Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1914 — SACRIFICE SEELY TO KEEP OFFICERS [ARTICLE]

SACRIFICE SEELY TO KEEP OFFICERS

Cabinet Members Fear Disruption if Marshall Quits. WAR SECRETARY MUST GO Great Brltain’3 Premier Will- Make Statement Today Giving Latest Ulster Situation—Belfast Remains Quiet.

London, March 27.—The British government s situation has become more critical. The crisis is fast approaching. LLvery indication points to the sarcriflee of Colonel Seely, secretary of state for war, to prevent Field Marshal Sir John French, chtef of the imperial general staff, and Sir John Spencer Ewart, adjutant general, from resigning from the army council. Both officials resigned. The resignations caused Premier Asquith to abandon his plan to make a further statement to parliament, and a cabinet meeting was called hurriedly. Every effort was made to induce Field Mar shal French and the adjotant general to withdraw their resignations. Both men resigned because they were joint signers with Colonel Seely to the two repudiated paragraphs of instructions to General Gough. They refused to withdraw their resignations unless Colonel Seely was removed. Fearful that the defection of its virtual head would cause the disruption of the army, Premier Asquith is believed to have decided to cast aside Colonel Seely, and it is said he again has resigned. Positive knowledge of what has happened will not be known until Premier Asquith makes a statement to parliament. French Makes Statement. At midnight Field Marshall French authorized the statement that his resignation had neither been accepted nor withdrawn. According to the best information the conference at the war office of dfl the principal commanding generals of the army was called to enable Generals French and Ewart to explain I that their resignation was a personal matter arising solely from the fact that they signed the Gough memoran- : dum which the government had since repudiated, and chey urged that all the other officers should remain at their posts. Then followed interviews with the ministers and an audience with the j king, with a view to inducing them to i reconsideV their action. But both Gen- ! oral French and General Ewart remained firm in their decision that it would be impossible for them to retain their posts while Colonel Seely remained secretary for war. They j were willing, however, to withdraw , their resignations if Colonel Seely was removed. Must Abandon Seely. Faced by this ultimatum and the I knowledge that a strong feeling against Colonel Seely existed among a large section of the radical support- | ers of the government, the prime minister seems to have arrived at the conclusion that he must abandon Colonel Seely. The difficulty in rearranging the ministry has caused the delay in Mr. Asquith’s statement. There has been talk of appointing John Burns, who is now president of the local government board, secretary for war, and a report has also been current of an exchange of portfolios between Lewis Harcourt and Colonel Seely. It is generally believed, however, ! that it will be found that Colonel Seely j has again resigned and that his resignation has been accepted; that Lewis Harcourt has been chosen to replace and that Lord fflnmett, under secretary for the colonies, will be promoted to colonial secretary. Belfast Remains Quiet In Ireland no change has occurred. Belfast remains qu*at, and, although it is asserted that the officers at the Ourragh camp are determined to resign because of the repudiation of i Colonel Seely’s by the gov- | eminent, no actual resignations, so far as is, known, have occurred. A new crisis confronted Premier Asquith when Field Marshal French, virtual head of the British army, resigned. Other leading officers of the army were also expected to hand in their papers as a direct outcome of the repudiation of the guarantee given to army officers in Ireland. Although was generally conceded that Premier Asquith had regained the upper hand in parliament, the government is by no means altogether out of trouble.