mere statements of anonymous writers in the newspapers. \