The Morning Post asserts that the following signal has been given to his Majesty’s Navy—‘Belligerents in neutral ships are not to be arrested.’
‘This signal,’ continues the Morning Post, ‘was given to the fleet without explanation, and is now upon the signal log. For our part we cannot understand it. The thing goes beyond our comprehension. That soldiers should be allowed to enter Germany in order that they may shoot at our brave soldiers is something so monstrous that we should have refused to believe it in the absence of proof.
‘We now demand to know who is responsible for this order, and how it can be justified in the light of our obligations to our Allies and to this nation.’
It is very easy to furnish the information. Let John Bull, if he is anxious to receive a third whipping from the United States, resent it! He probably would resent it if he could get China, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Spain and Italy to do the fighting for him.
The Militia Ballot Act, we are told, is about to be enforced in Ireland. If it is it must be resisted actively and vigorously. It is the worst form of conscription. The D.L’s pick out the men to be sent to the front, and, needless to say, their choice never falls on their own friends or on anyone with ‘a pull.’
This Act brings the war home to our Irish towns and villages. It cannot be met by resolutions or speeches. Force must be met with force. Let the D.L’s and the Government officials go fight for England and get killed if they wish. They will be no loss. Irishmen will never tamely submit to be shipped away to do England’s fighting. There are not sufficient jails to hold all. Even if death be the penalty we must hit out straight from the shoulder now. The coming Volunteer Convention must set a headline in this respect for the country.
In the meantime let the men of Ireland arm themselves with any weapons that can be procured. Do not waste time discussing the relative effectiveness of the different class of weapons. Beggars cannot be choosers. If they cannot get a magazine rifle, let them get revolvers, swords, or pikes. Anything is better than nothing.
Sincerely yours,
JOHN McBRIDE.
Dublin, 18th Oct., 1914.