THE
EDITED Vol. 2.
BY EOIN
No. 10. • :cNe1w Series).
MAC NEILL.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1915.
Price One . Penny.
At the very moment when these curious the National ca use is· still a.cl vancing. hopes are entertained, Mr. Birrell is en- . ·There will be and can be no retreat . gaged, as a. sort of Super-Remembrancer Whether success comes this year or next . to the 'rreasury, in cutting down Irish year,_ or in five years or ten years, the expenditure in every direction. Even work 0£ preparing Ireland for the achieveGradually but irresistibiy the know- strictly educational expenditure, such as ment and defence 0£ her own rights and ledge is gaining ground that the Liberal that on the National Museum and the liberties will be carried on henceforth Ministry has definitely abandoned the National Library is bei_n g reduced by without cessation . . We have seen the Home Rule position and the pledges and immense sums. But · then we have got worst of dislocation and discouragement, and we have come through it undefeated undertakings on the stre.ngth of which Home Rule- on the Statute Book . and undiscouraged·. To train, arm, and * * * it ·accepted th~ support and alliance 0£ organise the manhood of Ireland for the I have read over the autobiographical the Irish Home Rule electorate, was pamphlet issued by the U.I.L. Direcde£ence of all Ireland is now and hencemaintained in·office £or years, and enabled forward a fixed part of the National tory after its last general meeting and to pass ma.ny measures for the strengthpolicy . supplied as a supplement to various proening 0£ its own position . . Eorn MAc NEILL. vincial newspapers. The autobiography *· · seems to have been carefully drawn u' p * * BELFAST Rl;CIMENT • . In pledging themesleves to an A.me_n d- before the meeting. It deals with the history of the last thirty years, and the PRESENTATI ON OF COL01JRS . ing Bill and to the coercion o_£ the Ulst~r gains 0£ political activrty. It ·doesnot ~ The prese.nta. t ion 0£ colours to the BelN ationa;lists, the Liberal . Government insist on the fact that these gains were fast R egim<;lnt of Irish Volunteers was broke faith with its Irish supporters. It exclusively the result of a stand-up :fightthe occasion of a remarkable demonstra.gained its ow_n ends ip. Britis4 policy by ing policy, and that nothing was gained tion on Friday evening, the 29th ult. their help, and then joined hands with by any other course, for example, by St_ . Mary's Hall was filled with a reprethe Unionists against them. 'l'hen was ploughing the sands under Lord R osesentative audience, which comprised the time for a manly stand and for trust in the manhood 0£ Ireland, not fo1: sub- . bery. But the Irish people know their prominent supporters of the Irish Volunmission to Ministerial dictation and dis- own history during tlie past thirty years, teers not merely from Belfast and the trust of the National forces. Retreat and and what they -want to know now is what neighbourhood, but from various parts of pursuit, a succession 0£ dictated courses, sort 0£ Home Rule they can expect to Antrim, Down; and 'l'yrone. Mr. Denis is our Parliamentary history since last get and what assurance 1 they have of any McCullough presided. A. high-Class con. sort 0£ ·Home .Rule. '1 0 this important cert 0£ Irish music was provided, and in March. subject, the pamphlet devotes one para- the interval the colours were presented * * graph . to the Volunte~rs by Eoin Mac Neill. The Un.i ted Irish Leaguers of County amid a scene of el).thusiasm. The n_ew * * * Louth-statistics are not forthcomingSince the "Private Secretary" uttered flag 0£ the Belfast Regiment is a golden held a meeting the other day. There was his memorable warning 0£ giving so:q:i.e- harp on green ground, beautifully worked still . one more vote of confidence. l£ body " a good hard knock,"_no such pro- by the members of Cumann na mBan, in votes of confidence could give any nouncement has attracted public atten- whose name the flag was · presented . strength, some ]people would be omni- tion . We are gravely inforni.ed that a Brie£. addresses ~~re delivered by Eoin potent. But there were other resolutions, heavy responsibility will be _incurred by Mac Neill, A . Newman, Joseph Connolly, one in favo ur of the extension 0£ Land any Party- not the Unionist Party, bear and the Chairman. A. spirit of confidence Purchase and one in £avou,r 0£ increased in mind, but any Party-that for its own in the future of the· Irish Volunteers and local loans through th~ Board. of Works. selfish ends will destroy oi· mutilate the of the National cause was the keynote of What sublime innocence! It passes the treaty which has already been cast to the the meet:lng. At the conclusion of the wit 0£ man to _understand how anyone winds . Th_e e.:ffect on the Cabinet has not proceedings ·a ceilidh was held, and the claiming ;rny knowledge of public affairs been reported. large hall was crowded with a merry can ignore the fact that Board 0£ Works throng of youths and maidens. The en* * * loans, instead of being extended, are Meanwhile, let us face facts, and give tire celebration was a striking exhibition being cut off, and how people can be. so no countenance to counsels ;£ weakness of the st:rength of the Irish Volunteer ignorant, in view 0£ the strangling of and discouragement. 'l'he · splendid movement in the northern capital, and L and Purchase by the last Imperial War, muster of Belfast Nationalists, in which may be counted on to mark a fresh ada comparatively small affair, can expect I was privileged to ~ke part, a~t the pre- ~ance towards the victory of the N a.tional a development. of L and P urchase under a sentation of colours to the Belfast R egi- cause and a fresh guarantee. for Ireland war expediture of £45,000,090 a month. ment of Irish Volunteers, is a proof that one and undivided. ·
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THE IRISH VOLUNTEER.
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THE~. WAR
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to Thorn-200 miles away . .Any Russia11 success east of tha~ line would only inconvenience .the inhabitants; i:t would not contribute to defeat the army at all . Very probably the Russians hope that FieldMarshal von Hindenburg will be tempted into a gross military error to protect Enst Prussia and thereby weaken his line in Poland. It would seem that the Russians now practically admit that the Germans can hold their line in Poland indefinitely, and- having plenty of men to spare~are making a large detachment on the offchance that the German commander will play into their hands. It is extremely unlikely that the Russians \vill succeed :fn this latest effort any more than in any of their former attempts. Very little furth er has been heard of the Russian offensive against the. German communications in the Vloclabek region . Here there have been only encounters of outposts and just now it looks very much as if the Russians had given up this attempt--which, indeed, they would .apparently have been, better advised never to have made. The Germa.ns and Austrians have. apparently consolidated their positions on the Bzura-Rava, Pilica, Nida, and Donajec rivers and to be there biding their time; but further south in Austria-Hungarian territory important movements are appar.ently in progress . The \veather although still very cold permits of movements of troops, and the Austrians who held the summits of all the passes in the Carpathians have made a general advance, and are now well in advance of the mountains at niost points . In Bukovina, also, the Russians have lost ground. Finally it is reported that an army of se.ven corpsfour German and three Austrian and Hungarian-is being masse'd in North-eastern · Hungary to be used across the mountains south of L emberg with the object of turning the Russian left. H aving aU the passes in their possession the A ustroH ungarians can, of' course, select their
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Last week was marked by serious :fighting at m.any points in the \Vestern theatre with, upon the whole, a balance of success if1 favo ur of the Germans. On the extreme Allied left along the coast the FraucoBelgium troops made a considerable advance, but not without heavy losses among the African regiments. Further South in the L a Bassee. district there was heavy :fighting for a couple of days . To the north of that town the British repulsed the German atta cks; but to the south of it they were forced back along a consi<lerable extent • of the line. The British casualty returns show 450 miss- ' ing, and the Germans cl;!im to have captured one cannon and a couple of machine guns. The fighting still continues in this region, but the Germans seem to have established themselves in the captured positions. F'urther south all along the salient angle of the German lines there ha;ve been only artillery combats, in the course of which a well-handled French battery succeeded in destroying an ammunition train. , Another distriqt in which serious :fighting has occurred is that of SoissonsCraonue, where the Germans continue to press their advantages of some weeks ago . They appear to have employed very large numbers on the Craonne plateau and · suffered considerable losses, but they achieved a considerable measure of suecess, capturing over 1,000 prisoners, several machine guns, searchlights, etc., besides occupying nearly two miles of trenches. The F'rench re-took certain• of the positions but the bulk were definitely lost. 'rhe town of Soissons has been emptied of the civil population a.nd is now Qccupied only by troops, but as it is on the southern bank of the Aisne the Germans will hardly try to take it in the immediate future. All last week there have been heavy combats in the Argonne. In the earlier days the French re-occupied positions they had formerly lost, but these successes were neutralised last .Saturday by a very considerable German advance·, in which one F'rench regiment suffered very heavily and a dozen machine guns and some hundreds of prisoners were lost. The German attack seems to have had an element of surprise-possible in this wooded and hilly country- as their ·casualties are sta.t ed to be comparatively light. In the Eastern theatre the R~1ssim"ls are trying still another movement: this time ' au advance into Bast Prussia, which has resulted in the oecupa.tion of Pilkallen, a rather small frontier town . Now no real military action against Ge1;ma.n y is possible here-, for the real line of defence in this quarter is the Vistula. from Dantzig
Saturday, February 6, 1915. The first dreadnought battle took place in the North Sea on Sunday, Jan. 24th. A British squadron, consisting of the battle-cruisers "Lion," "Tiger," "Princess Roya.I," "Indomitable," and "New Zealand," encounted the "Derflinger,.'' "Seycllitz," "lVIoltke," and "Bluch er" north of the Dutch coast and steaming west. The German ships put about immediately and headed east, followed by the British. The pace of th~ Germans was that of the "Blucher," their slowest ship; and presentl:y. the English got within range and a long running fight began. 'l'he "Blucher," carrying only 8~incl1 guns, was altogether outrangecl and dropped astern, and :finally went down. The other German ships kept on and apparently only the "Lion " and "Tiger " were able to keep up with them . Very heavy firing was kept up between these ships, and eventually the "Lion " was so badly injured by a shot under the waterline that she ·hauled out of the· line, steering with one engine. Later on that also became inactive and the the "Indomitable" coming up, took her in tow. Admiral Beatty transferred his :flag to the "Princess Royal," but as his ships were by this time within the radius of the German subma.rines he broke off the action and headed back. '.rhe submarine war on British shipping continues; three merchant steamers being sunk last Sa.turday in the Irish Sea ! The "U' 21," which achieved this, is one of the new submarines, and has a very extended critising radius . The result will probably be to create much discomfort in the ports of Glasgow, Liverpool, and Bristol, which were hitherto considered practically unassailable. . A notable feature of the" U 2l's" raid was the sea.manlike conduct of the "Graphic" · and her Irish captain, who contrived to ·out-, sail the warship and _make port safely . A certain amount of loss was suffered by the British ·n avy in the founding of the
point of attack, and may be able to over-
"Viknor," probably as · the result of
whelm a section of the Russian line before the actual point of attack is realised. In Asia the Turkish advance into Persia seems to have attained the desired \ object-it has drawn to itself large forces from the Russian centre . The result o,f this weakening of the centre has enahler1 the 1.rurks to establish themselves around Sa.ri K arnish and to make considerable advances· further w~st in the neighbourhood of Olti. The advance against Egypt is now well under way, and several outpost encounters have taken place east of the Canal during the past week- one at Bix-el-Desdar, twelve miles east of El Kantara, o'ne of the main points of passage . The Turks are advancing in three columns, and a line of light rnilway is being laid across the desert, keeping pace with the movement of the main army. 'l'he present month will probably sho"the beginning of serious :figbtiug on this front.
striking a mine off the northern coast of Ireland. The ship was of no importance herself, but the 250 odd officers and men ·who made· up the crey1r will be hard to place at the moment . · .
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re-
BOMBARDMENT OF
FOREIGN-MANUFACTURED GOODS AT
LOUGHLIN'S HEADQUARTERS IRISH SHIRTS, HOSIERY, CLOVES, NECKWEAR, UMBRELLAS, HAND· KERCHIEFS, _HATS, CAPS, BRACES, IRISH CLOVES FOR LADIES' PRESENTS A SPECIALITY.
T. J.
Loughlin~
Irish outfitting Headquarters
PARLIAMENT STREET, DUBLIN.
_, Saturday, Fekt1~i·y 6, i915.
tHE UUSH
VOLUNtE.~A.
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7.30 a .m. Secondly; he would send another man to rouse the Fingall Companies-Skerries, J_,usk, Dona.bate, 0 Swo1 ds, and Santry. This might take U11cu11 m411t, tuc.r cor, 41511r eol<1r "1n 2 hours to finish, but Skerries, Lusk, and 411ts101111-<1. -0. uul'.l11-<1r, i:::.& re6ci:::m.<1rn 6 torn SOLUTIONS '110 PROBLEM !. Donabate would scarcely take one. The 'l;he solutions sent in for 'b1ctical Prob- fingall Volunteers should be orde-i:ed to "1nn, :sutt;i.b MU rrn nc. i:::11l 11e1te 1r m6 .<1 mbero 5.&l'.l-6'0 Leo nu..1.111 l'>e<1r r16.1111<:1. r.&1l le111 No. 1 showed a very fair grasp of the march to the1firing. Assuming the cyclist 415 e11'E;e 1 5cornne .6. n 6.!il-6'0. C1'.&Ci:::6.m ,(\ft poiri.ts involved. Most of the solutions patrol was originally a Section of 16, the n-<1 "Ctti ne1t11) rrn .i\n i:::re41ci::;m4111,1 r _o . were sent in by members of the Dublin commander and his 14 men should .enVolunteers, but, one came from Cork and deavour to approach the invaders under * * * nil :sunnc.l m6ttc. -<1S :Sc.e'O e6.l.6.1t'.>. 1r f-6.'0"1 one from Blarney . '11 here is no reason cove1: an d fire on them. Every effor t why a very fair solution could not be should be made to gain the fullest effect :so mbe1u. Cc.1trrn u e 6n6.ri1 m"1 n-e415m411r, worked out on the map: in fact, pnly men of su,r prise, and the r esolute action of m.&1re.1'0. TI.&: blou -6.n 1omc.ttc~ me.1f"1 actua.lly living on the spot would be ex- even -a small force might be of untold "15<:1.mn -<11' "1n ni;unn<'.1 m6tt. '.CM uqt1 C.:n u.&: pected to give any more elaborate solu- value in the circumstances . Gradually 'Ol:UH;e41nn -6.ft ffi.6.C.6111e C.6.t-6., 1r. e .(In ~c.ol- " tion . Two solutions were sent ill' by the F ingall Companies, coming up one 5unn"1 l'>~rne-6.r uJ 5co1r 16.u. 'O..&: m b e-6.'0 F inga.11 Volunteers, both of which showed by one, would reinforce th e patrol and r1ce mile 65t.&c 415c.mn 1i:::c.1t1se1i1..1.1t "1C"1 very good knowied-ge of the locality. quite possibly they might succeed in -6.tt 4111 J;C60t-:E;unn.6. b-6.U l'>e.15 e 411' mbe-6.nn Three Volunteers seiit in sketch maps overwhelming the invaders. It ·would be "11' 11"1 5unn.&1l'> m6tt.<1. * * * with their solutions. They tend to fix the a question of which could re1in1force 1r nirn1c ttu:s r1ce rec.1' bu6.1'0 "1tt ce-6.u author's id~as and give more unity to the fastest, and men coming up on bicycles, exercise from the point of view of the commandeered motors, and at the double, r,e-<1tt -<1Cl: -6.n r1ce re-<1tt 'Co l'.le1t rc.n .&1i::: c1tti::: should beat men laboriously ferried -<111 -6.n "1m ce.<1ttC Cum 50 mbe1mir r-<1n .&1i::: reader. One defect was present to a greater or ashore in boats. Very few solutions c1tti::: -<1tt -6.n .<1m ce.<1ttl: c.<11tr1mlu Luc.r cor 415ur eolc.r -6.n 411t51otft\"1 uo l'>e1t 415c.rnn . less extent in all the solutions : they did grasJ:)ed the possibilities of resolute nf m6tt 'OU1nl1 rlott-t<:1.1t1E;e n-6. 5Cl1 0 C .6J;Uf not take sufficient . account of time and offonsive1action by the Blue forces in this n"1 mb6t-<1tt uo 'Oe.<1n.<1ti1 m.&'r ml ,(,1,1') lmn -6.n distance calculations. In many cases a preliminary action. 'O.& niu 'rm. -0.n i:::e tc.nr-6.r co1r i:::erne 1 The second part would result oµ the good estimate of tl~e time r equired for a n-.<11mr1tt tlotc.&nc. blou ce-6.u 4115e f"111ri16111 particular operation was given; but the assumption tha.t Blue's prelim'inary co1r i:::eme 1 n-.6.m co56.1'0 r11e1rm. TI! important bearing of time on the entire action failed o f decisive success. In this q\e1rrne "1n i:::-.6.ttm -<1n i:::e fin l.&: .<1n c.<1t6.. case the gradually increasing advanced TI! rec.tttt .<1nn 1on.& "1r e. Sop 1 11 =10nc.u scheme was not fully realised. Some of the solutions attempted too guard should gain time Jor the mo bilisa- f:SJ.<11be .<1~ur ctoc 1 n-10n"1u u1l'>e 1r ce.<1'0 much. , 'rlie object was to draw up a tion of the City- f<;> rces and their estab- "1n i:::-65t.&6 11416 l'>fu1l lu"1i\1"11tte.6.ci::: "1 co r scheme ·Of action fairly suitable· to the lishment oI,i a suitable line of defence. .<15ur eol-6.r n.<1 i:::itte p.15e. Volunteers in th e present condition of As much time: as possibl~1 should be * *, * their training and 1'esources. But instead gained. H eadquartrs is informed a.t 7.30: ernne '00 le15' l'Mri'l te.61'>...l.tt 'Oe t':>et two hours should seB the City "detach. of this som,e solutions contained proj ects i::;u1:sr1u re -6.n me1'0 fin :so ffi6.1t . 116 1r entirely out of the question in present cir - ments ready to march, und naturally they re1u1tt .6. l'>ttl5 '00 tu15rrn ~r te.6t'.>.6tt should be forwarded with all possible 1il.6.otmu11'e Ui t'.>110111 "1tt .e1tt5e .6.m-6.c cumstances . In the main a •fair m:umer of dra~v{ng speed. 'l'he best defensive position-in :S-<1e'Oe.<1l to66 :Sc.ttm-6.m f -6. mbl1 "1'0.6.rn TI66.6. up a solution \Vas follo,yed out·. 'l'he - whieh practically all the solutions agreed .6. 1106i::;, m.& i::;J 65l~c 1 ne1ttrnn n.&tt le1E; -is that on the south side of the Broad -<1n le.6.t'.>4111 rrn 1r ·1 mo com-<1111le u6 "1 differ ~nt matters to be treated ' of wera suitably divided up and systematically ' Meado\~ from Swords inland. · Few' ap~ f"1:5.&1L 415ur "1 m1on-te1:5e"1'0 6 t~r 50 treated. Still a little more regularity and proaches, good field of fire, cover, et6., 'Oe1tte.<1'0. Ri5-lec.l'>"1tl 1r e-6.'0 e . definiteness would have been an advan- ar e offered here, and the line is screened .p.6.'0R.0.1C mo.·c P10.R0.1S . tage . Moreover, two or three solutions fro m the sea. A Sect.ion at Malahide I were too short,, and consequently did not could sweep 'the railway causeway with give an adequate exposition of the scheme their rifles and_ cover the right flan k 'l'he I<'ingall Volunteeis intended·. - thoroughly. I . It will be remembered that in the prob- would carry out a fighting retirement / l em a Dlue cyclist patrol sighted the first into this position . 'l'he assailant would units of a R ed forc e larn1i11g· 011 the Leach uot Le in a. positiou to make a general north ~f Skenies at G a.m . 'l1J1 e aim .,,'. as, advanee before 8 a .m. at any rate, and if possible, to ]Jrcvent the eom]Jletion of the advance 'to Swo{·ds would take two th e landing, or, faili11g that, to adopt the homs at least un,o pposed; so that · there 1nea Ul'es Lf\St suited to foiling the ad- should be no probability of his a11ticipat.vance on .Dublin. 'l'he following ge11eral i11g the lll_ai11 body of the defenders 011 lines would indicate the method . of solu- their selected line if .the adva11ce<l guard . even half did their duty . Most of the tion : ~ The qtrnstion would 11atUl'ally resolve solutions displayed· a good idea of the Hse.J.£ into t wo parts, the first dealing with action to be ' employed i:i the delaying Tailors' Workrooms and Leather Goods the attack on the hnding force- conse- action, but-with the comparat ively Factory at tJ.Uently largely th~ business of the patrol small numbers engaged more time would STAFFORD ST. WORKS. co111mande1·: the seeoncl deali11g with the have Leeu gai11e'd Ly eve1r·y r'ifle in• the A 'Ultimate gener al action-the sphere of firing ljne1 than Ly demolitions. Buckle Works at the general officer· commanding in chief. mobile reserve-cyclists, motors,. etc., 53 MARY STREET. With refernnce to the first, · the scout sliOuld be held uorth of the Board commande;:' s first care would be to send a :Meado'" tlireatening the irn·a.d er's right Head .Office · at man direct to Dublin- maximum H flank, and every opportunity for offensive 8 MARY STREET, DUBLIN. hours-who would reach Headquarters at action should be seized.
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TACTICA L PROBLEMS. ·1
mo tu.o.m1m re1n .
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EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER
FALLON
The only maker in Ireland. of general equiement . · for Volunteers.
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T-HE IRISH VOLUNTEER.
4 NOTICE. All literary communications for the " Irish Vo lunteer" should be addressed in future to VOLUNTEER: HEADQUARTERS, . 41 Kildare Street, DUBLIN • . Ali communications re Advertisements to be " addressed to the IJJiSH PIRESS BUREAU, 30 Lower Abbey Street, DOBLIN .
The Irish Volunteer. SATURDAY, 1=EBRUARY 6, 1915.
HEADOUAR'ff RS BULtfTIN 'l'he Central Execu~ive of the Irish Volunteers met at Headquarers on Wednesclay eveninl, 27th Jan., Professor Eoin Mac N eill, President, in the chair. R eports were submitted by the Directors of Organisation, Train~ng, and Arms, and by the 'F\nan!;e Sesc1;et ary . It "'.as pointed out that the affiliations for the first qua:i;ter of 1915 were due and sh.ould now be pa id. The Dublin County J3oard' s change -of the date for the general meeting of Dublin Volunteers to 12th Feb . w~s approved . The Executive requests that every Company of the Dubliln Batta.lions be present in full force. Headqua:i::ters, .M Kildare St., Dublin, 27th Jan., 1915. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO DUBLIN OFFICERS. · The Director of Organisatio~ requests the presence of all Company and HalfCompany Commanders at a Conference to be he1d on the conclusion of the usual weekly lecture at'Headquarters on Saturday, 6th Feb . Matters of importance will be brought before the Conference. SPECIMEN TIME-TABLES FOR PARADES. With a view to ensuring a varied a,n d interesting progra-mme for. each DrilJ Night I submit the following Specimen Time-Tables for Evening Parades as a basis to be worked on by Company Commanders . Specimen T~me -'l'ables for Day Parades will be published latei;. It is of the greatest importance that the weekly work ·Of a Company should be as attractive .and varied as possible, and that each of the Company O:fficers and Section Commanders should t ake his due part in conducting the instruction. Roll-Call should never be omitted. P . H. PEARSE, Director of Organ.isation . Headquarters, 41 Kildare St., Dublin, 28th January, 1915. · TIME-TABLE A. 8. - Sections foll iu on Sectimi ·commanders . Roll-Call. · Sections proved . R eport to Captain. 8 .15 .-Squad, Section, or Company Drill conducted by Officers. 8.45.-Musketry Instruction .b y Company Musketry Instructor.
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9.15.~Physical
Culture Instruction by one of the Section Commanders . 9 .30.-Short March, doubling and quick time alternately . 10.-Subscriptions collected. Announce. ments by Captain. Djsmiss. 'l'IME-TA,BLE l3. 8.-Sections fall in on Section Commanders. Roll-Call. Section proved. Report to Captain. 8.15.-Practice in parade ground or on _road in Extended .Order. 8 .45.- Signalling Instruction by Company Signaller. 9.15.-Ta.rget Practice . 10. - Sh bscri1Jtions · collect~d. Announcements by Captain. Dismiss. 'l'IME-TABLE C. fall in on Sect ion Commanders. · Roll-Call. Sections proved. Report to Captain. 8.15.- Practice in ta.king cover. 8.45 . -Ambulance Instruction by Com. mander of Ambulance Section. 9.15.-Bayonet exercise under one d the Officers . 9.30.- :Short Theory J;iecture by Officer or visitor . 10.-Subscriptions collected. Announcements by Captain . . Dis.m iss. NO'rES FROM HEADQUARTERS. 8.-S ection ~
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PAR_ADES .
Saturday, February 6, 1915,.
will be much better to start at once with some. branch of instruction and postpone the Roll-Call until later on than .t~ k eep_ things at a standstill until sufficient men turn up to make it worth while to call roll. Above all U1ings, loitering must be avoided . Nothing will tend more to produce indiscipline, slackness, and general ineffectiveness than waiting rotmd for things to begin . Get the work gQing at once and kee·p it going all tlie t:Une. 'l'he senior on parade shoi1lcl iake command and start things at t he appointed hour, whoever .may oi' m ay not be there . DIVIDING THE WORK .
One common mistake .of Company Commanders is to leave too much to the Instructor. - 'l'he Instructor has his_ own sphere, and should not be allowed to usurp .. the functions of Company Officers. 'rhe officers must always retain responsibile controL In the ideal Compa.ny ail instruction would be cai'ried out by or under . the immediate superintendence of its own officers, the Instructor · merely assisting t_hem with his expert knowledge. Another and opposite mistake of Company Commanders is to busy themselves :with ali the details of instruction instead of leav- · iiig them to the proper subordinate officers . The Section Commander should · be allowed to command and train his_section; the Half-Company Commander should . have responsible cha.rge of his Half-Company . And each officer should be encouraged to specialise in some ' particulaJ.' departme·n t and to be responsible for the training of the whole Company in that department.' Every officer and every man should be given his cha~ce of show~ ing what is in him and of developing it. Each should have his metier.
The Specimen Time-Tables for Evening Parades published this ~eek are· intended as helps to Compa.n y Co:qi.ma.nders in designing attractive scb,_emes of work for their Companies. The Fall-In and .the Roll-Call are put at 8 p.m. sharp in order to emphasise the importance of punctuality in asssembling and in getting things going. In some Companies it ~ill even be found possible to have the subscripSPECIAL ' NIGHTS . tions .collected befor7 8 p .m., so that the The Specimen Time-'l'ables are intended full two hours· can be given to Volunteer for ordinaJ:y drill nights in a hall or on a work proper. The Section Commanders parade ground. At frequent intervals shoiild report the number on parade as soon as they have called roll and proved the hall or parade ground should be abansection·s. ·The time available should then . cloned and a simple operation carried out. be divided into four or five period~, each 'l'he Company might practise a pight adof which should be devoted to on~ branch v::i.nce along a road, the defence. or attack of instruction . The branches · should be of a position, or a forced mai:_ch to a given skilfully alternated, so that the succession point. Each of the· Half-Company Commay -be interesting and such as shall noi manders should be given occasional .opeither tire the men with exertion or k eep portunities of conduCting these operathem standing still t oo long. · Thus, :.. tions, and the Scout Commander .should Theo1'y Lecture should n0t follow a Sig- invariably be· made responsible for the nalling Class, as the men will want someREClWITS. thing to put the blood in circulation after 'l'he H,ecruitiug Campaign is still the standing . in the signalling position for urgent business o.f the hour. What is half-an-hour. A 'l'heory L.ecture .would - your Company doing in the matter? be in its place after Bayonet Exercise, What are you yourself doing? It is up. Physical Culture, or a short march . 'l'a~ tq each one of us to bring in his recruit . get Practice should be provided for at Surely no man is so devoid of personal inl east once a week, and 'in addition the1~e flu ence as t.o be unable to bring one comshould be Musketry Instruction including rade into the ranks? If we were- to try firing posi~ions, rifle drill, etc . · hard enough we could probably . double our numbers within a month. Many a PuNCTU ALITY. Should the occupa,_tions of a large pro- man would be with us if he only got a portion of the men be such as to make it little enc.o uragement. Let the encouragedifficult for them to n i uster promptly, it mc,:Jn t .be forthcoming.
/
Saturday,
.
F~bruary •,
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from the sea a fourth division of infantry was encamped- at Clontarf. · Tli ese arrangements were 'nong in -\ every way . '11he fo ur divisions -\vere too \ VII. ~THE SIBGE OF DUBLIN AND here he sent out a;o. expedit.ionary force for arfart to render each other an v assist\ . _,Yhich captured MaynoQth and Drogheda . ance, and the r es ult 'vas disastro~1s. BA'I'TLE OF RA'l1HMINES. 1 Dnndalk an d Trim 'vere afterwards taken '1 HE BATTLE. PRECEDING EVENTS. On the 2nd of August Ormond Legan 'l'he. Marquess of_ Ormond, Lord Lieu- by Inchiquin, and the whole country north of Dublin ·was thus cleared of the active operations . tenant of Ireland, and leader of the Proenemy. On'nond now crossed th e Li:ffey Midway Letwe.en R athmines and DuLtestant R oyalist Party, delivered up aud encamped at-Rathmines, at this time lin was l3aggotrath, on the site of what Dublin to the Parliamentarian com1 distance is now Baggot Street. '1 .h is position a small village a considerable mander, · Colonel Jones, on June 18tli , from Dublin. - dominated the broad fields on which 1647. He then went to Eng-lana, and , Just the.n news anived that Oliver Menion Square and the surroundino· , /:) later went on to France . -He r eturned on Cromwell. was preparing to inva<le Munstreets now stand. Its occupation would September 29th, · 1648, and aft.er long negotiations made th e "Peace of 1648 " ster, and Orrnond accordingly despa tched deprive the horses of the· garrison of their Major-General with the Irish Confederates. ' 'l his made Inchiquin -with a s.trong detachment for best grazing ground. the protection of that province . He thu s Purcell was therefore directed to seize it him supreme in Ireland, . and put him at began the siege of Dublin with a very during the night and to fortify it . The the head of the Confederate forces . His inadequat-e force . distance from Rathmines was only a mile, position was, however, insecure, for DubTHE SIEGE OF Dum,rn . but Purcell somehow· lost his way, and lin and Drogheda were in the hands of sma.11 for only arrived in the early morning . . Ormond's aJ:iny was much too the Pa;rliamentarians, and· Owen Roe regular siege, and he therefore atAt the same· time Jones sallied out with a O'N eil_l was his open enemy . tcm pte<l only a very loose kind of blockhis whole garrison. His cavalry broke January 301.h, 1649, Charlf!S L was through Geoghegan' s small force at Stephen's' Green in the small hours, before their own cava.lry could support them, and his infantry made straight for Baggotrath. ' The Irish ~ad only begun to fortify the place and were soon driven out of it. The firing awakened Ormond, who had been up all :p.ight and was now asleep in 1 his tent. He arrived on the scene to find that the engagement had become general round Rathmines . But he could do nothing. The Irish Army was a.lready beaten. In fact it was a rout. All their stores and artilJery fell into . the enemy 's hands . Co11niENTS.' Our utter defeat at Rathmines was only the culmination of a series of events which showed Ormond's incapacity both as strategist and tactician. · The more obvious of his mistakes. were:(1.) Sending Inchiquin to M~nst~r. Cromwell qid not land in Ireland till a fortnight ajter the battle. Even if he had landed it ,¥ould have been better for - Ormond to have- concentrated his forces for a bold stroke · at' the Ca.p ital, the possession of which was of vital importance, and might have decided the war. / (2.) Dividing his .reduced army ·into · four independent units incapable of supporting each other. Had lre decided to storm the walls at some particular spot he stood ;i Letter chance of success than by his futile LlockaJe. Had he failed he co uld hardly have Jost more heavily than F. S.Weller. by his rout at Rat hmines. 3 - (3) Concentrating . all his artillery at . executed,• and Ormond declared Charles ade. 'l'hree regiments were stationed a.t Castleknock, where it was of little use II. kin~» He then determined to capture Castleknock, three miles to the west · of during the siege, and apparently of no Dublin . the city . With them was a.11 the Irish u ~e during the battle. PRELIMIN Alty MANCEUVRES. artillery . Another force was at KilmainIt should also be noticed (especially by Reinforced by Lord Inchiquin he ham, a mile outside Dublin . AtSJ;ephen's Volunteers) that:marched ·on the Capitai, and reached Green was a body of 1,000 Lnfantry under (4.) Purcell's failure to find Bao· o oo·otCastleknock . with 7;000 foot :and 2,000 Major Charles ' Geoghegan, and ome dis- ra th points to incompetence on the part of horse on the 19th of June . .. -Later he tance away from them was the whole of the .officer, -or else to exceedingly bad moved on to Finglas and encamped. :From the cavalry. In . order to cut off supplies scouting; perhaps both.
I
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IRI S H
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THE IRI SH VOLUNT EER.
. 6, 1915.
(!n
BATTLES.
I
THE IRISH VOLUNTEER.
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(5.) The main encampment at R athmines must have been taken by surprise, for there seems to have been no check to the onwa.rd rush of the .Parliamentarians. It will be remembered from our accounts of previous engagements that the Irish soldiers, when beaten, alwa.ys fo ught clesperately, and were seldom pursued beyond the field . Taking everything into consideration we must attribute this defeat almost entirely to bad generalship.
'l .ROLL
C_ALL.
I
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Lii:p.erick has held a Recruiting Week.
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Athemy has just concluded a Battalion Competition in Hifle F iring .
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Athlone, Ballykeeran, Drumraney, and Tang are active centres in \Vestmeath. 'rarget work is practised ~ssiduo u sly by a.11 the corps and some excellent shots are being turned uot.
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Magherafelt and N ewbridge keep the flag flying in Co . Derry. I solated gr01.1ps elsewhere in the county ought to link up.
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The groups in Kildare are small but earnest. 'l'he various units should get into touch and divide the county into patrols .
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Cycle Patrols are alniost as good as Companies . They will make up in mobility for what they lack in numbers .
•
was discussed on the· ground. A scheme of cycle scouting was mentioned . Snipers were posted on distant vantage points. The windows were utilised for look-outs and for rifl emen. 'rhe ground was explored and its natural features noted. A method of advancing-not in drill-book open oi·der, but in single file under hedge cover was considered best. All officers seemed confident of their ability to make a.- good· defence, always keeping open a line of retreat . '
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Then on to Templeogue Bridge . Here, leaving the bicycles, ihe rbads were viewed from many points. It was seen that the high road commanded the low road. The bridge was easily dominated by a sn1all force against the a.pproach of an euemy from the South . Much useful discussion, and then on again.
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At Balrothery cross-roads two hills on opposite sides of the road were ascended. It was agreed that as look-out points they might serve, but as defensive positions they h:l.d little value unless carefully prepared by en tre1~chmen ts .
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'l'he officers felt that these open-air lectures and discussions were serviceable and interesting, arid hopes were expressed that they would be repeated and extended .
IUSE OF THE RIFLE. I
AIMING EXElWISE. 'l'he Instructor will · first direct the 'l'he weekly lectures for Dub.l in Officers sights to be adjusted for the lowest elevahave· been growing in interest and value . tion, and subsequently for the different Messrs·. O'Connell, O'Duffy, and Connolly longer ranges . have been dealing with practical Volun- . The Instructor commands : teer problems rather than with abstract l. Aiming. 2. Exercise. theory. At the last command, 'execute th~ first • • • and second motion of the position exer'rhere was a record attendance on Sahucise. day week to hear Mr. Connolly. A prac(Two .) Bend the head a little to the tical discussion follbwed. right ; the cheek resting against the * * * Lieut: Clarke lectured on "The Com- stock; the left eye closed; the right eye pany in Defence" at Rathfamharn last looking through the notch of the rear week. 'l'he possibilities of places in the sight at a point slightly below the mark. (Three:) Draw a moderately · 1ong neighbourhood were dealt with. breath, and slowly raise t he rifle with the Ca.pt. Begley has a very earnest little left hand, being careful i;t0t to incline band in the Sandymount and Irishtown the sight to either side until the line of area. Ambulance instruction is a. r egular sight is directly on the maric Hold the rifle steadily directed on the mark for a feature of the 'vork. moment, then, without command and * * A miiµature range has been got going just before the power to hold the rifle by tlrn ·c Coy ., 2:nd Ba.tt., a.t 25 Parnell steadily is lost, drop the rifle to the posi· Square, and the air-rifle of C Coy ., 1st tion of "ready " and resume the breathmg. B\lt t. is again on duty at 41. Some riflemen pref er to extend the left * * * On - Sqnday 'vee·k Company and other arm. Such a position gives greater conOfficers of the 4th Batt. met under their trol over the rifle when fir:ing in a strong Commandant for special field work. 'l'he wind or at moving objects . It also defence of Kimmage, their headqua.rters, possesses advantages when a rapid as
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Saturday,- February 6, 1915 . well as accurate delivery of fire is desired; but in firing in double rank the normal position, body rest, should be used, as it gives greater security to the left arm of the front rank man . The eye may be brought to the line of sight either by lowering the head or b3r raising the shoulder; it is best in some degree to combine these methods; the shoulder to be well raised by ra'.ising the right el bow and holding it well to the front and at righJ angles to' the body . l£ the · shoulder is .not raised it will be ·necessary for ' the soldier to lower the head to the front in order to hring the eye 'into line of sight. Lowering the head too far to the front brings it near ·the right hand which grasps the stock. When the gun is discharged this hand is carried by the recoil to the rear, and 'vhen the head is in this positioi;i, may strike against the nose or mouth. This often happens in practice, and, as a result of this blow often repeated, many men become gun shy or flinch or close their eyes at the moment of discharge. Much ,bad . shooting ascribed to other ca.uses is really due to this fault. Raising the :right elbow at right angles 'to the body efevates the i:ight shoulder, and this lifts the piece so that it is no longer necessary to incline the head materially to the front iri order to look along the sights. ' 'l'he length of the soldier's neck deter~ mining greatly .the exact method 0£ taking proper position, the Instructor will be careful to see that the position taken is without constraint . As changes in the elevation of the reai' sight will ·necessitate a corresponding· change i.p the position of the l?Oldier ' s head when aiming, the exercise shot1ld not be held with the sight adjusted £01• the longer ranges until the men have been practiced )¥ith the sights as they would generally be' employed for off-hand firing. 1 '1 he soldier must be cautioned that while raising the line of sight to the mark he must fix his eye on tb.e mark and not on the front sight; the latter . can be r eadily brought into the line join~n g the rear sight notch and mark.. l£ this plan be not followed, when firing is held on the range at long dista.nces, the mark will generally appear hluned and indistinct. 'fhe front sight will always be plainly seen, even though the eye is not directed particularly upon it. .'I'he rifle must be raised slowly, ~ithout jerk, and its motion stopped gradually. In retaining it directed at the mark care must be taken not to continue 1the aim after steadiness is lost; this period will. probabl3~ be found to be short at first, . but will quickly lengthen with practice . . No effort should .be made to prolong it . beyond the time that breathing can easily be restrained . Each soldier will deter- · mine for h.imself the 'proper time for dis- · continuing the aim. . The inen must be cautioned not to draw ·
Saturday, February 6, 1915 .
T H E IRISH VOLUNTEER,
and retain too long a breath, as a trembling of the body wo_uld , in many cases, result.
Halt a t KELLY'S Volunteer Concert 40 AM I ENS STREET , VOLUNTEER
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THE IRISH VOLUNTEER . -
8
'!'he making of straight and honourable men is the first object of the F'ia.nna.. The training in the arts of war without this aim is but a relapse into barba.rism. We need men before we_need soldiers; and when the man does not dominate the soldieJ.' that is in him he becomes a brute . The old Fianna were as truthful, as brave and as chivalrous as they -w~re strong and efficient. "By truth and strength of our arms we came safe out of every clanger,'' said Oissian thJ:) warrior, in. reply to St. Patrick; and it is by these very means we must realise the Independence of Ireland.
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"IRELAND OVER ALL." 'l'his is the titll'l of a new soffg writ.tell Ly Eamonn Ceannt, which will Le sliug for the first time in public at the concert of "C" Company, 3rd (Dublin) ·Battalion, in "the Hall of the Workmen's Club, 41 York Street, on W ednesday next, 10th inst., by the well-known Dublin tenor, Mr. Gerard Crofts. The words will be given away with ·the' special the height and weight standard is more so uvenir programme of the concert. Th.e scientifically - correct than the _ age. Committee in. charge is sparing no efforts standard, and I was assured that boys to make the concert the best yet. Bema.ture-as they develop physically and not side some original and topical songs, according to age . Th:ls introduces a very rousing national sorrgs not yet hitherto abstruse problem, and I am content to hea1'd at many concerts will be given b.y leave its solution to t°J&'-' bearded philosopopular artistes . The Davis Dramatic phers. '--~ -Society will present Seamus O' Kelly's * * * delightful comedy, "The Matchmakers ." 011e thing that must be obvious to The programme is also strong in instruevery officer is the fact that boys from mental and dancing items, and those fourteen ·years of age upwards must _be patronising the concert will have the treated very ·differently from the younger satisfaction. of knowing that , in addition ones of ten to eleven . Boys-generally up to getting a good night 's entertainment, to t welve or thir teen accept the authority they will also be helping to arm the men of their officer without question and leave of "C " Company, as the proceeds will it to him to settle all the disputes and be devoted to the arming fund. difficulties that arise in connection with the sluagh . With the older boy it is quite diffe-r ent. _ He begins to be selfassertive and.eager for the· responsibilities P~otogl'aphs of office . He takes a personal interest in Taken of D ances anywhere in Ireland. the working ofthe sluagh . His course of Secretaries should book dates now. training must be along very different lines from that of" the kids ." I will leave this matter over for the present.
. The-- building up of character and the development of all that is fine and noble in the boy constitute the chief task of the Fianna officer. The Fianna programme is the agent through which the principles of chivalry and honour are inculcated. To carry out the work the officer must have the quality of leadership I spoke of in last week's notes, and in a.ddition he must possess infinite patience and a good deal of. "horse-sense.'' The programme. ought • not to be earried out as a series of lectures The first issue of the new paper or classes of instruction, as some officers think, for the idea is not to cram a fel- "Fianna," which was due to appea.r on low's hei,id with drill,_signalling, etc., as Monday, has not yet seen the light. . F lushed with the success of " N odlaig na I have a.lready poi-nted out. bhFiami," the Editors boasted great * * * The present slaugh system of grouping things. I wonder if ·t hey have bitten off boys of all ages togeth~r makes the task more than they can chew . of the officer extremely difficult. It is * * * The Fianna Ceilidh on 20th March p·rovery hard to get a standard of grouping that can be adhered to rigidly. The age mises to be a great success . A good standard suggested last week is open to musical programme· is being arranged . many objections, inasmuch as boys do not Capt. E amon Martin has charge o~ aralways develop at the same rate ~ccording rangements and sale of tickets. w ILLIE N ELSON . ·to age. · It has been. suggested to me that
•
~woo "!".~.!~~~~..~J.~~1".E ~~~. 9,~~~nc~ug,ua~:.. ,~
INK ' KERNAN''S DR I
1782
13/6
To l ll IV' easure
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•
TO BE SURE - that you get the right Fiaiina Uniform, .{ you must deal with tbe OFFICIAL OUTFITTERS, ~
··
Saturday, February 6, 1915 .
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1914
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VOLUNTEERS~
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B.S.A. Rifles, No. 2 Model, 22 cal. SOs. War Office ~niature 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 .. . .. . .. . .. . · . . . 8211. Goth, 20th Century Rifles, 22 cal. 12s. 6d. 22 Rim Fire Cartridges (various brands). Greel!er Spotshot Target Rifle, A,per..ture sights, 22 cal. ... ... ... .. . 40s. B.S.A. No. 12 model Target Rifle, 22 cal., with aperture sights, the best ~finiature Target Rifle on the market, £4 3s. 6d.
~-KEEGAN, Gun and Rifle Maker & Ammunition Merchant,
3 INN'S QUAY, - Q_UBLIN.
H." Holohan & Co., Importers and Exporters of Malacca, Basket, Toy and Pulp Cane. - and White Sticks and Osiers.
Buff
Manufacturers of Art . Wicker Furniture, Travelling, Laundry and Factory Ha.mpers. Wicker Trucks and Handcarts, etc.
16
USHERS' QUAY, . DUBLIN.
G.P.O. CONTRACTORS. Telephone 2921. Founded 1s9s: Printed for the Proprieton by P. lU.Eox, S YarnhaU St. , DubliB, and J2!1blished at the Volunteer Headquarters, 41 Kildare St., Dublha.
SUPPLEMfNT TO THE IRISH ·VOLUNTEER. Dff fNSIYE POSITIONS · IN IRfLAND. 'l1he nature of a_ great part of the country in Ireland is such as ·to offer great advantages for defensive action, with very little labour to the defender . In most countries a position has to be elaborately prepared: the trenches must he traced and .dug, supporting points must be propedy provided, and, in general, copsiderable trouble is entailed and much technical skiJl is required . In Ireland, however, the country is so generally enclosed that good defensive positions will be found r eady-made in the fe11ces them.selves and a very great amount of time and labour will be saved. To understand the exa.c t amount of defensive strength to be looked for in such a position it is necessary to review the details of the different kinds of enclosures met with in Ireland. First of all we will take that very common type of fence, the bank and hedge. This is usually a bank three feet high or so with trench two or three feet deep along one side, and thickly planted on top with hawthorn bushes-,usually at least 6 or 7 feet high. \Ve will assume that the defender' s riflemen are standing in the trench leaning their rifles on the bank, the barrels being -thrust out through the. stumps of the bushes: ·so placed they are strongly en-
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Besides this general type of fence we also meet with hedges alone, banks alone aud \Valls. 'l 'he first gives concealm,mt aml shelters from shell-fire, but not much from rifle-fire. 'l'he other two are some protection ~ "·ithout overhead coveragainst rifle-fire, but not much against artillery: the conpealment also is not so good. Still , by suitably strengthening these other forms of defence they can be made to fit in at certain sections of the line to be held where it is a question of an extensive position. The following points are worth remembering when selecting a position :-It should .offer a good field of fire, and the hedges and fences selected should in the fii·st instance be chosen with this end in view. Where necessary hedges, trees, outbuildings, etc., should be cleared to improve the field of fire . Openings may be made in hedges for guns and machineguns at suitable points. Very i111po1;tant is the question o,£ lateral communications to allow of reinforcements passing from one section of the line to another. :F or this purpose wide gaps should be made in the fences: hedges cut down, ditches · levelled,_ drains filled, etc. · In short, the aim of the commander should be to use the natural features of the termin. and use only" such artificial measures as were best suited to streJ1gthen those. Possibly in no other country could a po01ition for a battle- not p~rmanent work- be prepared in so short a time.
1 ______________________________ CYCLIST TRAINING ..I ._
trenched for all practical purposes. In · the first place they have excellent ocncealment. Even with field glasses they cannot be seen by an enmy at any distance ; and even close at haw1 there is no CER'l'AIN ·I,IMI'l'A'rIONS OF reliable means of ascertaining their numCYCLISTS. bers. Moreover they can be moved from In spite of the very great usefulness of point to point behind the hedge without the enemy being able to find out that cyclist troops it is necessary to bear in any such movenient has been effected. mind the particu1ar conditions which renSecondly, the bank is a parapet giving der them ineffective if called upon to act ample protection. · The penetration qf a outside their proper sphere-. First of all rifle bullet in earth is only 30 inches at they are cC!nfined to the roads and to posi200 yards, and only 16 inches at 600: tions within easy reach of roads. Fortuthl.s would in the present case be lessened nately in Irelap.d the road system is so by the presence of many roots, etc., bind- complete as to allow of their being used ing - the earth together. Finally · the ·v ery widely indeed . Across country they hedge itself is an excellent protection can move only slowly and sometimes will against shell splinters or shrapnel bullets have to leave their machines behind :Cyclists are not suitable for scouting if the shell strikes in front, and does not offer enough r esistance to explode a. shell ing purposes in the neighbourhood of the iself . The shell will simply pass through enemy. Infantry are _better in such con_it and bury itself . behind. The bushes ditions . A column of cyclists .scouting will even stop man.y rifle bullets striking for itself is liable to be ambushed and obliquely to the front. Even at the thrown into confusion in such cases. Of moment when the attacking line · closes course, at a distance from the enemy the the bushes will hold the assailants back circumstances are entirely different. and cool men behind the hedge can stand HANDLING IN ACTION. fast and pick off their opponents through the bushes. In suitable country, where the roads
a.n_d paths are sufficiently plentiful and good, cyclists can move quickly aimost to the exact ;;pot \Vhere they are intended tu take part in. the fight; and if required to change their position quickly later on . 'l ;hey can· act against an enemy's flank or i·ear much more quickly than can be done by infantry, and should have many ep- , portunities for surprise. Similarly they should be able at times to crush the heads of the eneiny's colu~ns before the latter have time to deploy . To make the fullest use of these adva:gtages it is necessaTy that the cyclists have a good standard of march discipline . If they have not this their mobility suffers and they cannot get -into action so fast . Many suitable opportunities for surprise will thus be lost . . Also .if the discipline is good the Comma1ider c:;i.n keep his men in position until the very ·last moment, thus obtaining a greatly increased time for action at some other point . The main points to be attended to are: keepi~g well closed up on the march, quick and orderly dismounting, quick and orderly disposal of the ma.chines. 'l1 he latter may be grounded or. placed against a fence; wall, etc., and should face the direction in which the next movement is to be made . If the men are well trained in these ma.ttei:~they will lose very little time in getting to their first fire position and opening fire. When a hostile force is encountered and when the country is favourable, the Co:r;n- mander of .a force of cyclists may be able to push one or more sections · round the enemy'.s fla.nks. The power possessed by cyclists of being able to develop their full fire rapidly from any direction enables the!n to draw a ring of fire round an unprepared or slower moving enemy. Enveloping or converging fire has a great moral· and material effect and should always be employed if possible . . '110 get the fullest value out of their mobility, cyclists should advance as near to the first fire position as the available _cove1: allows· without dismounting. The Commander shoulcl decide after personal observation on his line of action, and approximate place of deployment. He should inform his subordinates of his in~ tentions, and should~ when possible, ride well ahead of his main body to the point of action tci see whether any further ar· rangements are necessary.
" C" CO., 3rd (DUBLIN) BATTALIO N. 'l1 he training in field operations of this Company commenced last Sunday, ~hen the Company, reinforc_ed by drafts from Companies " B " and " G," 3rd Batt., and some of the Mounted Corps, put in a very valuable day's work on the Three Rock Mountain .
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SUP,P LEMENT TO THE IRISH VOLUNTEER.
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DESTKUUIYE fOWEL
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PENETRATION OF RIFLE BULLET. Volunteer Offi.cel's and N. Q.0.'s should endeavour to commit the figures in the following notes to memm·y. 'l'he followiug fab le gives i·oughly t he thickness of various materials required to give proo•f cover against the pointed rifle bullet ::Ma terial. .Thickness. 1 inch. Steel Plate (hard) ,, (ordinary) 1 ,, Shingle 8 inches . Coal 10 ,, Brickwork 15 ,, Sand (in boards or bags) . 20 ,, 1 ,, (loose) .. . ... 34 ,, Earth (free from stones). 48 ,, Soft Wood (fa) '"' 60 ,, Clay 70 ,, Dry Turf 90 ,, Hard W oocl (oal-) 42 , , 150 rounds conceuhated on oue spot will breach a 9-iuch brick wall at 200 yards. Penetration of brickwork, timbe1r, aud sand is less at short thau at medium ranges. Ramming earth red1!ces its resisting power. NOTES ON AH/l'ILLERY l<'IRE . Shrapnel! i used by Horse aud Ii'ielcl Artillery. A shrapnel shell carri s _about 200 lrnllets . The extreme effective rauge of Time Sh·rapnel is ·6,000 yards; of Percussio·n Shrapnel, B,000 yards. Behind good co11e1r the effect is small. In trenches without · ove1rhead co·ve•r it inflicts casualties by its se,a rching effect.
Saturay, February 6,
1~ 15
. J.~ eA!>At1 "Of1tlte u6si~c.o..1b nA he111eAnn. (-0-l' le.c.nitic.rni:::)
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the effect is local . 12 inches of earth on overhead cover will give protection from splinters. No amount of cover in hasty field work
Artillery Attaclk on Earthwor~s, showing Angie o·f Bursting of Various Shells. ~
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en.om cnu 6.C. Howitzer shrapnel has great searching power. Effective ranige for ho; itzers is 4,000 yards. - R.C.A. 60-pr. B.L. Extreme range is 10,000 yards. It cannot be used at a distanbe from good roads . Used, (a) '110 fire at short nlllges behind cover (b) To send searchin g- fire into tren~hes .
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NO'l'A BENE. l. The effect of artillery is often main.ly moral. Under favourable conditions it can inflict heavy losses, but in Ireland the conditions are generally unfavourable. 2. The smoke and dust thrown up by a: shrapnel shell may assist the attacking infantry by, scree-ning them from view . 3. Artille1ry is very vulnerable on the mo·ve or limbered up. Slight casualties among the horses may affect its mobility. 4. Artille1ry cannot move under hostile infantry fire at effective ranges.
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Percussion shrapnel will destroy a 20-in. brick wall 1vith .a ccurate shooting . Lyddite is used by Field Howitzers and heavy guns. It is a highly explosive common shell. Except for the splin•ters
will r esist ho"·itzer shells ~ The only t hing to do is to coufine the burst. It is important to have nothing behind trenches to catch the shells and make them burst back, such as stone walls, etc .
2nd BATTALION (DUBLIN), A meeting of all Officers and Se~tion Commanders will be held at 41 Kildare Street on next Monday evening, 8th inst. at 8 o'clock, sharp for instruction in various subjects. A full attendance · is requested.