The Irish Volunteer - Volume 2 - Number 1

TH~E ..

.,"

l!.Y EO'IN MAC NEILL.

EDITED Voil . 2.

I

l

No. l.

(New Se.ries).

NOTES

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The European war has not merely complicated, it has annihilated the ordinary political forces of Ireland as a factor in British politics . -At this moment the Irish members of Parliament are as helpless in Br~tish politics as so many babies.

Will anyone venture to deny it ? They may seek to gain favour. When the time comes to redeem expectations, they will be told, " 'l'hank you for nothing ! You were powerless and helpless, and you can eiaim no merit for anything you .h ave done.'' If there were a good ~ase f~r gratitude, we know from experience that there would be no gratitude, but now even the claim to gratitude will be denied.

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Trust yourselves, Irishmen. If you are asked to trust British politicians, excuse yourselves from being fools. For two years before last March, the Asquith ministry was pledged to the Irish Party and their supporters in Ireland to give Ireland a certain measure of Home Rule.

That was their treaty with their Irish allies. They were as much bound in

honour to fulfil that trea,t y as to protect the neutrality of Belgium. They broke the treaty. They broke their public and solemn pledges a hundred times repeated.

And now they pose as the champions of treaty obligations and the defenders of · small nationalities.

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Price· One Penny.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1914.

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So much for the honour of the " Home Rule" ministry. Now let us see about their gratitude. If we die in sufficient numbers-they refuse to publish the number of our dead-to placate the antiIrish prejudices of the British electorate, ,. those who are left alive, including our parliamentary representatives, will receive the price of blood from British gratitude. We may take the "Home Rule" ministry to show the high-water mark of British generosity towards Ireland. We have the measure of their gratitude. For years they have accepted the help of the Irish Party on the understanding that they in turn ' would give Ireland Home Rule on certain clearly de-

tined lines. Tney embodied tlleir offer in

the Home Rule Bill. Having done so, they continued to accept the help of the Irish Party, which maintained them in office and enabled them to strengthen themselves by passing their own measures.

Then, when the critical time came to show their gratitude and make good their pledges, they turned their back on the.i r own treaty with Ireland, surrendered to the Unionists to coerce the Irish Party and to betray the Nationalists of Ireland and in particular the Nationalists of Ulster.

newspa.per.'' That Irishmen should have any liberty t~ dissent from Mr. Walter Long's views about the war, is to Mr. Walter Long ";:tbominable." That is the sort o,f satra.p that is sent here to govern us. \ .

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·when I want a model for treason and sedition, I shall look up the files of the English Unionist Press and the speeches and actions of English Unionist politi· cians, including the army politicians, during the past two or three years. * * * Meanwhile, it does not disturb my peace If this be the :fidelity and gratitude of , of mind to find that I have earned the the Home Rule ministry and the Liberal censure of anti-Irish Unionists or · of Party, what will be the :fidelity and grati- · treaty-breaking Whigs. In all these tude of the combined forces of Liberalism matters I find only one cause ·of regret, and Unionism when the war is over? If and tha.t is to see Irishmen who, as I there are any reasons, let us hear them. thought, had some standard of national If there are grounds for hope, sufficient principle, to see them so far ca.rried a.way for men of ordinary intelligence, let us by a . wave of factious rancour that th'ey ' know them, so that we may join in the are actually engaged in supplying the belief that a debt will be paid to dead ammunition for the Whigs who have sold Irishmen buried in -Belgian ditches, a them and for the Tories who are waiting, debt that has been publicly and shame- as they say themselves, "to send Home , lessly repudiated before the eyes of living Rule to the D~vil.'" At the same time, Irishmen in the British Parliament and two wrongs do not make a right, and here in this country. · There is an Eng- Irishmen who stand by the N ationa.1 'posilish definition of gratitude, "a lively tion will not let themselves be provoked sense of favours to come." Dead Irish to retaliation, or be led to mistake their soldiers can bring neither fear nor favour temporary opponents here in Ireland £or to English statesmen in this life, and the real enemy against whom the rights English policy i~ Ireland has never ta.ken and liberties of Ireland are to be defended . any account of the life to come.

I have had .to address many Irish Volunteer meetings in Ulster this year; * * For Irishmen, there is one paramount I know something about Ulster and about allegiance, allegiance to Ireland, and one the North-East especially, and am no be~ treason, treason against Ireland. For liever in the doctrine that the disease of Imperialists, the highest allegiance is to "Ulsteria" is an incurable gangrene "the Empire," and the worst treason js demanding amputation. On the contr\ ry I know that the disease is one .of those a~rainst "the Empire." When we probe it through, we find that "the Empire·" insanitary troubles that are best cured by means English predominance. British fresh air and sunshine. Ulsteria is an Unionists are now demanding suppression · artificial complaint, a blood7 poisoning and victimisation of journals and of men deliberately contrived with th~' help of engaging in what they choose to call English interference and English money. spreading sedition. British Liberal minis- 'rhe blood that is infected is of the same ters, true to their tradition of kowtowing strain than ran in the veins of the United to the Tories, are explaining how anxious Irishmen and that was poured out for they are to do what tbe Opposition thinks Ireland in the battles of Antrim and right. Mr. Birrell gives a serviceable Ballinahinch; of the same strain that fed answer to one of these English fire-eaters, the brain and nerve of the men who were I forget his name, who wants to know toughest and bravest in the American whether I cannot at least be depriyed of War of Independence. Wherever I was my livelihood for · ·the crime of being called on to speak to the Irish Volunteers "associated with the IRISH VOLUNTEER of Ulster, I reminded them of these

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2

THE IRISH . VOLUNTEER.

truths, and tha.t their opponents in Ulster were their fellow-countrymen, ~nd that we should look forward to being again united with them on the ground of Irish Nationality.

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I said this wherever I spoke, and wherever I said it, my words were received with joy and welcome by the Irish Volunteers of Ulster . and by the crowds that surrounded them. They were applauded by Catholic priests and by Hibernians and Foresters and Gaelic Leaguers and United Irish Leaguers. That was my experience at large meetings in my native town of Glenarm in Co. Antrim, at Monaghan and Carrickmacross, at Omagh and Greencastle, Newtownstewart, Beragh, Carrickmore· and Sixmilecross, and in smaller gatherings in other places . It is no new thing for me .

I stood up for the sa.me teaching years ago, among other occasions, at the Ulster Feis at Toomebridge. I say now that if one-tenth of the efforts to stand well with the British electorate had been used to bring a.bout national unity in Ireland, and especially in Ulster, the result would have been more secure than a.n ything in our present prospects by favour of the British electorate .

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During the early $Ummer, various reports appeared in British journals and were copied in Irish journals, about alleged raids by the Irish Volunteers on the arms of the Ulster Volunteer Force.

I believed these reports to be concoctions, got up to create bad feeling and to lead to attempted exploits such as were described, and I denounced them publicly .

At my instance, the Provisional Committee of the Irish Voluntee11s issued a warning on the subject. Now if we are to look for national unity in Ulster, we are no less bound to look for it elsewhere throughout Irela.nd. We must avoid all words and deeds that are calculated to create a. bitter or factious spirit. At the sa.me time, we must freely and firmly stand up for our principles and a.gain.st any invasion of them.

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It has been reported that, the week before last, c~rta.in arms were seized in the streets of Dublin. We have· no authentic information, but the Irish Volunteer Council has unanimously repro ba.ted the alleged seizure. I do not know whether any Irish Volunteers had any hand in it. If they had, their duty is, without hesitation and without delay, to do what they can to have the arms restored to their former possessors. Ireland needs armed Irishmen, not dis~rmed Irishmen. When the present confusion pa.sses away, as it is rapidly passing, the more armed Irishmen we have, no matter what shade of nati~nal politics may be theirs, the better for Ireland.

Eorn MAc NEILL.

I-

THE . WAR

Saturday, December 5, 1914 .

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~rhe end of the fourth month of the war gives us another halting-place where we can stand and look back on the course of the military events and thence prophesy the likely further ~ourse . First in order we may ta.k e the fighting in Flanders.

Here in the western theatre for well over a month a to:and-fro battle has been raging, and so far neither side has been a.ble to claim decisive results ·: nor does there seem any prospect of an immediate decision for one side or the other. The fighting has become something of the nature of siege warfare, and as in such case usually happens, the result is a deadlock and an equality. Such long-drawn.out operations r esult in a levelling up of the forces . On each side the bravest men and the least hardy are killed off : those 'left in great measure lack dash but are steady and strong. There comes a stage where victory can come to one· side only by brilliant generalship, powerful reinforcements, or some other external cause.

It is fairly certain that the Allies will never try to press an attack on Germany in this quarter. They do not seem to contemplate such an operation, and probably thie Germans could hold the line .AntwerpN amur-Metz-Stras$burg indefinitely even ii they did abandon their present offensive effbrt. There are only two ways into Germany- one is across Holla.n d and may be dismissed at once . The other is between Metz and Strassburg, and when the French made an attempt to force a way in here in the third week of August they met with an almost disastrous repulse.

E;v-idently, then, it becomes necessary to look elsewhere for a .decision, and this brings us to consider the campaign in Poland . Here to the west and south-west of Warsaw the Russians claim successes, and it is possible that there is some ground for the claim . It is also quite clear that the Germans and Austrians have suffered nothing like .a complete def eat and are in no danger. Even if the German and Austrian armies were defeated, still the Russians could never invade . their territory without reducing Cr a cow, and this last would be difficult without the previous reduction of Przemysl. It needs a circumstance like , this to bring fully home to us the vast advantage their mobile siege guns give the Germans : the Germans literally " rushed " Antwerp- the Russians were forc ed laboriously to besiege Przemysl, by no means as strong a place. And a siege can always be r aised-Przemysl had already been relieved once, and it is very doubtful if at the time of writing it is even completely invested.

Other difficulties in the way of the Russians are the terribly muddy roads- mere quagmires, a~ Napoleon found them in

the winter of 1806-7. And just as soon as the . frost comes to harde:~ them the snow will be many feet deep . The railway lines are very few and many are only single track , while in the case of an invasion .of Germany or Austria-Hungary the railways are built to a different guage from that of the Russian loc,ornotives and rolling stock, thus making very difficult all questions of supply . There is also a fair probability. that the Austrians will soon be a.b le to withdraw large numbers of troops from Servia. The latest reports mention Austrian troops as victorious in the district between V alievo and Kra.gushevatz, \rhich is very , nearly half-way from the frontier to Nish . This .malrns it certain that Servia will never have to b~ seriously reckoned with again . On the other hand, the- Turkish armies in the Caucasus, while they will scarcely cause the withdrawal of any troops from Poland, will certainly divert to the South reinforcements originally intended to meet the Gerrnarn; and Austrians.

The Turkish invasion of Egypt, whether it succeeds or not, will certainly have a considerable iilfluence on the campaign in Flanders by diverting Indian, Australian, and New Zealand troops originally destined for that theatre. Of course, a good proportion of these troops must also be sent to South Africa.

01). sea. the only important bit of news for some days now was that from the Black Sea- of which .two radically different reports have come to hand . A possibly true ~ersion-one at all events that reconciles the two accounts-is that the "Goeben," coming sudde.nly on the Russian fleet in a fog, steamed off after an exchange of shots .

- - -·:·- - TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN .

The English Government is now examining letters which pass through the mails to an extent unprecedented- even in Ireland. Our readers are therefore advised to use postcards for their correspondence.

This will save the Post Office the trouble of opening and resealing envelopes and will save them a halfpenny on each corn-. rnunication . In any case, don't entrust anything to the mails which you would not put upon a postcard .

- - -··:·- -THE AONACH. The Abbey Theatre, Lower Abbey St., is the home of this year's Aonach . Th~ cosy theatre is being transformed into a big emporium for the sale of exclusively Irish-made goods, from Monday, December 7th to 14th . Practically e·v erything made in Ireland, both of utility and artistic value, will be on sale, and a number of attractive side-shows, including a da.nce hall, tea rooms, and orchestra, complete a programme deserving the earnest support of our Dublin friends .

Saturday, December 5, 1914.

I

THE IRISK VOLUNTEER.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS fOR THE GUIDANCE Of TROOPS IN ATTACK

An advance in the known or suspected . neighbourhood of the enemy will always be preGeded by scouts, who should be the most active and intelligent men. It may be taken as a rough guide that a company extended over a front of 200 yards with nothing between it and the expected enemy should send out eight or ten widely extended scouts to cover it,s whole front, unless the nature of the ground precludes the possibility of coming on the enemy unexpectedly.

A scout, on sightin.g the enemy, will hold up his rifle or pole horizontally as though to guard his head and raise it up and down repeatedly if the enemy is in . force. He will show by pointing the direction in which the enemy is in position or is advancing, giving the advance signal if the latter, and may signal back to his company to "double if he considers it necessary that they should advance quickly to forestall the enemy. The scouts may take up a position themselves witho~t further orders if they are sure that tho enemy is thoroughly located and further advance by them (the scouts) is unnecessary or impossible. The commander who despatches parties of scouts must arrange with them for means of rapidly communicating any intelligence gained and for the communication by him of such intelligence to the commander of the force.

3 CONNECTION BETWEEN VARIOUS PARTS OF SAME FORCE .

This is most important and often difficult to maintain. Great latitude must be stances, apply to the supports . The ad- allowed the flank commanders of a force vance of the firing line by section rushes to make use of the most tactically advanis to enable some sections to continue . tageous ground . This may mean the defiring to cover the advance of the others. tachment of whole or part of their comOne section of each half-company will mand further and further from the · therefore advance at a time. The section centre. The portions of a force to act on its :flank lying down and firing during right, left, and centre respectively should its advance and advancing a short dis- be clearly defined before the commencetance beyond it when the first section lies ment of an attack, and special parties down. The distance of each section rush told off by the commander of the whole must depend on the cover available a.n d force or by arrangement between the the freshness of the men. It should be :flank and centre·commanders to keep conregulated by the section leader and the nection between the flanks and the centre . men will conform their movements to his In the event of a £lank force without word of command. At a closer - 1. Going to an unusual distance to a range than 500 yards in actual warfare flank; no such ordered movements as section 2. For some topographical or tactical rushes can be practised, and the men reason changing temporarily the must advance by twos and threes from direction of their advance; different parts of the line, bearing in mind the following principles, namelythe commander of the :flank force will send written notice of his inte~tions to 1. The avoidance of " bunching." the nearest man of the connecting party, .2. The more continuous an advance is . who will take the message to the comthe greater the effect on the mander of the connectin.g party, who will morale of the enemy. ' send it on to the commander of the centre 3. The more "ragged "-that is, the party. Where a flank force becomes less the enemy knows where to widely separated the connecting party look for the next men coming on will resolve itself into a series of connectthe less prepared can he be to ing files of two men each or single men, shoot them down on rising. in order to keep connection and a, c.h annel The advance at close range will there- for communication. These. connecting fore be carried out by men rising from parties are. doubly necessary when a different parts of the line rushing forward movement on an extended front is ata few paces and the repetition of this tempted at night.

DIVISION OF ATTACKING FORCE. process without cessation.

Besides the scouts the troops in attack will be divided into firing line, supports · THE FINAL AssAULT. and reserves. The firing line should conThe final assault cannot be delivered sist of half-companies, to which the remaining half-companies will act as sup- from a distance of more than 200 yards ports, the object of this being that the and can · seldom be delivered with success companies should not be unduly mixed from so far. Before its delivery the up together when the supports become supports, by reinforcing from the rere, merged with the firing line before . the , should have become completely merged final assault. The firing line will be ex- in the firing line. tended to not less than five paces between THE RESERVES. each two men if the ground permits.

The reserves, which in strength should The supports will be in rere· of firing line at distances varying with the nature of not be less than one-fourth or at least one-fifth of the whole force, should parthe ground.

Generally speaking they should be 200 ticipate in the general advance in rere of to 300 yards in rere at the commencement the supports. They will not extend until of an advance, which distance they will compelled to do so, as they should, as far gradually diminish as the attack develops. as possible, be kept concentrated and They will move in extended order if under control of a capable commander, possible. They will not fire unless they ready to meet outflanking movements or can do so well over the heads of the firing counter attacks on the part of the enemy, line without any danger of hitting them. or to send men at a moment's notice to Up to about 1,000 yards range from the strengthen a threatened part of the firing enemy, the firing line, if it is well ex- line. Their ability to fulfill these objects tended, should be able to conduct a con- can be best attained by their marching tinuous advance in quick time without in company column or line of company serious loss. From about 1,000 yards to columns. The distances between the 500 yards range of the enemy the advance sections and the intervals between the will be made by section rushes. This men can be increased if they come under may or may not, according to circum- long-range fire.

te.o.n.o.m 50 'Olut 'Oo clu .dtt Smnre~tt.

IRISH

VO~UNTEERS

SuppoPt youP own,

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Ai

ENLARGEMENT

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DUBLIN.

Warpipe Bands.

VOLUNTEERS, we ask your support when starting Bagpipe or other Bands. We are actual makers in Ireland and can give you better and cheaper Instruments than those who are merely importers.

Best Uillean Bagpipes always in stock, Chanter, Bag and Bellows, 57s. nett.

Wholesale Agent for all publications by Carl Hardeberk. Write for lists.

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8 HOWARD STREET, BELFAST.

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THE HUSH

.VOLlJNTEU~.

·AONAC·H AS

VS UAL.

Presents

All Next Week- Dec. 7th-14th.

ABBEY THEATRE,

FOR

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REVOLVERS at 14s. 6d. ; 15s. 6d. ; 27s. 6d.

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B.S.A. AI R GUNS, 40s. ; other patterns from 10s. 6d.

LEE -ENFIELD MAGAZINE RIF LE, New, prot ect ed sights ; splendid value, £5 5s., with bayonet, complete.

VOLUNTEER OU'.l;FIT of Bandolier, Belt, and H aversack, 10s. 6d.

Whelan & Son, 17 UPPER ORMOND QUAY,. DUBLIN .

GAELS ! Remember an Irish Irela.nder when you want N.ew or Secondhand Typewriters, Dup1icato;rs, Stencils, Stencil Ink, Ribbons, Carbons, Papers, &c. - Any make of Typewriter ~epaired.

THB POLEY TYPEWRITER TRADING CO., Reis Chambers, D.UBLIN.

2

p.m. to 10 p.m.

SALE-. Display Irish -Goods. Only.

Dance Hall. Tea Room. Band.

Admission, 3d. Season Ticket, ls. 6d.

DO YOU FEEL WEAK, Depressed or run down? CAHILL'S AROMATIC QUININE AND IRON 'TONIC will tone you up 1 st eady your nerves, improve your appetite, enrich your blood.

For summer lassitude, for Neuralgia, try a bottle, l s. and 2s. ; postage 4d. Made .only by ARTHUR J . CAHILL, The National . Chemist; 82A Lower Dorset Street, Dublin.

CREDIT. Irish Volunteer Uniforms made to Measure.

Terms for Repayment arranged to suit all.

THOS. J, LITTLE, The Irish Tailo·r, 38 Drury St. (one door from Exchange St.) Dublin Special terms for quantities.

NOW ON SALE. Tl'.IE i:usE OF THE IRISH VOLUNTEER MOVEMEN.T. An Address by T . .A. IJiggins, B.L., J.P. Price 1d.

Wholesale-The Irish Novelty Stores, 153 Divis Street, BELFAST. Should be .pead by every V oluntee~ . ·DON'T FORGET

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The IRISH VoLUNTEER appears this week under new ownership and new editorship. To those who established and heretofore owned and edited the paper, the Irish Nation owes a debt of gratitude.

Saturday, December 5, 1914. . They came for7 asd manfully to do their _part at a time when nobody but the Nobodies showed faith in the Volunteer , movement, when everybody who wa13 Somebody and Somebodies who thought they wer e everybody offere d scoffs and jibes, discouragement and discountenance to the proposal to provide I reland with a National army of defence.

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Since a change has taken place, it is well that the readers of the IRISH VoLUNTEER should be left in no doubt about the policy of the paper. Its policy is strictly in accordance with the original manifesto published at the great meeting held in Dublin to ina,u gurat e the Irish Volunteer organisation on November 25, 1913, almost exactly twelve months ago .

That policy is further defined in the Constitution and statement of policy adopted by the recent Irish Volunteer Convention.

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Our programme and our policy are public and open. What we say we mean, and what we mean we say. We have no faith in misleading or blindfolding the public, or in using the po~er of the Press and of organisa.tion to manipula.t e public opinion. We are content to be judged at all times by our fellow-countrymen according to our words and deeds . We do not ask them to turn aside into uncertain courses and to wander into a trackless forest infested by their known enemies, or to put their trust in allies who have been tried and found wanting.

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Our · programme is constructive, not revolutiona.r y. It aims at the steady building up of a strong and self-reliant Ireland, whether tpat process be impeded and delayed, as it is a,t present, or succeeds in making rapid progress . we do not favour any sort of rash experiments or of hasty and excited action. In short, th e Irish Volunteer programme goes on unchanged through a crisis that has shaken other policies and other programmes.

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The manifesto of 25th November, 1913, foresaw the possibility of such a crisis, thoµgh the actual features of the .crisis were not then anticipated . It warned the Irish people that "British politics are controlled by. British interests and are complica.ted by problems of great importance to the people of Great Britain," and that under the circumstances " the duty of safeguarding our rights is our duty first and foremost.' ' 'l.'he warning has come true. A complication greater than most of us could ha.ve anticipat ed has arrived . Two courses are pointed out.

One is to cast ourselves without reserve on the mercy of British politics. The other is to trust ourselves .

Saturday, December 5, 1914,

-service perfecting itself in th.e coun.t ry, we shall soon have entered on a new phase of Volunteer history. During the past eventful twelve months we have simply be~n clearing the ground for the The Central Executive of the Irish definite constructive work that remains Volunteers met .at Headquarter&, 41 Kil- to be done. . dare Street, Dublin, on Wednesday evenMUSKETRY PRACTICE. ing, 25th inst., Professor Eoin Mac Neill, The weekly musketry practice is now a President, in the Chair. regular feature 0£ the training of every A Sub-Committee of :Military OrganisaCompany that is worth its salt.. Service tion was appointed. being costly and scarce, amm· u nitiou, The following General Order was should be husbanded ·as much as possible, issued:but excellent practice can be secured with GENERAL ORDER. miniature :rifles and .22 ammunition .

With regard to a recent report as to a Even a.n air-gun will afford praatice in seizure of arms attributed to Volunteers marksmanship. Several rural Companies in Dublin, the Central Executive of the have -fitted up capital little ranges in Irish Volunteers expresses its strong dis- barns and disused mills, where the men approbation of any such action, and draws foregather once or twice weekly (in addiattention to the previous Orders of the tion to the usual parades) and engage in Provisional Committee referring to firing practice. They are quite inexpen· alleged seizures of arms in the North and sive . The total cost of an admirable elsewhere. miniature range recently fitted up by a Co. Dublin Company was only one pound.

Headquarters, 41 Kildare St., Dublin, 25th Nov., 1914.

HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN

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THE IRISH VOLUNTEER.

NOTES FROM HE'.A.DQU ARTERS .

COMMITTEE OF MILITARY ORGANISATION.

An important step was taken at the last meeting of the Central Executive of the Irish Volunteers in the appointment of a Committee of Military Organisation.

This body will take in hands immediately the organisation of the whole force on a definite military basis, the main outlines of -which have already been approved by the Executive. The organisation will proceed from the company up rather than from the division down, and it will give a place-as special scouting sectionseven to units · smaller than the company.

The main idea of the scheme will be to make each company and battalion, as far as possible, a self-contained unit, with representatives of every branch 0£ the servic_e in its composition, so that each company or battalion may be able, not only to take its• place in the briga.de, but to act independently in its own district.

Pending the publication of the scheme, company and battalion commanders .should bring into existence and carefully train special cycling, scouting, signalling, transport, engineering, and ambulance units on the li?es suggested in recent notes sent out from Headquarters.

The whole company, as already notified, is to be trained in scouting, and the cycle is t.o be availed of by as many of the men as possible. GENERAL STAFF.

One of the duties of the new Committee will be to submit to the Executive a scheme for the organisation of a General Staff . With a General Staff at work at Headquarters and a military organisation adapted to the exigencies of Volunteer

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FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY IRMIES

When revolutionary France entered on her struggle with the nations of Europe her military situation seemed desperate .

Opposed to her were the Austrian, Prussian and English armiGs, all composed of tried long-service soldiers and all fully supplied with every warlike necessity of that time. Against these Fra.nce, could put in the field at first mere hordes of undisciplined men half-armed, half-clad, half-fed. At the very start France had not even Generals of any capacity. How, then, did the French prove eventually successful? Wha.t were the causes that operated to make them finally prevail ?

We are often told that their victory was due to their revolutionary enthusiasm. But enthusiasm is hardly a military quality, and certainly is not, under any circumstances, capable of becoming a habit or perm:anent mark of troops .

On the other hand troops animated by it will make efforts, while still raw and unKEEPING IN TOUCH .

It is very important that all Companies trained, the results of which remain for should keep in touch with their County ever- long after all enthusiasm is gone.

Boards where such exist, and, in any One of these results is mobility: raw case, with Headquarters. The weekly troops marching for an idea kept on their Headquarters Bulletin and Headquarters feet long after professional soldiers Notes should be studied by officers and sought rest, and gradually this circumby County Boards, and all local. Ord::-rs stance changed into a power to outmarch should be in conformity with the- Orders the mercenaxy-a power retained by the or suggestions therein embodied. Com- Napoleonic armies to the very end.

There were in.any reasons for this panies should be prompt in forwarding their affiliation fees to Headquarters. The mobility. First of all, the men were affiliation fees are pra~tically the sole willing to march : the pl;i.ys·i cal act of source of income on which Headquarters swinging one's legs along a road was not can draw for running expenses, as all of itself a hardship ; they had some idea donations and collections are being faith- of what they were marching for and the fully devoted to the sole purpose of pur- prospect of some success to be gained at the end . With their naturally lively chasing arms and ammunition. intelligence they' thus cheered and SCOUTING SECTIONS. heartened each other : there was no very Small isolated groups of Volunteers rigorous discipline to anger them, and everywhere are urged to get into touch each man was thoroughly interested in with Headquaxters immediately, with a his work . '!'his willingness of the men view to recognition as special Scouting was made the most pf by their officers, sections. Groups, however small, are and the "old hands " taught their entitled to recognition in this way, and, younger comrades the thousand and one among other possible activities, will be little things that make all the difference assigned very important duties in connec- between unbearable hardship and a slighi tion with the Executive's communication comparative comfort for the soldier in scheme . A group of half-a-dozen cyclist campaign. scouts in a 'district is the next best thing Secondly, the army or division- as to a Company of Volunteers. · distinct from the troops- was unattended by heavy wagon-trains . There were thus no slow-moving columns of vehicles with ' DUBLIN ACTIVITIES. the inevitable break-downs to annoy the Dublin Companies w:ere very busy in soldiers with unexpected and inconvenient the forenoon of Sunday last. The Com- halts, to force them off the roads to make panies of the 2nd Battalion had field a passage or irritate them in any way.

Thirdly, they marched light: revo-lumanoouvres in the Park, under Captain MacDonagh, while Companies belonging tionary France had no means of supplyto 1st, 3rd, and 4th Battalions had range ing elaborate equipments for her soldiers, practice. An interesting musketry com- · and so they were at least spared the hardpetition between the officers of Com- ship of having any t.o carry. There was panies A and C, 3rd Battalion, resulted consequently much less physical exertion than if they were heavily laden- .a much in a victory for Company C.

THE IRISH VOLUNTEE.R.

6 more serious matter· with ra:w tr.oops than with veterans.

Such were the conditions of the French infant~yman in the early Revolutionary campaigns. He knew less about his ~usket or parade or actual :fighting than his opponent; but at least he was allowed to walk naturally, and walk, and walkthat much of the_soldier's trade anyhow he knew. While the other, with formal precision, .did his twelve miles a day, the French did twenty-four. The Frencn Generals were able to get their very mediocre soldiers where they wanted them much sooner than their opponents.

After this victories were possible in due time.

---·•!•---

IN CORRAWANCAN CLEN. (Air- " Low-backed Car.) Now, mother, we've the house cleaned up, and all the turns' are done.

We'd like you to let Kate and me go down to see the fun.

We'll leave in fresh spring water, and we'd like you'd let us then Go down -to see the shootin' match in Corrawancan Glen?

In Corrawancan Glen, in Corrawancan Glen To see the rifle shooting match in Corrawanca~ Glen!

The boys have target practice: they are gone an hour or more.

We'll bring you back the news as soon as we can hear the score.

You'll long to know are Pat and Tom among the foremost men • Wh~'re fit te shoot the straightest shots in Carrowancan Glen.

In Corrawancan Glen, in Corrawancan Glen To shoot the best and straightest shots in Carra~ wancan glen!

Why, Mary, that's a change f~r you! It's but a year or so Since near the glen not Kate nor you could well be got to go.

The both of you would lose your lives for fear of ghosts at night, And rabbits through the hazels made you fairies in daylight, In Corrawancan Glen, in Corrawancan Glen, Such fearful ghosts an·d fairies were in Oarrawancan Glen!

Now, mother, more than Kate and I were full enough of fears Before we got our courage from the Irish V olunteers.

We've heard the ring of rifles since; and tramp of marching men, And now we don't fear anything in Corrawancan Glen.

In Corrawancan Glen, in Corrawancan Glen, · No, now we don't fear anything in Corrawancan Glen.

Since we've heard rifles ringing and the tramp of marching men We'll never more fear anything in Corrawancan Glen.

Well, go and see the shoot in' match. God send you'll see such men As long ago met Owen Roe* in Corrawancan.

-Glen!

In Corrawancan Glen, in Corrawancan Glen, In line to fight for Ireland's right in Corrawancan Glen.

L. 'C!A c. *Owen Roe did a share of his drilling and much of his recruiting along this border between Monaghan and Cavan, and the tradition of his · time is still living here.

VOLUNTEERS &GAELS CONFER

Saturday, December 6, 1914.

I

On the conclusion of the All-Ireland football final in Jones's Road on Sunday last, an informal Conference ·of represent~tive Gaels and Volunteers from provincial centres was held in 25 Parnell Square.

Alth'.:lugh only a few days' notice had been given of the Conference, and the time between the conclusion of the match and the departure of the trains from Dublin .was necessarily very short, a large and representative assemblagewas held'. The procee,clings were at first opened in the Library, but subsequently the Conference, owing to the large number present, adjourned to the lai·ge hall at the rere of the premises . The Chair was taken by Sean Mac Giobuin and subsequently by Eoin Mac Neill, and the followinO' members of the Central Executive w:re also present:-Ua Rathgaille and Messrs.

Bulmer Hobson, Sean Mac Diarmada Padraic O'Riain, and Capta.in . Lia~ Mellowes.

The following Provincial Centres were represented :- Cork City, Mitchelstown, Anglesboro', Galbally, Cove, Bantry, Blarney, Ballinasloe, Culliagh, Galway . City, Dunmore, Portumna, Craughwell, Athenry, Louth, Dunlir, Dundalk, Tipperary, Fethard, Thurles, Roscrea, Clonmel, Nenagh, Limerick City, Dromi::i, Kilmallock, Foynes, Athlone, W exfod, Enniscorthy, Ferns, Gorey, New Ro88, Tulla.more, Edenderry, Rathdrum, Navan, Rathmore, Tralee, Carrickerry, Waterf~rd, Listowel, Kilkenny, Belfast, W 01£hill, Bealach, Talbot's Inch, Millstreet Philipstown, Ballinagh, Maryboro', etc.'. etc. ' Very encouraging reports were given of the condition of affairs in the country generally. In the places where the companies or a majority had remained true to the original constitution eminen,tly satisfactory progress is being made, and the organisation put on a sound basis .

Good progress is being made in the a.r ming of the various units, and in the training of the men, the cereifionial parade ground drill being abandoned for field work, skirmishing, etc. In nearly all of these places accessions of strength were reported, particularly from those who, through ignora.nce, were led in the first instance into endorsing the " Woodenbridge policy." In Cork City this is particularly noticeable. - In Wexford very good progress has been ma.de in organising, and the framework of the county organisation is now complete.

The County Board is working energetically and a County Commandant and four Group Commandants appointed.

A thorough system of rapid mobilisation, communication, etc., ha.s been devised a.n.d tested.

Of centres where no existing ~ompanies

are yet 11.ffiliated with the Central Executive I. V., even more encouraging reports were made. Io. nearly all such places the "Woodenbridge" companies are nearly defunct; the new policy has no~ ma.de any headway, and the young n:en are eagerly looking for a lead in th e right direction. The only earn~st Volunteers are those giving their aahesion to the original constitution . Promises were given of immedia,te affiliation from numerous companies, and steps taken to organise new units in a great , many centres where no companies yet exist.

The Tipperary representatives present conferred together in regard to the organisation of that county, and valuable information was also received as to Galway ~ounty, which is very heartily on our side . Many of those present referred to intimidation on the part of employers ~o prevent their employees, particularly ~n the case of shop assistants, from joinmg our companies. In the case of Gal'~ay C'ity and Gorey instances were particularly mentioned. A priest present _announced, amidst loud applause, that the Catholic clergy throughout the country were entirely opposed to Mr. Redmond's new departure, and where they were not actively assistinO' us we 0 had their strong moral support.

Various matters in connection with details of our work were mentioned and notes taken for the info~ation of the Central Executive. Much· valuable information as to the true state of the country was got in this way.

Eoin Mac Neill went very · fully into matters of organisation, and his views were eagerly accepted by the representatives. The training and linking-up of small scattered groups, combined drills, establishment of instruction centres, rifle ranges, careful records of scores, care and inspection of rifles, were all dealt with.

Attention was drawn to the necessity for the early completion of the Coun.ty Board system of organisation, and establishment of a communication system, etc. The policy of the movement. as decided upon

by Central Executive was fully.explained.

The . whole proceedings were very heartenmg, and all present were highly pleased at the fine spirit in· the country and the steady progress made by otir movement despite the forces arrayed against it. Such informal Conferences bringing together so many men fro~ scattered districts are very valuable and encouraging.

Volunteers ! Support our Advertisers as -

they support you.

THE IRISH VOLUNTEER.

Saturday, December 5, 1914.

t '

~.

.,,...--)

THE REVOLVER AS THE ARM fOR VOLUNTEER OFFICERS

I

C:,omrades OET A RIFLE NOW. Mar tini .303 Carbines, sight ed 2,000 yards, 40s . ; Lee-Enfield Magazine Rifles, 10 shots, from £4 10s.; Mauser Magazine Rifles 1 5 shots, second-hand), £3; new, £5 10s.; latest German .Army Model Manlicher, 7.9 magazine rifle, 50s., in perfect vrder; Colt .25 automatic 6-shot pist ol, 55s.; .32 Colt 8-shot, 70s.; .38 Colt, £5; Savage .32 Automatic Pistol, £3 3s. ; .38 Savage, 70s . ; Stevens, .22 Marksman Target Rifle, 20s. ; Favourite, 25s; Ideal 40s. See our monthly list of new and second-hand rifles, latest patterns and best value in the trade . Large stocks of Ammunition, all calibres and lowest prices. Lee-E nfield Bayonets, 2s. 6d . ; Martini-Enfield Bayonets, 2s. 6d . e:i,ch.;_ I!'rench Gras Bayonets, as supplied to the Fianna, l s. 6d., postage 4d. extra. Harp Buckle .t5elt, l s. 3d. ; Harp Buckle Belt, Irish-made, 2s. 6d. ; Khaki or Blue Military Putties, ls. 6d . per pair, post paid; Sam Brown Belts, 12s. 6d. each, new, postage 4d. extra; .22 Rill.es from Bs. 6d. each.

There is no weapon so generally handy and useful and none so little understood by the average man as the revolver. For the offiqers of the Irish Volunteers there DEAL WITH AN IRISH FIRM. can be no more desirable weapon: it will not get between his. legs crossing the numberless Irish hedges and ditches, it will not break, it requires small practice 2 FOWNE'S SY REET (off Dame Street), DUBLIN . to give the necessary skill-a.t-arms to use it effectively. The following points may usefully be remembered concerning the COAL. COAL. revolver:The best military calibres are .38 and .45, six chambers. The best makes are TOBACCO colts, Webley, and Smith and Wesson.

BEST COAL AT CI'l'Y PRICES FOR The blued barrel is preferable to the FOR VOLUNTEERS. CASH. nickeled as it does not fl.ash. The holster W. & M. TAYLOR, DUBLIN . . should be carried on t~e thigh, bouncing THOUGHTFUL GAELS SUPPORT being prevented by a thong passing round the leg: it is m1:1ch easier to draw GAELS. than at the waist. ·we have a splendid assortment of rare.P1:ints The revolver should be loaded ·in five a cheap rate--Emmet, Tone, M'Cracken, and chambers, the hammer being left down P. O'CARROLL, Black Lion, lnchioor~. at numerous others . , on the empty chamber. When about to We stock Volunteer Badges. We supply large Portraits for Home, Hall, or Club, of Messrs. fire draw back the hammer with the Redmond, Devlin, Dillon, Davitt, etc. Irish thumb to cock the pistol as you bring it Literature of all kinds. Lives of Emmet, Wolfe Tone. Speeches from the Dock, etc. down on the target-normally the· muzzle should point up before firing . The trigger THE IRISH NOVELTY STORES, For Sale or Hire on Best Terms. is squeezed gradually just as in firing a 153 Divis Street, BELFAST. rifle. It is necessary to aim a good deal MOST UP·TO·DATE FIRM IN THE TRADE. lower relatively than with a rifle as the.

I beg to offer a number of good Rick Covers, little used, cheap second-hand Sacks, VOLUNTEERS! Be Photographed! kick is. much greater. When firing at a very strong and free from holes, suitable for corn man always aim at the lower part of the or potatoes, cheap.

BY body, as no matter what the kick ,then KEOGH BROTHERS, you are pretty sure to hit him where you will put him out of action·.

75 LOWER DORSET STREET, DUBLIN. Hiired Sack and Rick Cover Contractor and ·When clubbing with the revolyer don't Company Group a Speciality.

Manufacturer, do it as in an illustrated magazine story.

Hold it just as if about to fire with the 25, 26, 27, CHANCERY ST. (formerly Pill Lane)

JOHN LAWLER & SON, coAL.

Patland Plug VOLUNTEERS

Sacks, Rick .Covers.

COLEMAN, DUBLIN.

forefinger through the trigger guard and

VOLUNTEERS!

smash the opponet' s head with the lower side of the baJ.Tel. The blow is much heavier this way with any heavy calibre IRISH VOLUNTEERS. pistol and you can't 'lose your grip on THE the weapon. If the revolver is held a la story book you'll simply tear your hand open with the front sight.

Always in Stock.

In Two Weights.

For the new 4and with a revolver to Also, FACING CLOTH. practice at first at more than 20 yards is merely waste of ammunition. Only the We are the sole makers of the Official Buttons few favoured by Heaven can score bull's- · and t,he only Irish makers of Uniform Buttons. eyes a.t 75 yards, but ability to drop a ma.n at twenty is a degree of self-defensive power by no means to be despised.

Official Serge,

ALEX. COMYNS &SON, Ltd. 10 COLLEGE GREEN, DU.BLIN. TradE~

Don't Forget to Visit the ·Aonach Dec. 7th to 14th

SEND YOUR COLL.A.RS, SHIRTS, etc., to

THE

NATIONAL

LAUNDRY,

60 SOUTH WILLIAM STREET, DUBLIN.

UNIFORMS CLEANED AND PRESSED IN TWO DAYS.

RAZORS, SCISSORS, POCKET KNIVES, and RAZOR STROPS from 1/ · to 5/ 6 each.

WllliAM

RUSSELL

& SONS,

Hairdressers, 55 SOUTH KING STREET, DUBLIN.

only Supplied.

Michael's Caps AH 3s. 8d. -HATS.

AT lld.

IRISHmMADE BOOTS FOR IRELAND.

2s. 5d.

CARLOW BOOTS

ls. sci.

10s. Sd. BOOTS.

.All One Price.

MICHAELS, 77 Talbot St., DUBLIN.

Made on the hand-sewn principle. Smartest and best. See that the name GOVERNEY, Carlow, is stamped on every boot, and donlt accept substitutes.

•

·.

Saturday, December ti,

I

I THE EFFICIENCY 'I'EST.

r

I

There is a gr~at deal of conventionality and humbug which ·in times of peace is held sacred in most civilised communities, bu:b ·which is -quickly -thrown overboard when the country is faced 'Yith great danger. In the defence of on.e 's country it does not matter whether you are a. duke or a tram conductor, a wise man or a mere boy, the test which the nat1on a.pplies to all is the same. You must be strong and active, sound in wind, and must possess good eyesight, for without these, even if you possessed the wealth of Creosus and the wisdom of the philosophers you would be useless for the purposes of war and unable to defend your country against an enemy stronger, though perhaps less wealthy and less cultured, tha.n you. The test. of efficiency in the arts of war applies to every individual in the nation, and upon the response to that test the freedeim of the country depends.

It is well known that in the South ·-.A:frica:n W aJ.' splendid work was done by Boer boys of twelve and thirteen years of age. :for riding and sharp-shooting they were equal to the hardy old farmers, whilst they excelled in scouting and other subtle games. Sometimes th,ese· lads were captured by the British, and I am told they at once made friends with the Tommies. They were always cheerful, but after finding out all the information about the enemy they made their esca.pe.

So ,you see it is often good policy to be cheerful and friendly even with the enemy.

Ot>MMONSENSE TRAINING.

1782

The Volunteer Boots.

13/6

To Measure

i9i4.

1914

Specially designed for marching, and manufactured in my own factory by Irish 1 rade Union Labour .. · Post Orders promptly attended to.

JOHN MALONE, _Nth. King .St., /DUBLIN. .

DRINK Dry Ginger Ale KERNAN'S

tice and by learning the tips and dodges from the proficient shots.

Arn. I ha.ve no doubt that wherever there is a. company of Irish Volunteers the Fianna will be afforded facilities for learning to shoot. · The fixing up of a rifle range is beyond the resources of the Fianna in most places, and it is not too much to e-x pect that the boys of the Fianna will be allowed the free use of Volunteer rifle ranges. In fact, every Volunteer company worth its salt ought to help the Fia.n na as far as it can. The permanence of the adult movement must depend upon a steady influx of youths, and there is n..o better way of securing this than by helping the boys' movement. Every district in Ireland ought to have a Sluagh of the ]:!'ianna., and this ca.n be done if the Irish Volunteers ..,are willing to help.

VOLUNTEER

.

w ILLIE

NELSON.

Medals, Badges,

I am glad to find that the Dublin Fianna are training m a commonsense way. Shooting and field work are most important and are rightly rece1vmg priority a.t the present time. Some people m this country are still timid about allowing boys to practice the use of arms. The boy- scouts in Belgium are giving invaluable help to the army, and a great many boys over fourteen years of We have up-to-date facilities for .the manufacage are at present fighting in the ranks. ture of all kinds of MEDALS and BADGES in I recently met a first-rate sha.r pshooter, the newest patterns. an Irishman born m South Africa. I Our prices are the lowest possible, all work have seen him hit the mark from almost being produced entirely on the premises. every position. He is able to hit anything he can see within range. He started Inquiries Invited. Catalogues free. to learn at an early age, for he fired his first snot at the age of five, ana has kept m continuous practice smce. So the younger you begin to shoot the more likely you are to become a crack ma1·ks· man. Of course I don't mean that in Manufacturing Jewellers, order to become a good shot it is neces· Opposite O'CONNELL MONUMENT 1 DUBLIN . sary to start young. - That is not the case. · Given 'good eyesight a boy may Telegrams: "Meyther, Dublin." booome a shal'pshooter ·by cons~nt prac· Telephone : 8569•.

Trophies~

Hopkins &Hopkins,

IRISH-MADE EQUIPMENT! 5-P;ocket Leather Bandoliers, -.;~· aist Belts, Officers' Belts, . Bayonet Frogs, and Haversacks.

FOOTBALLS, HURLING BALLS, Etc. Price List from

MURP_HY, Manufacturer, LISMORE, .

WATERFORD~

BANNERS, FLAGS &SASHES for all occasions designed and made at Lowest Prices.

M• Cahill' &

c"'1•'

Parliament St.

.DUBLIN.

I~ '

Target Rifles ~ 1

.. ·.

FOR VOLUNTEERS.

·

B.S.A. Rifles, No. 2 Model, 22 cal.

30s.

War Office Miniature Rifles, 22 cal.

45s.

B.S.A. Air Rifles, shoots accurately up to 25 yards ...

45s.

Militia Air Rifles, shoots accurately up to 25 yards .. .

32s.

12s. 6d.

Goth, 20th Century Rifles, 22 cal.

22 Rim Fire Cartridges (various brands).

Greener Spotshot Target Rifle, Aperture 40s. sights, 22 cal. .. .

B.S.A. No. 12 model Target ~ifle, 22 cal., with aperture sights, the best Miniature Target Rifle on the market, £4 3s.

L. KEEGAN; Gun and Rifle Maker & Ammunition Merch

3 INN'S QUAY, DUBLIN. WILLIAM FANACAN, UNDERTAKER AND

CARRIAGE

PROPRIETO~

54 AUNGIER STREET, DUBLIN.

Telephone-No. 12.

VOLUNTE-ERS, Come to the Irish Firm for Your Uniforms and Equipment.

Irish Labour only employed.

BAILEY Bros., 1 North Earl St. and 40 Henry St., Dublin.

Printed for the Proprietors by P. ¥AiloN, 3 Yarnhall St., Dub}µi, and Jlllblished at the Volunteer Headquarters, 41 Kildare St., Dublin.

..

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