1915
By the start of 1915, many of the still loosely connected but inter-related nationalist groups began to overhaul, prepare and analyse for a future confrontation with the British Authorities.
As regards the security situation in Ireland at the time, there were British Army garrisons and depots throughout the country, the RIC were a well armed and vigilant police force of some 10,000; with intimate local knowledge, the Dublin Metropolitan Police of some 1,000 unarmed men was responsible for the Dublin area and Dublin Castle had its Intelligence Service.
Poverty of the most primitive kind remained part of everyday life in Dublin. In the period 1910-14 the infant mortality rate in London was 106 per thousand live births, in Dublin it was 147 – higher at this time that the prevailing known rate in either Moscow or Calcutta.
January 1915
Michael Collins left his position as a Clerk with the Board of Trade in London and took up employment with the Guaranty Trust Company of New York located on the Strand, London.
1:
German Submarine U24 sinks HMS Formidable in the North Sea.
British army strength stands at 720,000 men.
Devoy wrote a lengthy letter to Casement in Berlin. Casement comments that he received it on January 23rd but nothing of its contents. No record of the letter survives.
England, in support of France, blockaded Germany, disregarding the 1909 Contraband regulations. The United States still believed in the difference between contraband and raw goods and supported Germany's right to receive the imports that it needed to survive. The United States reversed its position when it entered the war against Germany, and international law was changed. In response to the British blockade, the Germans tried to blockade England. Their most effective weapon was the submarine, which although still primitive, took the British by surprise. In 1915 the Germans declared British waters a war zone. All Allied ships in those waters would be torpedoed. Ironically, the U-boat was originally intended as a defensive craft. It was only mobilized offensively in response to the British blockade. Life aboard a German U-boat could hardly be described as pleasant. The first U-boats were visible during the day and night, as oil fired engines produced thick white smoke and sparks visible at the surface. After the switch to diesel, smoke and sparks were eliminated, but the smell on board was unbearable. Human waste could only be pumped off by hand and even then, the risk was high the sub could be spotted from the surface. It was said that three scents marked a submariner; diesel, sweat and shit.
2:
Casement addressed 80 of the 2,400 Irish Prisoners of War in Limburg camp.
‘The method which he employed to obtain recruits for his Irish brigade was characteristic of his inability to appreciate any view but his own. To ask the regular soldiers who had taken part in the retreat from Mons to desert their regiments showed a strange blindness to realities. It was chiefly non-commissioned officers, who had almost all been with their regiments for ten years at least, that he addressed in his first appeal, believing that they would respond immediately, and that the rest would follow their example...’
Dennis Gwynn. Casement. P14/15. Quoted in Tansill, ‘America and the fight for Irish Freedom 1866-1922. Devin Adair, New York p.185
Devoy with his successful history in recruiting men to the Fenian cause from British forces, wrote that Casement tackled the work required of him ‘in the wrong way. Instead of approaching the men individually, he had them all assembled at a meeting at which he delivered an address that went over their heads. The good and the bad, the Orangeman and the Catholic, the half-decent fellow and the blackguard, were all there to listen to his highly patriotic sentiments, and what was still worse, old reserve men – whose wives were receiving subsistence money from the British Government and who naturally would think of the interests of their families before and above all else – were present..
To step out of the ranks and volunteer for service against England under such circumstances required a degree of moral courage that is rare among Irishmen of that class and the wonder is that even fifty of them were bold enough to do so.’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P436
Casement quickly realised his mistake but it was too late. He did attempt the remedy the situation by asking for a priest to act as a chaplain, and the Vatican agreed to the request, However, aware of the diplomatic tight-rope, two chaplains were sent. ‘One of whom lectured the men on their duty to keep their oaths as soldiers, while the other in a half-hearted way talked a little about Irish patriotism. This got Casement nowhere, so he asked for a priest to be sent from America.’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P436
Clan na Gael’s first effort was a failure. Their initial recommendation fell through just as the boat was about to sail, but Devoy does not detail why. The second choice, a Fr. Nicholson was more successful ‘but the harm had already been done by the public meeting attempt and only a few more recruits were obtained for the Brigade.’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P436
No mention is made of any of these meetings by Casement in his diaries and written by Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922.
The Dublin-Holyhead mail boat ‘SS Leinster’ was chased by U-Boats in the Irish Sea and the first hospital ships carrying Irish casualties from the war front arrived in Dublin.
In the Antarctic, Ernest Henry Shackelton and his crew became icebound aboard the Endurance. There was to be no escape with ice crushing the craft in September 1915.
5:
William T. Cosgrave returned un-opposed as the Sinn Fein member of Dublin Corporation.
6
On a voyage leaving Liverpool on 16 January 1915 the Lusitania was involved in an international incident which gave the ship's presence in the North Atlantic a very high profile. The ship was travelling through rough seas on the way to Queenstown and, fearing the possibility of a torpedo attack, the Captain hoisted the 'stars and stripes'. With America still neutral Germany was reluctant to bring her into the war on the side of the Allies, so it was considered that this would guarantee a safe passage. The use of the US flag, however, came to the notice of the press and the incident made world news.
From Neil McCarthy “ Atlantic Liners of the Cunard Line from 1884 to the Present Day “ - PSL, 1993.
13:
Earthquake in Central Italy kills 29,000 people.
The Austrian-Hungarian foreign minister, Leopold Berchtold who had arranged the fateful ultimatum to Serbia, was forced to resign.
15:
On the Eastern Front, a new Russian army of 800,000 advances on West Prussia.
Limburg: Casement in his diaries records his feelings: ‘Now that I have practically abandoned the idea of the Irish Brigade, there seems little object in remaining in Germany. The Government will not want me I am sure. Once the hope of the Irish Brigade is gone, they will feel little interest in the other aspects of the Irish Question.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.152
W. J.Maloney. “The Forged Casement Diaries.” Talbot Press, Dublin 1936. p115
18:
Rome: The Clan na Gael sponsored Fr Nicholson from the US arrived in the city and would leave for Berlin the following day.
19
Zeppelins raided the Norfolk coast, killing 20 and leading to widespread fears in both Britain and Ireland that an invasion was imminent. Casement writing in Berlin commented that the raid ‘can only damage the German cause in the eyes of the world – for the English will represent it ..as a deliberate murder of women and children’.
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.161
23
Berlin: Casement returned to Berlin, commenting in his diary ..’to be near Blucher and also Lay, the US Consul General, whom I wish to consult on my proposed letter to Sir E Grey, denouncing the criminal efforts of H.B.M Minister at Christiania. I also want to apply for American citizenship..’
Meyer met Casement with news that there was finally written evidence of the British Ambassador to Norway attempt to have him captured or killed. Casement’s associate, Christensen, had extracted from Findlay a note written on official British Legation stationery at Christiania and personally signed on January 3rd:
‘on behalf of the British Government, I promise that if, through information given by Adler Christensen, Sir Roger Casement be captured either with or without his companions, the said Adler Christensen is to receive from the British Government the sum of £5,000 to be paid as he may desire. Adler Christensen is also to enjoy personal immunity and to be given a passage to the United States should he desire it..’
Christensen returned at once to Berlin and the letter was handed over to Meyer on January 5th.
‘The letter is the most damning piece of evidence, I suppose, ever voluntarily given by a Government against itself!’ commented Casement and ‘I told Wedel that the document was mine – my property – and that I should use it quickly and outlined my intention of formally charging Grey with responsibility for a dastardly criminal conspiracy – and also of my intention to inform the Norwegian Government and to go personally to Norway to do so. He agreed, in a perfunctory sort of way… I now hold the warrant of shame and ignominy His Majesty’s Government signed by their own Minister in their name…’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.154 & 159
Casement also received a lengthy letter from John Devoy written in New York on January 1st but nothing of its contents.
Over the next week, Casement prepared an open letter to Sir Edward Grey, the British Foreign Minister, giving in detail the ‘dubious conduct of Mr Findlay ‘...he stressed the devotion to the cause of Ireland and remarked ‘to save Ireland from some of the calamities of war was worth the loss to myself of pension and honours, and was even worth the commission of an act of technical ‘treason’ ...’. As he felt that the British diplomatic service had not reacted honourably, he severed every connection he ever had with the British Government. Returned were the insignia of the Order of St Michael and St George, the Coronation Medal of King George V and ‘any other medal, honour or distinction conferred upon me by His Majesty’s Government, of which it is possible to divest myself’
The letter eventually was passed to Judge Cohalan in New York in March 1916 on instructions from Casement.
24:
German Cruiser, ‘The Blucher’ sunk in the North Sea.
Berlin: Casement in his diaries wrote: ..’I know not what to do. To stay in Berlin or in Germany, idle, inactive and with the huge disappointment of the Irish Brigade failure staring me in the face, and with no hope of further action by the German Government [for] Ireland – is a policy of despair. Besides I have not the means to live here. Life is very expensive and I must stay at expensive hotels and incur constant outlays. It would be better to return to Norway – convict Findlay up to the hilt, get H.M. Government exposed and if necessary return to Germany should Father Nicholson succeed with the soldiers.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.161
25
US: Long distance telephone lines now spanned the US. Alexander Graham Bell once again spoke to his assistant, Watson as on the day the telephone was invented – this time he was in New York and Watson was in San Francisco.
Berlin: Count Wedell of the Foreign Office met with Casement ....’he then began to talk of the heavy expense I had been put to in fighting Findlay and begged that I would allow the German Government to recoup me for all that outlay! I refused point blank. He urged and urged – saying we were a ‘joint cause’. We were ‘all one’ and fighting a ‘common enemy’ I pointed out only that it was quite impossible for me to allow the German Government to contribute a penny to me, or my cause.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.179
Casement was now intent on shortly confronting the British Ambassador Findlay in Christiania and having the Norwegian Government investigate the affair. With his intentions made clear, the Government organised three armed detectives to accompany and protect him in Norway.
However, Casement commented that Meyer ‘has a silly scheme for me to go there, and try and get Findlay to kidnap me and through my three detectives to catch him and his and hand them over to the police. I rejected this on von Roeder’s and Blucher’s advise – and decided to go to Norway openly, as myself’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.176
27
Letter from Diarmuid Lynch to Kathleen O'Connell. 27 January, 1915
(Source: UCD Archives - Papers of Kathleen O'Connell (1888-1956) P155.110. Annotations in red)
Miss K. O’Connell,
624 Madison Ave
New York
Granig, Jan. 27. ’15
A Caitlín, a ċara.
Many thanks for letters etc which I was glad to get. I have been on the go between Cork, Dublin etc for the past month & did not have much time to reply.
Sorry to hear McDonough has been in hospital. Apart from this fact however I am quite sure that the G.A. (Gaelic Association – Gaelic League?) there is dead. The attitude of the League here put the finishing touch on it. Fraher, Rohan etc had no heart to do anything & as you know I did not feel like urging them.
The Brown/Geoghegan combination manages to keep me in the limelight. I saw an advance notice of this Feis in the Gaelic American some time ago. They will never amount to anything & between all the various crowds the G.L. need expect very little from Boston.
Indeed the more I see of the league myself, the less I care whether it gets money or not. Enclosed clippings will be of interest. Please forward to D.F.C. (Daniel Francis Cohalan - Judge Cohalan)
I suppose you saw the recent copy of an C.S. (an Claidheamh Soluis – Gaelic League Newspaper) containing acknowledgement of subscriptions. It looked as though the money came in since we returned & the next publication will give the same idea. It makes very little difference.
Of course you are aware that the State League acted on the Keogh letter. I would have preferred it otherwise but on the whole am glad it appeared in an C.S. – I mean the N.Y. correspondence. Your letter to Fionán re Films [two words unclear] was red at the last C.Z. [letter unclear could be an Irish G] meeting. They were amused at the objections of the County representatives. Let me know how they were taken at the Harford entertainment.
I wanted additional representatives sent out to America. The Cairde would not sanction this. They said F. and Nellie would be coming back soon and I’m satisfied it will be some time before any other expedition will be sent. (this is the second fundraising team that the Gaelic League sent to the US after Lynch & Ashe)
Glad to hear about O’BBurkes [sic] and Miss K.
No, our friend did not write me about the office. I got only the one letter since returning here. My reply was not what you’d call “Sympathetic” & I did not expect any further epistles.
Tomás (Tomas Ashe) has had a couple of letters though on general topics. I gave him my opinion on some matters.
I went out to Tomas [sic] from Dublin for a day’s shooting. Between us we got one green plover. Enough said! No I am not “N.A.”
The majority of the existing Vols (Volunteers) are on the McN (McNeill) side now. The opposition has dwindled & the whole movement more or less disrupted. Most of those who stood by J.E.R. (John Edward Redmond – IPP leader) have lost confidence but still they hold on through a mistaken sense of loyalty.
It would be a most [word begun and crossed out] difficult matter to give an opinion as to the feelings of the people at present. Their natural instincts put them on one side – the press etc swing a large percentage so that they don’t know where they stand. We are surely and extraordinary people (I don’t care to use other adjectives). Thousands left the Volunteers in disgust, other thousands because they felt it was preliminary to being marked men for an army they don’t want to join – and so it goes.
All around the coast line [sic] farmers have been warned to clear away all stock to inland points & butter, hay etc which they can’t carry in the event of a German landing. The farmers are going to do no such thing. The question is does the Govt really fear a landing, or was the move in the interest of recruiting. It makes very little difference anyway, as far as the people around here are concerned.
The general feeling at present is that conscription will not come. Others say that when the newly trained men are sent away, the Govt must resort to some sort of conscription to get another army. In case they do there will be some hot work – that much is certain.
Sorry you had such a lonely Xmas. Why didn’t you call to Máire T. It passed off as usual here. I had the usual few days shooting and that kept my mind occupied.
I have my agency with the Equitable, but there is very little business to be had. (Diarmuid was the Munster agent for Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States)
Fionan wrote Barrett recently that they could send £200. So he must have had some money in hand as Keogh had only $480.
The only items on your list of Jan 8 which came in since I left were the second & third & the last fine. I suppose I got the $5 from Fitzgerald, Detroit. How was the $480 (above) made up?
Please send me a copy of your next list to Miss W. & mark any items that may be credited to our work. I don’t suppose they will amount to much.
I understand some of the G.A. membership cards went out recently. I hope the particulars were filled in neatly.
Miss W’s salary was withdrawn just before I returned & she decided to continue the work without salary for the time being. At the last C.G. (Clann na nGael?) meeting it developed that I sent money for her & the C. ordered that all money in future come to the Treasurer in the usual course and the C. will decide what salaries are to be paid out of it as far as this side is concerned.
I note that the Ex. Party are now pushing the G. alliance. It is high time they did something along this line.
I don’t think there is any good in bothering further about the cards issued by Tomás and myself. In cases where money was collected it should of course come along, but how are we to know. One of the Foresters in Boston wrote saying he turned in his to John O’Keeffe (the man I paid the $5 for) but the latter answered none of my letters. I was told that Mrs Lynch Boston was doing some collecting but I have no means of ascertaining whether it was a case ot going to do something or not. If things were right in the League here I would write them but what’s the use!
You speak of another “form letter”. Any more circularizing would be a waste of money.
The news about Lyons amuses me. We certainly are a great people.
I never saw Miss K. since returning.
I have written to Comptroller of Telegraphs about my Cable of Nov. 9.[?]
Hope you are quite well.
Best regards. Diarmuid
P.S. I got back my property from Liverpool. (probably refers to his revolver declared to customs in Liverpool on return from the US)
Biographical notes:
Kathleen O’Connell was born in October 1888 in Caherdaniel, Co Kerry into a family with strong nationalist credentials. She emigrated to the United States in 1904. O’Connell worked as secretary to the American Delegation of the Gaelic League in New York from 1912. She joined Cumann na mBan in America in 1916 and, shortly afterwards, the Friends of Irish Freedom.
From 1919, O’Connell worked as a secretary to Eamon de Valera and Harry Boland in the US. De Valera visited the United States from June 1919 to December 1920, primarily to raise funds, but also to ask for official recognition of the Irish Republic, to secure a loan to finance the work of the government and the IRA and to secure the support of the American people for the Republic.
O’Connell returned to Ireland in January 1921 to work for de Valera in his capacity as president of the Irish Republic and president of the Irish volunteers.
On June 22nd 1921, O’Connell was arrested, along with de Valera, by British forces, but released soon afterwards. She carried on working for de Valera during the truce period and she states that on June 28th, 1922, following the outbreak of the Civil War and during a period of heavy fighting in Dublin, she carried despatches between a number of anti-Treaty posts there. O’Connell continued to work with de Valera during the Civil War until his arrest in Ennis, Co Clare on August 15th 1923. After that she worked for Sinn Féin TD for north Mayo PJ Rutledge.
28
One of the detectives was sent back to Berlin immediately with Casement’s papers.
Ernest Blythe, while working as an IRB organiser in Cork ‘gave a withering account of the state of the [ Irish ] Volunteer organisation with the single exception of that at Mitchelstown. He depicted Volunteer meetings in Mallow as little more than opportunities for drinking cheap liquor and he poured scorn on the training methods used by the Hales brothers around Bandon.’
Michael Hopkinson ’The Irish War of Independence’ Gill & MacMillan, Dublin 2002. p104
30:
Three merchant ships sunk by U-Boats in the Irish Sea.
31:
Tear gas is used for the first time by the Germans against the Russians on the Eastern Front.
Berlin: Copies of Casement’s letters to Grey were returned to him along with news from the German Admiralty that an ‘English submarine might stop the mail boat [ from Germany to Norway ] in the Baltic and demand my surrender! The staff think it possible…I said I should go on and if this happened I’d resist and not be taken alive…’
Pensive, he wrote later that evening of his situation ‘Not afraid of the submarine – but of the action of the British Government in Norway, their influences there, their power and gold and my own penniless and defenceless position. To go out, single handed, to thus challenge the mightiest Government in the world and to charge them publically with infamous criminal conspiracy though their accredited representative is a desperate act. I have no money; no friends; no support; no Government save that of the one bent on destroying me, to appeal to. They are all potent and will not sacrifice Findlay without a fight and in that fight they must win. Such were my reflections through the night’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.178
February 1915
1:
Berlin: Casement & Christensen accompanied by three armed detectives left Berlin for Sassnitz and the Baltic mail boat-ferry to Norway. While waiting in Sassnitz’s Monopol Hotel, Casement apparently reconsidered. Both his friends, von Roeder and Blucher had earlier unsuccessfully attempted to discourage him from taking such action in a neutral country but Adler Christensen managed to persuade Casement from the action. ‘I went over the pros and cons with Adler, burned some papers I found the enemy might seize if I were arrested and finally decided to return to Berlin tomorrow instead of going on. I told the three detectives this…it is not kidnapping now I fear – but the direct, open assault of the British Government and some demand for my surrender or else a law case in which, with all their wealth and power, poor Adler and I would cut a sorry figure.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.178
Berlin: News dispatch to the New York World read “Berlin wants Sir Roger to deliver Irish Revolt. Germany has paid Casement $12,000 retainer..he planned flight to United States but Britain guards sea and has ordered him seized…meanwhile the German Government is beginning to wonder when he will fulfil his promises, and to look askance at his continue residence in Germany, where he can do nothing to earn his $12,000 retainer. His friends say that it is understood, he will depart soon in strict incognito and will make a dash for America."
2:
Germany warns that all neutral shipping in British & Irish waters will be sunk without warning.
Churchill by now had issued top-secret orders to all merchant shipping
Berlin: Back in the capital, Casement writing in his diary confessed the reasons that he decided to abort his attempts to confront Findlay in Norway: ‘I had very little money left – about Mks2000. I had to fight the greatest Government in the world. Immediately I charged Findlay in Christiania with the dastardly attempt, I was sure to be assailed by England with all her power. I should probably fail completely...
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.180
And in his dealings with the German Foreign Office in 76 Wilhelmstrasse ‘..made me feel that I had made an awful fool of myself in ever believing that this Government would help Ireland. I never recovered faith in them.”
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.181
Casement returned to the Foreign Office, met with Wedel and explained why he had returned. ‘He said he thought Findlay would never dare to fight or protest – that the ‘guarantee’ was far too damning. I said all the same, the risk was far too great of defeat and that I proposed sending my letter [ to Foreign Secretary Grey ] to Holland to be posted there and then when that was done and sure of to send out copies to the Governments here represented. He agreed.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.182
A German-Irish Society was formed in Berlin and some 50,000 marks as a contribution to the Irish cause had been collected. Casement commented on Die Deutsche-Irische Gesellschaft: ‘generous indeed – but I cannot accept – at any rate it must be left to my friends in the U.S.A. to decide.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.183
3:
Hugh Lane made an unsigned codicil to his will ‘to the effect that a group of pictures now at the London National Gallery, which I had bequeathed to that institution, I now bequeath to the city of Dublin providing that a suitable building is provided for them within five years of my death.’ This was not recognised later by the British Government as it was not witnessed. The paintings were a group of 39 French Impressionist works.
Russians invade Hungary.
Berlin: Casement made some slight changes to his letter to Grey and when complete, was taken by special messenger to the Hague for mailing to London on February 4th.
4:
British casualties in seven months: 104,000.
Berlin: Casement finalised the Grey letter for distribution to the Ambassadors representing America, Austria-Hungary, Italy,. Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Romania and Switzerland. 3 copies were also made ready for sending to Rome, one each to Monsignor O’Riordan, Dr O’Hagan and Fr O’Gorman ‘begging them to use publicly and show Holy Father’.
Berlin advised that they would not publish first, but only after another country broke the news.
5:
30,000 Germans killed in battle with Russians on Eastern Front.
Sir Edward Grey in the House of Commons commented in reply to questions that ‘Sir Roger’s pension would be suspended pending investigation into his action against Great Britain’ and in reply to another question he said – the public liar! – that ‘he did not know whether Sir Roger Casement was in Germany or not’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.193
Casement’s pension was paid quarterly in arrears into his account in William Deacon’s Bank at 20 Birchin Lane, London.
6:
Berlin: Casement ‘sent a long letter to John Devoy with Grey letter. Also posted on – registered – to Bryan and State Department’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.194
Copies of the Grey letter were sent to the legations and embassies by the Continental Hotel Head Porter in a taxi.
7:
Dublin: First issue of ‘an extremist nationalist organ’ the Spark appears and continued publication until 23rd April 1916.
8:
A Galway postman was fined £1 for spreading ‘false reports that German forces had sunk six British warships’. This was also the first prosecution under the Defence of the Realm Acts ( DORA ) introduced by the Government in August 1914.
Berlin: Casement received some replies to his letter: ‘got a very courteous reply from the Swedish minister by this morning's post – and tonight a very discourteous one from the Portuguese minister. Latter refused to send my letter to Lisbon as it ‘exceeded the legal rights of his legation’ and he returned it to me.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.195
9
Berlin: Meyer of the Foreign Office met with Casement, taking the Portuguese reply to show to the Foreign Minister. He also advised that no newspaper would publish the letter in Italy as while officially neutral, most were pro-ally. Casement felt however that ‘Meyer is so secretive and lacking in frankness that he tells me nothing. I am treated by him as a sort of tool or agent – to be directed and used – but never kept informed or referred to – or consulted. Only directed…the wretched suspicion and mistrust of everybody that characterises all their conduct of public affairs again revealed here. I decided to go out to the sanatorium at Grunewald…Meyer will make a mess of everything I am convince. He and his department are the acme of stupidity and blight. I have lost all faith in their good sense and action..’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.195-6
Britain banned all cables originating from Europe.
10:
Russians defeated by Germans in Battle of Masurian Lakes. 100,000 taken prisoner.
President Wilson warns Germany that attacks on US ships breach US neutrality and also protests to Britain for allowing ships, such as the Lusitania, to fly the US flag to dupe Germans.
The Washington Post Newspaper charged that Casement ‘had received money from the Kaiser’s Government to the tune of some $12,000 for his services in promoting Irish sympathy in Ireland and in America for Germany in the present war.’ It was also suggested that the German Government was the financial backer of his crusades in the Congo and the Putumayo’
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’. Anvil Press, Co. Kerry. P55
11:
Berlin: “ I am in my room at the sanatorium writing up my diary and eating my heart out. An agent of the secret police has just called (11:20am) to ask for my ‘military pass’ – I have none. I gave him my old police card of Mr Hammond which I happily still have and referred him to the Auswartige Amt for further information. It is highly possible that they will bungle things there and I may be hauled off to jail’
This was Casement’s last entry in his regular diary from the time of his arrival in Berlin at the end of October 1914. Filling some 4 quarto notebooks of 180 pages each. Casement was to write of his dairies in one of his additions on April 9th 1916: “the diaries are very poor stuff, very poorly written and hastily put together – and would need much editing by a friend; for I often say things in them I should not like to stand for ever. It is so hard to see straight even when one is well and not troubled – and I am not well in body and have not been for long and thus greatly troubled too in mind – so that my remarks are often unjust and ill considered.” Adding the reasons why he stopped writing ‘I stopped that diary when it became clear that I was being played with, fooled and used by a most selfish and unscrupulous Government for its own sole petty interests. I did not wish to record the misery I felt or to say the things my heart prompted. But today it is my head that compels me to the unwelcome task.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.197
New York: The New York American newspaper picked up details of Casement’s open letter to Sir Edward Grey from a South American paper. It’s editor in turn cabled the British Embassy in Norway and the British Foreign Office for either confirmation or denial. No reply was received.
12:
French begin an offensive in Champagne.
Berlin: The German Government sent it’s daily news updates to the Washington Embassy, included formal comment on the British plot to assassinate Casement in Norway. This was intercepted and later passed in edited form to a US news agency for general release.
13:
McGarrity replied to the Washington Post allegations against Casement, branding them ‘mischievous untruths’ he went on to say: ‘ I can state with sufficient knowledge that Sir Roger never received a dollar from the German Government for any purpose whatever and his work in the Congo and Putumayo in the interest of humanity has made him beloved by all those who read the horrible expose and were possessed of human feelings and sympathy for the oppressed….certain English interests gave him to understand that he would be handsomely rewarded should he declined to reveal the black story of the treatment accorded the Peruvian natives, but no price was large enough to swerve him from his duty to humanity….his knowledge of England’s method of diplomacy gained in the Consular service will be a weapon he can use in the service of his beloved Ireland in her struggle for the freedom that is coming’ The Washington Post returned McGarrity letter with a formal notice declining publication.
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’. Anvil Press, Co. Kerry. P55-56
14:
New York: Casement’s open letter to Sir Edward Grey was published by the New York American following translation from a South American news-source.
18:
The planned 1916 Olympic Games in Berlin are cancelled.
German submarine 'blockade' of British Isles begins.
Winston Churchill sets up a committee to investigate the possibility of building an armoured vehicle capable of resisting bullets & shrapnel, crossing trenches, flattening barbed wire and negotiating the mud of No Man’s Land in Flanders. Walter Gordon Wilson (1874-1957), from Blackrock, Co. Dublin was put in charge of the project. Wilson had in 1899 developed the caterpillar tracks and successfully tested these in Kilkenny in 1904. Along with the London engineer, William Tritton, the first tank was completed late in 1915. The Mark 1 Tank was used for the first time at the Battle of The Somme during September 1916.
Ivor Churchill Guest, Baron Wimborne sworn in as Lord Lieutant of Ireland.
The once notorious Frank James, brother of Jesse, died at the family farm in Missouri. Sons of an Astee, Co.Kerry emigrant, the James Boys and Gang had terrorised the Mid-West from 1866-1882, holding up numerous banks, trains, stagecoaches from Iowa to Alabama and Texas. Jesse was killed in 1882 by another gang member that claimed the $10,000 ‘Alive or Dead’ reward and after a number of trials and acquittals, Frank retired to the family farm in 1883, dying in the same room as he was born.
19:
Norwegian ship, the ‘Belridge’ is the first victim of German blockade – torpedoed and sunk.
Royal Navy begins bombardment of Turkish forts in the Dardanelles in preparation for a later landing of troops to force a supply passage to Russia’s Black Sea ports. However, due to British Government delays, the troop landings took place two months later on April 25th allowing heavy reinforcement of Turkish positions.
When the Vice-Regal Aberdeen's somewhat reluctantly finally left Ireland in February 1915, an editorial in "The Leader" said that they had opened everything in Dublin "except the Parliament House in College Green and the safe containing the Crown Jewels."
Even their departure aroused ridicule in the streets of Dublin. A large crowd gathered, out of curiosity or, perhaps, some affection, to witness their leaving. Spectators first saw a mounted escort, then the Viceroy and his staff who were also mounted. When Lady Aberdeen's carriage came into view it provoked outbursts of laughter for she was holding a camera above her head which she operated with the aid of a long tube and a rubber bulb, and taking photographs of nothing in particular. Their tenure in Ireland never received the approval of smart Ascendancy society but the Aberdeen's had spent much of their own money on social improvement in more deprived areas of the country. Lady Aberdeen’s philanthropic projects specifically was her campaign against tuberculosis, though it had been said that her forceful publicity gave the unfortunate impression that everyone in Ireland was a consumptive. So it was goodbye to ‘Jumping Jack’ and ‘Blowsy Bella’
Particularly pleased to see the Aberdeen's leave was Augustine Birrell, Chief Secretary.
The Aberdeen's, whose style of hospitality was described by F.S.L. Lyons as "parsimonious and bourgeois" were succeeded by the Wimbornes. No contrast could have been greater. Wimborne, a cousin of Winston Churchill was a very wealthy man. The style of life that they brought to Vice-Regal Lodge seemed, to many, to be inappropriate in a time of war. Lady Diana Cooper described visiting there. "I went straight up to dinner at the Vice Regal Lodge in the grandest tenure and alone. Perfect, I thought - don't believe a word said against it. Forty to dinner, Convention men, Labour ones and Peers - red ties, diamond studs and stars. The Laverys, McEvoy, Leonie Leslie, A.E. - in fact a court as we would choose one. Her Excellency clotted and weighed down with jewels. Ivor flashy but very graceful - flashy from being unlike the King but not unlike a King. The tables and its pleasures a treat - all gold and wine and choicest fruit. One Conventioneer said he had never tasted a peach before. (l didn't believe him.) The footmen too, such beauties, battling with their silver cords, blinded by powder."
Devoy comments in his ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ of the problems he and Clan na Gael faced from other Irishmen and Irish-American’s wishing to aid and assist the Irish cause:
“The strong individuality of the Irishman is his best quality, but it often turns out to be his most dangerous one. He is always inclined to ‘butt in’, convinced that he could do things better than those entrusted with the task…among those who ‘butted in’ were some men who might be expected to know better. Letters from Irishmen, offering all sorts of suggestions, began to reach the German Ambassador, and they were all referred to me. Some of these were undoubtedly from British spies and were transparently dishonest, but others were from men I knew’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P436
Devoy details of schemes and suggestions from those he knew, ranging from starting a pro-German New York paper, to a German financed subsidy of Irish newspapers known to be anti-recruiting. Devoy considered this as foolhardy as it would have ‘leaked out in Ireland, and Arthur Griffith and all others connected with the anti-recruiting campaign would have been hanged…but I cannot imagine Griffith accepting German money’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P443
The next man to ‘butt in’ was none other than the militant pacifist and feminist Dubliner, Francis Sheehy Skeffington. He wrote in while in a small Belgian town, passing it on to the local German commander. The letter eventually arrived on Devoy’s desk after being processed through the German Foreign Office and the German Embassy in Washington DC. Devoy described its contents: “It began with an admission that he did not belong to any Irish revolutionary organisation, but said the leaders trusted him. It recited the effective work done by the anti-recruiting movement, pointed out its importance to the Germans and made an estimate of the cost of keeping it going….although violently opposed to all war, Skeffington evidently wanted England beaten in that particular war, and was willing to make a pacifists contribution towards bringing about that result….had the English Government the smallest scrap of evidence that Skeffington had written that letter, or held any sort of communication with the Germans in Belgium, he would doubtless have been executed long before ‘Easter Week’.
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P443
There was another Irish-American working behind the scenes in Germany, unknown for some time to Devoy and the Clan. Brogan ( who was ‘never a real Nationalist and sneered at the Clan na Gael at every opportunity… a glib talker’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P444 ) had been sent there by the German-American owner of the New York Evening Mail, Rumely. By the time Devoy heard of his presence, he fired off a stiff warning note to Casement on February 19th . As all correspondence between Devoy and Casement travelled by courier, he had to wait for the letter to leave New York.
24
Berlin: Casement sent telegrams to the Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs and the British Ambassador to Norway, Findlay, repeating earlier statements on the conspiracy to kidnap him and bribery of Christensen. Both were sanctioned by the German Government through the Prussian Minister in Hamburg, von Bulow. There was no reply to either.
25
Allied fleet destroys outer forts of Dardanelles in Turkey.
27
Cork Irish Volunteers took over new headquarters at Sheares Street.
Germany: Anthony Fokker invented a method of firing a machine gun so that the bullet went between the blades of a whirling propeller. With synchronised machine guns, Aircraft could now fight each other in the air.
March 1915
1:
Navy blockade of Germany begins. All shipping to Germany to be impounded in UK/France.
Casement received a visitor at the Continental Hotel, Berlin which he later described in a letter to Devoy. It was none other than Brogan ‘accompanied by a friend of the German Army – the son of a well known and highly placed officer in Germany…he explained who he was and that he had come to Europe solely to assist ‘The Cause’ and would do nothing I disapproved of. He was vouched for by his military friend who had known him in the USA. ‘
2
Allied troops land at Kum-Kale, on Asiatic side of the Dardanelles in Turkey.
4:
Berlin: Casement made a final attempt to publicise the Findlay affair with a formal comment to the Norwegian Ambassador to Germany, that ‘as I have received no reply wither to my letter or telegrams, I feel at liberty to assume that neither the Norwegian Government nor the British Government is in a position to disprove the charge I have formally preferred against the British minister in Norway and those he represents. I therefore, hold myself free to take such further steps as may be desirable to deal with this matter’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.214
In addition, similar letters were mailed to the Ambassadors representing America, Austria-Hungary, Italy,. Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Romania and Switzerland based in Berlin.
5 -10: Casement in Hamburg.
9:
Germans defeat Russians at Grodno on the Eastern Front.
10:
British take Neuve Chapelle on the Western Front.
Eleanor Birrel, the Irish Chief Secretary wife died from an inoperable brain tumour. He returned to Dublin full time.
Pearse, Plunkett, Hobson and the O'Rahilly were made commandants on the Headquarters Staff of the Irish Volunteers. The Battalion Commanders were also appointed: No.1: Ned Daly, No.2: Thomas MacDonagh, No.3: Eamon De Valera, No.4: Eamon Ceannt. All but De Valera and the O'Rahilly were members of the IRB.
An order signed by Pearse - Director of Organisation, the Irish Volunteers:
‘Every Company of the Irish Volunteers is to provide itself with an Irish flag which is to be carried on recruiting marches, at church parades etc.. the authorised flag is a plain gold harp on a green ground and no other flag, except authorised regiment colours is to be carried by bodies of the Irish Volunteers..”
Diarmuid Lynch papers. National Library of Ireland MS 31-409(5)
Casement returned to Berlin from Hamburg. Received the letter from Devoy dated 19th February and discussed the matter of Brogan with German officials. When confronted with the accusations from the US, Brogan protested ‘he gave me references Dr. John F Kelly in New York and others, and declared that he had never made money from his patriotism and that he only desired to work with me and do anything he could to help the cause I directed.’ Sir Roger Casement to John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P445
11:
HMS Bayano sunk off Scotland.
14:
German Battleship ‘Dresden’ sunk in the Pacific.
15:
Berlin: Casement drafted a final statement on the Findlay affair, commenting on ‘the London correspondents of several so-called American newspapers cabled to their journals a series of slanders against the man whose charge the British Government could not refute…one of the lies set on foot in New York is that Sir Roger Casement was paid $12,000 (50,000 marks ) by the German Government to instigate a rebellion in Ireland. Another of the lies manufactured by the Downing Street Lie Factory for export was that Dir R.Casement employed the Norwegian, Christensen, to blackmail Findlay, the British Minister in Christiania, and has used for his own purposes the money Christensen obtained under false pretences. Yet another London lie cabled from Downing Street to New York is that Sir Roger Casement is now in jail in Germany for trying to blackmail the German Government, who getting tired of his importunity, locked him up…[Casement] cannot meet the British Government on their ‘home pitch’ – the ground of calumny, slander and defamation – chosen in preference to meeting him before the Tribunals of the country, whose neutrality they violated and whose law they outraged…[and] is forced to leave them to the undisputed use of the chief weapons in their armoury – the black lie and the slanderer’s knife – and to rely for his defence on the one weapon they do not possess – the truth.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.197
17:
Plunkett chosen by the Supreme Council of the I.R.B. to travel to Germany to begin organising plans for German military aid in event of a rising. He had a history of ill-health with many years spent in Italy, Sicily, Malta and Algeria and this was used as a cloak for his I.R.B. activities. He left Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day travelling to Berlin via London, Paris, Barcelona, Genoa and Berne under the alias of Johann Peters of San Francisco. He kept a secret diary of the journey, partly in English and partly in ungrammatical Irish.
Sean T. O’Kelly was sent on a secret mission to the US to contact John Devoy, Judge Cohalan and Joseph McGarrity to request funds for the future rising. “..in order to avoid the police, I mapped for myself a devious course to America. I boarded a tram for Dalkey, and there took the train to Greystones, where my younger brother Michael met me with my small suitcase. Then I headed for Rosslare and boarded a boat for Farnborough, England. After a two day visit with my married sister…I travelled to Liverpool, took a third class berth on SS St. Paul and set off on an extremely uncomfortable sailing to New York..’
S.T.O’Kelly in “The Irish Uprising 1916-1922”. CBS NY 1966. P98.
Casement discussed further the matter of Brogan with German authorities who advised him that he could prove of use in Germany. Brogan was now sent to Limburg and the Irish soldiers ‘who reported his visit as useful’. Sir Roger Casement to John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P445
18
An amendment to the DORA regulations now allowed trial of non-alien civilians by jury in civil courts.
Berlin: Casement sent a cable to his old friend, John Quinn in New York advising that he had sent a letter to him via the German Embassy in Washington, requesting he represent his interests in suing the New York World for libel following the publication of allegations he took a $12,000 retainer from the German Government. The message was intercepted by Room 40.
20:
Eastern Front: Russians capture Memel.
Western Front: French offensive in Champagne fails.
22
Austrian fortress of Przmysl surrenders to Russians.
With widespread victimisation of Irish Volunteers in public and private employment, it became necessary to found a national organisation to relieve financial distress amongst their members families. An Cumann Cosanta began.
Casement’s letter to John Quinn arrived at his office in New York via the German Consul office. Quinn refused the request. That morning the New York Times reported from London that ‘Casement to Sue for Libel – Sir Roger reported to be vexed at the New York World’ that the London Daily Mail said that Casement has ‘instructed his attorney in New York to proceed against the New York World, owing to a suggestion of the World that he was not entirely unacquainted with German Government moneys’
W. J.Maloney. “The Forged Casement Diaries.” Talbot Press, Dublin 1936. p84
John Quinn wrote to the German Ambassador, von Bernstorff, giving reasons for refusing to act, of which the last was:
‘it is doubtful whether the statement however personally annoying is libellous unless it is more directly concerned with other facts. It would be no crime for Sir Roger to have been paid by Germany. It does not reflect upon his integrity, or his honour, or his personal reputation. He is acting for Germany. He is doing it openly not secretly. It would be the most natural thing in the world if Germany did help him out, particularly as he has lost his pension…for all these reasons the institution of a libel suit would I think be inadvisable and would be out of the question for me.’
W. J.Maloney. “The Forged Casement Diaries.” Talbot Press, Dublin 1936. p84
24:
Casement reported to Devoy that Brogan had now left Germany ‘on a mission of which I have no details…I have heard nothing of him since, and believe he went to a neutral country first and then further. His mission I gathered involved danger to himself and is of service to the cause. He may prove of use, and so far as I can see and the authorities here. He cannot do harm here but may prove very serviceable to them.’
26:
Suffragettes are promised equal pay with men for war work.
27: The Helga, operated by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction was taken over by the Admiralty and re-commisioned as an ‘armed steam yacht’.
30:
King George V offers to abstain from alcohol for the war’s duration as an example to workers.
The four Russian armies invading Austria advanced steadily through Galicia; they took Przemysl and Bukovina, and by the end of March 1915 were in a position to move into Hungary
April 1915
Redmond’s National Volunteers continuously overshadowed the Irish Volunteers by sheer numbers. The largest gathering was for Easter Sunday in the Dublin'’ Phoenix Park when 27,000 National Volunteers assembled.
1:
Germans sink 3 British trawlers.
Over 33,000 women have signed up for war service.
2:
Devoy, unaware of developments between Casement and Brogan, sent off a wireless message from the German Embassy in Washington advising ‘this New York man is dishonest’.
Combined German and Austrian army drove the Russians back from the Carpathians
4:
Casement received the Devoy message and wrote later to New York that he ‘thought him honest and believed he changed from Redmondism quite sincerely when he saw where it was going. He said again and again that John Devoy [ John Devoy ] was right from the start and all Irishmen now saw it, but he thought J.D. too bitter against those who had differed from him, and trusted that now all Irishmen would pull together.’ Sir Roger Casement to John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P445-446
Devoy commented that ‘Casement’s plea that the fellow could do no harm was a specimen of his good natured, easy going methods’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P446
Brogan in fact had been sent to Italy where Casement had sent him some documents. Acting on the latest news from New York, he appeared to have had second thoughts and requested German officials to intercept the courier before the documents were handed over. Devoy recalled these were picked up in Switzerland but admitted he never found out what they were. Nothing more was heard of Brogan until the O’Donovan Rossa funeral in August 1915.
Pearse organised a mock battle for the Irish Volunteers outside Dublin.
5:
Western Front: French army begins offensive from the Meuse to Moselle.
Allied plans were finalised for a troop landing in Turkey and to force their way up the narrow straits towards Constantinople.
Sean T. O'Kelly on the mission to Clan na Gael in the US, was in contact with Devoy, Cohalan and McGarrity. It took the Clan almost a month to source the funds (considered highly unusual, that is until the day of the sailing around May 2nd. )
Berlin: Casement, replying to a letter from Dr Chatterton Hill, released from prison following his intercession with the German Government, commented: “The Irish cause is a penniless cause unless you enter it to betray. Those faithful to it always met disaster…there is no living in being an Irish patriot. It is the lost cause of history! Men can serve Ireland only by sacrificing themselves…”
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.223
6:
Casement managed to get a letter couriered from Germany to Devoy in New York, in which he described progress with the Irish Brigade, the ‘Poor Brothers’ and outlined some of the difficulties he was facing:
‘With regard to the ‘Poor Brothers’ things are improving and today I got fairly good news. There is a chance of a move there – but nothing can be said openly yet. The day I cable ‘publish text’ you will know that the men have responded and that the Treaty of Alliance and recognition may be proclaimed. The first need is officers. Something must be done to have these available, for as you see from the Treaty, no active operations can be undertaken until our own nationality is in command. …so far as Ireland is concerned, everything, almost, depends on this effort. If this cannot be done, nothing is done…”
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P437
Devoy commenting some years later wrote ‘It will be noted that Casement developed the idea that his mission was the really important part of the movement. We in America were convinced that our most essential task was to furnish, to the utmost, means whereby the men in Ireland could arm and equip themselves…as to the measure of risk which Irishmen were taking and were ready to assume to a greater extent was to be found in the activities of the IRB and the Volunteers in Ireland in the teeth of the British Government …(and ) the manner in which the men of the Clan na Gael not alone financed the men at home but stood up to all the pro-British propaganda in this country and to the antagonism of the Wilson administration..’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P437
Also in this letter, Casement commented that he was short of funds. A small group of German supporters raised a sum of money for him, but “I don't like taking this German fund and in any event it is for the general cause and I personally cannot touch it – yet for the moment I am forced to use some of it on my personal needs, as all my other money came to an end three weeks ago – owing chiefly to the Findlay outlay.’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P421-422
Devoy commented that ‘over the remaining months of 1915, we forwarded to Casement five remittances of $1,000 each…I dislike to dwell at such length on these money matters..I repeat that Casement with regard to expenditures on himself was one of the most economical of men and he was the soul of honour’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P422
9:
Casement sent a long communiqué to the New York American for publication as it appeared the newspaper had misquoted. Devoy recalled the incident, writing that the New York American did not publish it as it had ‘covered some two months earlier and which at the latter date had lost it’s ‘news value’. This Casement did not understand and he seemed not to appreciate the fact that the American in the first instance had done him and his friends here a great service in giving such wide publicity to the English murder plot’.
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P430
Meanwhile, Adler Christensen who had travelled with Casement on Oskar II, made a statement under oath before the Vice Consul of the United States in Berlin regarding the events the previous year in the British Embassy, Norway.
10:
Clan na Gael handed another $1,000 to von Papen for transfer to Germany for Casement.
15:
Many of Casement’s letters to Devoy did not reach New York, either captured en-route or destroyed. One that did reach him was a note dated 15 April 1915 where Casement again argued the case for an officer, preferably Irish American with at least the position of Colonel to lead the small band of recruits. Devoy’s response was one attempting to reason with Casement, that no American Officer would take command of 50 deserters, let alone one of such a ranking as requested.
17
April 1915, the German embassy in Washington sent warnings to the newspapers in New York to the effect that the passengers travelling on Allied ships did so at their own risk. For its 17 April voyage from Liverpool the Lusitania was commanded by Captain William Turner, who relieved Captain Dow when he went on leave. It made its final sailing from Pier 54 in New York on 1 May 1915, with some 1,959 passengers on board, amongst whom were the usual sprinkling of famous and wealthy. The cargo was entered on the manifest as foodstuffs, metal rods, ingots and boxes of cartridges. Controversy about the true nature of the cargo would persist for many years.
From Neil McCarthy “ Atlantic Liners of the Cunard Line from 1884 to the Present Day “ - PSL, 1993.
20:
Joseph Plunkett arrived in Berlin, travelling under the alias, James Malcolm, and imitated meetings and discussions within the German High Command and Von Bethman Holliveg. Plunkett had brought with him detailed assessments of British strengths in Ireland, detailing barracks, troop numbers, artillery etc. The information had been carried in Plunkett’s hollowed out walking stick. There he requested 50,000 rifles and ammunition for the Irish Volunteers. He was in turn told bluntly that the Irish-Americans in the US should provide them.
President Wilson urges strict US neutrality for the duration of the war.
Lloyd George urges the adoption of war economy.
Berlin: Suspicion had surround Adler Christensen for some time in the motivation for his dealings with Casement. Rumours had circulated for some time that he was little more than a swindler and a liar and the distinct possibility of being a double-agent in the pay of the British legation in Norway.
22:
Western Front: The Spring offensive was launched against the entrenched Germans at Ypres becoming the Second Battle of Ypres. Over the next month, a mere quarter square mile of wood was captured at cost of 69,000 killed, 164,000 wounded. The first day of battle, the German’s sent a cloud of poison chlorine gas from 5,000 cylinders rolling over the Allied lines. British lines collapsed as the gas caused troops to smother on their own blood from damaged lungs. German forces were unprepared for the breakthrough. Quickly, British forces used their own gas against German lines leading to indiscriminate use by both sides.
25:
Gallipoli Campaign (April 25, 1915-January 8, 1916), major land and sea operation of World War I, in which British, French, Australian, and New Zealand forces unsuccessfully attempted an invasion of Turkey. The action was confined to the Dardanelles Strait and the tip of the Gallipoli (Gelibolu) Peninsula near Istanbul. The purpose of the campaign, devised by British munitions minister David Lloyd George, first lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, General Herbert H. Kitchener, and Admiral Sackville H. Carden, was to open up a new theatre of war as an alternative to the stalemate in France, to relieve Turkish pressure on Russian forces in the Caucasus, and, by gaining control of Istanbul and the straits, to provide a direct link with Russia via the Black Sea. What initially was to be exclusively a naval operation failed in February 1915 when several British and French ships were damaged by floating mines. A land invasion was then decided on, but it was not begun until late April. An amphibious landing at that time was met with heavy resistance by the Turks. Excessive caution and timorous leadership by the British commander, Sir Ian Hamilton, resulted in several lost initiatives. Little headway was made beyond the several beachheads. In early August, after three months of stalemate and stagnation on the beaches, a new major offensive was begun. Once again, however, the caution and indifferent leadership of the British command offset the effect of heavy reinforcements. The Turkish forces, on the other hand, were inspired by the leadership of Mustafa Kemal (Kemal Atatürk, later president of Turkey) and the skill of their German commander, Otto Liman von Sanders. Australian, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth forces facing Kemal's troops suffered particularly badly. After a few more months of stalemate, Hamilton was replaced by Sir Charles Monro, who was sent to evaluate the situation. Monro recommended evacuation, and the allied forces were withdrawn in December and January.
British, Australian, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth casualties were 205,000 out of 410,000 troops committed; the French sustained a rate of 47,000 out of 79,000; Turkish, 250,000 to 300,000 out of 500,000. The fiasco badly stained the reputations of Churchill, Hamilton, and Kitchener, and created an enduring myth of British callousness and incompetence in Australia and New Zealand. Despite its overall failure, however, the Gallipoli campaign weakened the Turks enough to facilitate the British seizure of Palestine in 1917. The action also distracted the Germans from a plan they had in 1915 to begin another offensive in France.
Amongst the ANZAC forces landing were the First Royal Munster Fusiliers on V Beach. To put ashore a large number of troops in quick succession on the beach-head, an old collier, the River Clyde was run aground at 6.30am and troops rushed out of specially cut doors, along a flimsy catwalk and over a bridge of lighters. They ran straight into concentrated Turkish machine gun and small arms fire. Some 1,000 soldiers from the Munster Fusiliers and the Hampshire Regiment were killed on the gangways or died in the water, the remainder stayed aboard the collier. A bare handful managed to get ashore and dug themselves in. One officer wrote ‘the dear men were just mown down in scores into a bloody silence.’
26:
Churchill’s plan to supply the Russian’s by forcing a passage through the Dardanelles began as Australian, New Zealander, British and French forces storm ashore at Gallipoli. Men from the Munster & Dublin Fusiliers landed at ‘V Beach’ where heavy casualties were reported from heavily fortified Turkish forts. Australian losses were heavy at ‘ANZAC Cove’ & Suvla Bay.
Another Treaty of London was signed secretly between Italy, Britain and France following promises made on Austrian-Hungarian territory along with the coast of Dalmatia and some of the German African colonies to be ceded to Italy at the end of the war. While the Italian leadership signed, there was a strong neutralist feeling among the Italians. War would be declared within a month.
29:
Commons adopts heavy increases in duties on alcohol.
30:
Dunkirk comes under German bombardment.
Germany invades Russia’s Baltic provinces.
Some 38 years after a major difference of opinion between both men, John Devoy met with O’Donovan Rossa following a request from the old man to see him. ‘He recognised me an once, lifted his enfeebled hand to mine and said ‘John, I’m sorry we ever quarrelled’ . I could say nothing but t ‘So am I , Rossa.’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P330.
May 1915
James Connolly’s newspaper “Workers’ Republic” began publication. He was obliged to register the publication under the 1881 Newspaper Libel and Registration Act, but as this would have quickly brought it to the authorities attention under the 1914 Defence of the Realm Act as a potentially seditious newspaper, Connolly simply did not register. The subject of armed insurrections were announced in the 29th May edition, yet despite the content of the ‘Workers Republic’…
‘..No action was taken against it. This argues a dispensation rather mild than otherwise, for the ‘Workers Republic’ was a highly provocative sheet. Each week, on its back page, it would discuss insurrection in terms of what had taken place other times in other countries, for example, in Moscow in 1905, or the Tyrol in 1809; or at the Alamo - ‘one of those defeats that are often more valuable to a cause than loudly trumpeted victories’..Connolly was thinking in terms of... military action. In 1915, he know nothing of the tentative plans being made for a Rising in the spring of 1916, not a member of the I.R.B., still less of its Military Council...’
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.152
Connolly was by now reformulating his earlier socialist theories on the Irish, British and European working classes. The August 1914 nationalism where thousands joined the armed forces to slaughter each other on European battlefields caused a radical shift in the theory that socialism would destroy nationalism
‘He concluded that is socialism were to come to Ireland at all, it could only come through nationalism, or rather through republicanism’
Prof JJ Lee. ‘Ireland 1912-1985 Politics and Society’ Cambridge University Press 1990. P20
Plunkett spends the month with Casement near Limburg, where the Irish Prisoners of War had been transferred. Efforts to recruit from the 2,000 strong only resulted in 53 joining the Irish Brigade. These were later transferred to Zossen, near Berlin where the Germans refused to arm them due to ‘their lack of discipline’. Austen Morgan. ‘James Connolly – a political biography’. Manchester University Press. 1988. .p158
In fact, it appears that the men were frequently brawling with German troops, although the historian McColl commented that the Germans found the Irish nearly as objectionable as the French and brawled with them in various beer gardens.
MacColl…Roger Casement p 145-146
A prominent Dubliner at this time was Francis Sheehy-Skeffington. Counted James Joyce as one of his friends, being portrayed as McCann in ‘Portrait of the Artist as a young man’ But he was also
‘ ... a great embracer of causes - he was a feminist, a vegetarian, a teetotaller, a pacifist, a socialist. Tobacco and vivisection had no greater enemy. Larkin and Connolly no better friend than he. His appearance was all of a piece with the rest of him. He was small and wiry, with a reddish-brown beard and keen serious eyes. He was usually dressed in tweeds, knickerbockers, long stockings, boots and a cloth cap. On his lapel there would be a large button with the words ‘Votes for Women’
In Dublin he was known and highly regarded as a crank; since his views were barely respectable this did not prevent him from being often assaulted in one way or another ‘After blows of fists, stocks or umbrellas’ writes Professor Roger McHugh ‘he would still have his way, and one Dublin snap shot of memory, catches Skeffington, clinging to a lamp post from which he is being dragged by the police, and saying in his high-pitched voice ‘one further point before I go...’
He had a brilliant mind which no one would accuse of being overburdened with humour. On the other hand, he was a gentle and lovable man, with a wife ( she was Hanna Sheehy, the strong minded daughter of a Nationalist MP. ) who shared to the full his passion for humanitarian causes and his disregard for the ordinary creature comforts...’
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.194
Sheehy-Skeffington was well known to Dublin Castle for his anti-recruiting stance, normally trumpeted from the steps of Liberty Hall or from the pages of the ‘Irish Citizen’, ‘The Nationalist’ or ‘The National Democrat’. He published works on Michael Davit in 1906 and 1908.
1:
Widespread resentment of new anti-alcohol measures reported from Ireland.
American steamer Gulflight torpedoed off Scilly Isles by German submarine; 3 lives lost.
New York Papers advertise notice from the German Ambassador, Count Bernstorff, warning American nationals not to sail on the Lusitania. That morning, she sailed from Pier 54 with 1,959 passengers & crew plus and an unlisted cargo of contraband (1248 shells for the British war effort ). Americans still believed in their right, as members of a neutral nation, to travel unharmed.
2:
Sean T. O'Kelly was met on the morning he was due to sail for Ireland by Denis Spellissey, an officer of the Clan. “..Spellissey arrived with two large cardboard boxes which, he told me, contained the money. Each of the boxes held one thousand English gold sovereigns: he had thought it would make a glorious gesture for us to buy the arms with which we were to fight the English with English gold, and he had gone to enormous trouble to get hold of the sovereigns. I suggested, as gently as I could, considering my hurry, that the gesture be preserved in memory – his and mine – and that he hurry to a bank and exchange the gold for twenty five and fifty pound notes. He was as I could see, disappointed, but I shuddered to imagine myself trying to get through customs and the long journey ahead with two large cardboard boxes filled with gold….back in Dublin I gave Tom Clarke £1000 for the IRB and Eoin McNeill £1000 for the Volunteers…”
Sean T. O'Kelly reminiscence. “The Irish Uprising” CBS 1966. P.98
Michael Mallin, who had served in the British Army in India was now responsible for getting the Citizen Army into an efficient military group. He imposed an immediate and strict discipline along with outdoor exercises on Sundays and bank holidays. Arms were few, but most were either bought or stolen from Richmond Barracks in Inchicore. Mallin lived in Emmet Hall at the time and every so often, a sympathetic soldier would spirit the occasional rifle over the adjoining wall. Mallin appeared to be versatile, between instilling army discipline and gun running, he found time to conduct the four-member Worker’s Orchestra based in Liberty Hall.
Austro-German troops launch offensive against Russians in Galicia.
British South Africa troops under General Botha capture Otymbingue, German Southwest Africa.
3:
Western Front: French bombard HQ of German Crown Prince
Lloyd George’s budget statement says the war is costing Britain £2.1 million per day.
Allegations of heavy drinking by armament workers. Lloyd George describes the three main enemies as Germany, Austria and Drink.
7:
Lloyd George withdraws scheme to impose higher duties on alcohol.
The Lusitania had now entered what was called the danger zone, waters in which enemy submarines might be expected. Captain Turner took all possible precautions ordering all the lifeboats to be swung out, all the bulkhead doors to be closed, look-outs to be doubled and steam pressure to be kept high to give the ship all possible speed in case of emergency. At 8.00am speed was reduced to 18 knots to secure the ship's arrival at the bar outside Liverpool at 4.00am the following day, in order to catch the high tide. At 12.40pm the ships course was altered in order to make a better landfall. The ship was brought closer to land and the Old Head of Kinsale was sighted at 1.40pm. Having steadied the ship on this course an officer began to make a four-point bearing at 1.50pm, but this was never completed.
At 2.00pm the passengers were finishing their lunch as the submarine U20 skippered by 32 year old Kapitanleutnant Schwiger readied to launch torpedoes, exploding on the starboard side, between the third and fourth funnels. Almost simultaneously there was a second explosion, which was thought at the time to be a second torpedo but has since been confirmed as an internal explosion. The Lusitania lost all lighting and immediately took on a heavy list to starboard and in about 20 minutes it had sunk, with the loss of 1,198 lives. The ship sank bow first, with its stern almost perpendicular out of the water, just as the Titanic had done some 3 years earlier and settled 315 feet down. Casualties included 118 Americans, among them Alfred Vanderbilt. Another casualty was Hugh Lane, returning from a purchasing expedition in the United States with a case of paintings. Although these may have been destroyed, it is also possible they were stored in protective lead cylinders and may have survived. Prior to sailing, Sir Hugh made a number of bequests of paintings which eventually resulted in the National Gallery of Modern Art being established. .
Between 8 and 11 p.m. that night, boat after boat put in to Queenstown and Kinsale with survivors and dead.
There were complaints from some of the survivors about the manner in which the lifeboats were launched, their condition and the lack of leadership from the ship's officers. The political repercussions were enormous, although it did not directly bring the United States into the War.
From Neil McCarthy “ Atlantic Liners of the Cunard Line from 1884 to the Present Day “ - PSL, 1993.
The American Ambassador in London wired to President Wilson, virtually urging him to cast neutrality aside in favour of Britain against Germany.
The long awaited British confirmation that the Lusitania was carrying munitions came 81 years after the sinking. The Irish Times carried the headline on May 15th, 1996:
'Lusitania' was carrying munitions, court is told
An American millionaire who owns the wreck of the ill-fated liner Lusitania, told the High Court yesterday that the British authorities had admitted two years ago that munitions were present on board the vessel.
Mr F. Gregg Bemis Jnr, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, was granted a declaration by Mr Justice Barr that he was the sole owner of the wreck. The State, though not opposing that claim, will be contending in the courts that it owns the cargo and especially any pictures belonging to the late Sir Hugh Lane's collection which might be on board. English and US courts have already decided the former Cunard luxury liner is owned by Mr Bemis. He is currently appealing a US court's decision refusing him ownership of the cargo.
Giving evidence yesterday in support of his claim, Mr Bemis referred to a letter from the British Treasury Solicitor of October 13th, 1994, in which, he claimed, it was admitted there were munitions on board.
Mr Bemis said the letter had been sent to Davey and Associates in Norfolk, Virginia, representing Fifty Fathoms, a group of four US divers challenging his ownership who had dived that summer (1994) and had pillaged the ship.
The letter, signed "pp David Stalker, for the Treasury Solicitor", stated: "I regret to say that my records in relation to the Lusitania are not as clear as might be but I can tell you that she carried a cargo owned by the Ministry of Munitions in which this office has an interest, by virtue of the Ministry of Munitions Cessation Order of 1921 which transferred the interests of the Ministry of Munitions to the Treasury Solicitor….Being Crown cargo, the MOM cargo was not insured and remains the property of the Treasury Solicitor….I have just acquired a report of the proceedings in camera at the formal investigation into the circumstances attending the foundering on May 7th, 1915, which I will need to read to ascertain whether or not they can shed any further light as to the cargo carried."
Mr Bemis said the wreck had a political significance for Irish people, who had tried to save as many lives as they could. It was his objective to be able to offer artefacts to museums in Cork and Kinsale and mount a travelling exhibition. Mr Justice Barr, granting the declaration of ownership, said he was satisfied Mr Bemis was the sole and exclusive owner of the rights, title and interest in the Lusitania, the hull, tackle, appurtances, engines and apparel. The judge said Mr Bemis also claimed ownership of the cargo and personal effects of the passengers and crew, and this had been adjourned for hearing to a later date.
© Copyright: The Irish Times Wednesday, May 15th, 1996.
Germans capture Libau, Russian Baltic port.
8:
Casualties in the disastrous Gallipoli campaign totalled 6,000 dead and 14,000 injured out of a total Allied force of 70,000.
29:
At a meeting of the I.R.B Executive, Diarmuid Lynch in capacity of acting-Secretary (substituting Sean MacDermott who was in prison) proposed to co-opt P.H.Pearse (then Operations Director of the Irish Volunteers),Joseph Plunkett and Eamon Ceannt to the ‘Military Committee’ ( termed ‘The Military Council’ after the Rising ) Although none of the three was a member of the Supreme Council, the motion was approved by Dennis McCullough and Tom Clarke.
Sean O’Hegarty was requested by the Supreme Council to check the depths of waters in Kinsale harbour at various stages of tide and later sent to Kerry with an instruction for Austin Stack to supply similar information on Tralee Bay. This was to facilitate the possible landing of arms by German submarine.
Western Front: 2nd battle of Artois begins.
10:
Pearse wrote in the ‘Irish Volunteer’:
‘We want recruits because we are absolutely determined to take action the moment action becomes a duty. If a moment comes when the Irish Volunteers will be justified to their consciences in taking definite military action, such action will be taken.’
In the same issue, Hobson wrote ‘They [the Irish Volunteers ] seek no quarrels either at home or abroad’
Florence O’Donoghue. ‘Thomas MacCurtain – Soldier & Patriot’ Anvil Books, Tralee, Co. Kerry. 1971. p.58
Zeppelins bomb London for first time.
11:
Rupert Brooke’s collection of poems “1914 & Other Poems” published:
The Soldier
If I should die think only this of me
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is forever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England’s, breathing English air.
Washed by the rivers, blest by sons of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away.
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace under an English heaven.
Brooke, Rupert Chawner (1887-1915), English poet, born in Rugby, Warwickshire, and educated at King's College, University of Cambridge. While serving with the British Royal Naval Division during World War I, Brooke died of blood poisoning in Greece. His untimely death, his great personal attraction, and the charm of his verse made him a symbol of all the gifted youth killed in that war. His first collection Poems, was published in 1911; “The Old Vicarage, Grantchester”, Brooke's tribute to the lovely village near Cambridge, appeared in 1912. The poet's most famous work, the sonnet sequence 1914 and Other Poems, embodying the mood of romantic patriotism of the early war years, was published in the year of his death. These poems continue the boyish idealism of his earlier poetry. In The Letters of Rupert Brooke (1968) are found poignant views on the tragedy and waste of war. His experiences in the United States and Canada are described in Letters from America (1916).
12:
President Wilson demands explanation and compensation for sinking of the Lusitania in an official protest to Berlin:
To Ambassador Gerard:
Please call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and after reading to him this communication leave with him a copy.
In view of recent acts of the German authorities in violation of American rights on the high seas which culminated in the torpedoing and sinking of the British steamship Lusitania on May 7, 1915, by which over 100 American citizens lost their lives, it is clearly wise and desirable that the Government of the United States and the Imperial German Government should come to a clear and full understanding as to the grave situation which has resulted.
The sinking of the British passenger steamer Falaba by a German submarine on March 28, through which Leon C. Thrasher, an American citizen, was drowned; the attack on April 28 on the American vessel Cushing by a German aeroplane; the torpedoing on May 1 of the American vessel Gulflight by a German submarine, as a result of which two or more American citizens met their death and, finally, the torpedoing and sinking of the steamship Lusitania, constitute a series of events which the Government of the United States has observed with growing concern, distress, and amazement.
Recalling the humane and enlightened attitude hitherto assumed by the Imperial German Government in matters of international right, and particularly with regard to the freedom of the seas; having learned to recognize the German views and the German influence in the field of international obligation as always engaged upon the side of justice and humanity; and having understood the instructions of the Imperial German Government to its naval commanders to be upon the same plane of human action prescribed by the naval codes of other nations, the Government of the United States was loath to believe -- it cannot now bring itself to believe -- that these acts, so absolutely contrary to the rules, the practices, and the spirit of modern warfare, could have the countenance or sanction of that great Government. It feels it to be its duty, therefore, to address the Imperial German Government concerning them with the utmost frankness and in the earnest hope that it is not mistaken in expecting action on the part of the Imperial German Government which will correct the unfortunate impressions which have been created and vindicate once more the position of that Government with regard to the sacred freedom of the seas.
The Government of the United States has been apprised that the Imperial German Government considered themselves to be obliged by the extraordinary circumstances of the present war and the measures adopted by their adversaries in seeking to cut Germany off from all commerce, to adopt methods of retaliation which go much beyond the ordinary methods of warfare at sea, in the proclamation of a war zone from which they have warned neutral ships to keep away. This Government has already taken occasion to inform the Imperial German Government that it cannot admit the adoption of such measures or such a warning of danger to operate as in any degree an abbreviation of the rights of American shipmasters or of American citizens bound on lawful errands as passengers on merchant ships of belligerent nationality; and that it must hold the Imperial German Government to a strict accountability for any infringement of those rights, intentional or incidental....
The Government of the United States, therefore, desires to call the attention of the Imperial German Government with the utmost earnestness to the fact that the objection to their present method of attack against the trade of their enemies lies in the practical impossibility of employing submarines in the destruction of commerce without disregarding those rules of fairness, reason, justice, and humanity, which all modern opinion regards as imperative.... The Government and the people of the United States look to the Imperial German Government for just, prompt, and enlightened action in this vital matter with the greater confidence because the United States and Germany are bound together not only for special ties of friendship but also by the explicit stipulations of the treaty of 1828 between the United States and the Kingdom of Prussia.
Expressions of regret and offers of reparation in case of the destruction of neutral ships sunk by mistake, while they may satisfy international obligations, if no loss of life results, cannot justify or excuse a practice, the natural and necessary effect of which is to subject neutral nations and neutral persons to new and immeasurable risks.
The Imperial German Government will not expect the Government of the United States to omit any word or any act necessary to the performance of its sacred duty of maintaining the rights of the United States and its citizens and of safeguarding their free exercise and enjoyment.
BRYAN
Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan.
13
The Lusitania crime
Irish Times - Thursday, May 13 1915
"AMERICA WILL NOT GO TO WAR"
LEADING JOURNALIST'S VIEWS.
PRESIDENT WILSON'S IDEALS.
(BY OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER)
Mr. Norman Hapgood, Editor of Harper's Weekly, and formerly Editor of Collier's Weekly, who has been to Queenstown in an endeavour to identify the body of a friend, who was one of the victims of the Lusitania disaster, discussed with me at some length yesterday evening the details of the calamity, and its probable effect on the United States Government and public opinion in America generally. Regarding the incident itself, he said that he could add nothing of interest to the horrible details of the painful scenes which have already been published. In Queenstown and Cork, more especially in shipping circles, there was naturally a great deal of talk concerning the possible action of the United States, but no definite course of action was suggested.
AMERICA'S ATTITUDE NOT AFFECTED
"It seems to me," said Mr. Hapgood, "that the attitude of the United States Government will not be affected by the Lusitania incident. The same principle will evidently be followed as in the case of the Falaba of the ship which was carrying American relief to Belgium, and the other ships torpedoed, in respect of which American interests were affected. President Wilson has made his course clear from the beginning. He wishes to have increasing world opinion on the enforcement of rights, and he does not wish to have the meaning of right denied simply because it has been attacked by material force." "When he says," for instance, "that Germany will be held to 'strict accountability' for the loss of the life of any American citizen, I take it he refers to cases where life is lost in a ship which has been flying the American flag as ruse de guerre. I think it is evident that he meant to limit that statement to loss of life under the American flag."
PROTECTION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
It was pointed out to Mr. Hapgood that President Wilson must either get some satisfactory apology from Germany in reference to the Lusitania incident, or else be compelled to tell the American ships, as, if they travel under the British flag, he is powerless to protect them. Mr. Hapgood admitted that the problem was an exceptionally difficult one, but he pointed out that the ideal President Wilson was trying to follow was to make peace talk have some influence and reality, and that it should not break down even in face of a serious crisis such as has now arisen - in other words, that the progress of peace ideals was worth the making of serious sacrifices.
LOGIC OF GERMANY'S ARGUMENT.
Everyone admits, I pointed out, the right of Germany to sink British ships, but that it was essential that before doing so an opportunity should be given of saving the lives of civilians on board, even in the case of ships carrying contraband of war. Mr. Hapgood replied there was a certain amount of logic in Germany's argument on this point. When the rules regarding food supplies as contraband of war were agreed to there was no such thing as submarines. England altered the conditions as regard to food supplies, and Germany contends she had an equal right to alter the conditions in regard to submarine warfare. If it were laid down as a fixed rule that before a vessel like the Lusitania was torpedoed she must get warning, than it was evident such a vessel could not be torpedoed, as her speed would save her.
AMERICA'S WEAKNESS.
These were all matters which were being carefully considered by thinking persons in the United States, but probably the most important reason for non-intervention was the firm conviction that America could not play a decisive role in the war, and that more useful work could be done by a strict neutrality. President Wilson has signed peace treaties agreeing that even matters affecting national honour shall be submitted to arbitration, and that negotiations must proceed for a certain specified time before war could be declared. In face of these treaties, President Wilson would, be believed, only agree to intervention as a last resource.
"AMERICA WILL NOT GO IN."
14
In Berlin, Judge James Gerard, the US Ambassador handed the Washington note of protest to Zimmermann at the Foreign Office. There, Zimmermann shouted ‘We have 500,000 German reservists in America who will rise in arms against your Government if it takes action against us’ to which Gerard is reputed to have said ‘ We, sir, have 500,001 lampposts in America to hang them from’.
The US warning inhibited the German Navy for almost two years, until the German Navy ceased to consider the United States an immediate threat. The German Navy began to claim that, with unrestricted submarine warfare, they could force the British to surrender in six months. The experts calculated that it would take the United States at least a year to mobilize, and by that time, the British surrender would be complete. The Germans were willing to risk American intervention because they were confident they could secure British surrender. The German plan seemed to be an early success; however, with the intervention of America's strong navy and the implementation of the convoy, the United States neutralized the German U-boat.
Before President Woodrow Wilson signed an Executive Order on 14 May 1915, authorizing surveillance of German Embassy personnel in the United States, the Secret Service was limited to watching clerks, technicians and errand boys for the Germans. After Wilson's order, William J. Flynn, chief of the Secret Service, immediately assigned a ten-man squad to keep the Germans under surveillance. Frank Burke, a young agent, was named head of this unit, located on the top floor of the Customs House at the Battery. Burke initiated coverage on all the significant people he knew involved in German activities.
16
Sean MacDiarmada was arrested in Tuam, charged with making a speech endangering peace of the realm and jailed in Arbour Hill, Dublin to await trial.
18:
John Redmond as leader of the Irish Party received a letter from Asquith that the cabinet was to be reconstructed and ‘I am most anxious that you should join. The administration will be a war administration and will cease when the war is ended...the opposition are anxious that Carson whose administrative gifts they value should be included”
Asquith to Redmond. National Library of Ireland. MSS 15,165 (5)
Redmond refused the offer, replying to Asquith that the principles and history of the Irish Party made an acceptance of the offer unacceptable and questioned the inclusion of Carson in the cabinet.
19
Sean MacDiarmada was tried and sentenced to 4 months jail under DORA. Sheehy-Skeffington and Sean Milroy were also tried the same day.
20
Following MacDiarmada’s jailing, Clarke offered the editorship of Eire on a temporary basis to Griffith on condition he kept strictly to the editorial policy. The position of manager of Eire went to Sean T. O'Kelly.
23:
Italy remained neutral until May 23, 1915, when, to satisfy its claims against Austria, it broke with the Triple Alliance and declared war on Austria-Hungary and began an invasion along a 60 mile front. There was no point in fighting along the Alps, so Italian forces struck north-east towards Trieste. However over the next two years, both sides fought some 11 battles along the river Isonzo without any gain, except for massing casualties.
President Wilson called for the Chief of the Secret Service, William J Flynn, to ‘make a discreet but thorough investigation of the activities of Count von Bernstorff and his staff, as it had been reported they were violating all the rules of neutrality, and the President wanted facts...it was thought necessary to tap the telephone wires of the German and Austro-Hungarian embassies in Washington...it also required a staff of competent linguists, who made a record of the conversations which took place in several languages. Each night a stenographic report of these conversations was placed in the hands of Mr Flynn who turned them over to the Department of State. In some reports there were ‘uncomplimentary references to high personages in the White House and the State Department’
Tansill. ‘America and the Fight for Irish Freedom 1866-1922’. Devin-Adair. New York 1957. p195
25:
A coalition Government formed cited as being ‘the best method for finishing the war successfully’. This was the price Asquith had to pay to avoid a major crisis over the shortage of shells on the Western Front and the Dardanelles. He stayed as PM. Lloyd George was promoted to the new ministry of Munitions. Churchill demoted from Admiralty to a junior position following the resignation of Lord Fisher as First Sea Lord. Edward Carson became Attorney General and Bonar Law became Chancellor of the Exchequer. John Redmond was offered, but refused a cabinet post. His refusal was in keeping with his party principles but eventually doomed both his and the Irish Parliamentary Party’s representation of Nationalist Ireland. J.H. ‘Galloper’ Campbell was appointed as Attorney General for Ireland, a calculated snub considering Campbell's activities in Ulster.
‘Underneath these upheavals lay two things - a fear that the Liberal Government was not equipped to wage a global war and the existence of a profound division between the principles of voluntarism and compulsion. Mr. Asquith had in fact, re-arranged his cabinet with stern resolution, so as to maintain a balance between those who advocated one or other of the two embattled principles, and thus to postpone the evil day when something positive would have to be done”
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.149
Redmond protested to Asquith on the Campbell appointment ‘there is a limit to our patience…the feeling in Ireland is one of the most intense character’.
Tansill. ‘America and the Fight for Irish Freedom 1866-1922’. Devin-Adair. New York 1957. p163
29:
First edition of Connolly’s ‘Workers Republic’ hit the streets, becoming more strident in promoting the nationalist cause. It replaced the Irish Worker.
The I.R.B. Executive in the Supreme Council established a new council, with the express purpose of centralising its secret control over the Irish Volunteers. The Council, originally consisting of Pearse, Plunkett and Ceannt, was now committed to the task of formulating plans for a future Rising. This grouping would remain secret, even from the Supreme Council of the I.R.B. until September 1915.
Diarmuid Lynch recalls in his supplementary statement to the Bureau of Military History:
‘The ‘Military Committee’ originally comprised Padraic Pearse, Joseph Plunkett and Eamon Ceannt. They were so appointed in the Summer of 1915 on my motion at a meeting of the IRB Executive ( Denis McCullough, Tom Clarke and myself ). I was then acting-Secretary of the Executive – as substitute for Sean MacDermott who was then in prison. The Three appointees ( or perhaps only two of them ) were present on that occasion, though neither of them was a member of the Supreme Council IRB.’
Diarmuid Lynch Supplementary Statement – Bureau of Military History. Copy in National Library of Ireland. MS11.128
31:
Francis Sheehy-Skeffington was arrested under the Defence of The Realm Act for ‘Making statements likely to be prejudicial to recruiting’ His comment that earned his arrest was: ‘..there is no such thing as a war to end war, my friends. Each war is a prelude to the next...’ made at Beresford Place. He was sentenced to six months in jail with hard labour and a further six months if he did not produce the £50 bail imposed. ‘Any sentence you may pass on me’ he said from the dock ‘ is a sentence upon British rule in Ireland...had I lived in England, I should still deem it my duty to insist on propaganda to stop the war in the only way people can, by ceasing to provide food for cannon...you will say that this is a breach of the law. What of it? We have had distinguished lawbreakers before in Ireland’. On arrival in Mountjoy Prison, he was taken before the Governor who told him in friendly way that he could reduce his sentence by good conduct and industry. To this, Skeffington said ‘ I know of a better way: by bad conduct and idleness’ and immediately began what was to be a six day hunger and thirst strike.
German Zeppelins bombard suburbs of London.
June 1915
1
Lord Wimborne continued touring the country urging enlistment.
Pearse Street Station opened. Designed for the Dublin metropolitan Police (DMP) and now the main Garda Station for the south city, Pearse Street Station is a large building in the Scottish Baronial style. Sited on an awkward corner with Townsend Street to the rere, the building manages to turn the corner successfully with the use of a curved bay. An unusual feature of the building is what became known in the 20’s as the 'Keystone cops', corbelled heads of policemen used to support segmental arches over the main ground floor doorways. The DMP were so formal about rank that ordinary beat officers were not allowed use the same doorway as their superior officers – the stone heads indicated which door was to be used by which rank. A helmeted rank-and-file head marked the door for lowlier officers, while that of a flat capped superior welcomed their bosses. This station was the HQ of the DMP’s B Division, responsible for Government security.
Pearse Street Station.
2:
Word spread of Sheehy-Skeffinton’s hunger and thirst strike and conditions and a massive outcry began.
Helena Moloney (1884-1967) appointed as Secretary of the Irish Women Worker’s Union by James Connolly.
3:
The Under-Secretary for Ireland, Sir Matthew Nathan with Cabinet approval, issued a letter of warning to all civil servants in Ireland that continued membership in the Irish Volunteers would bring instant dismissal.
Bishop Michael Fogarty of Killaloe wrote to John Redmond: ‘home rule is dead and buried and Ireland is without a national party’
4:
Eastern Front: The Russian front begins to collapse.
German aircraft bomb English towns.
5:
Francis Sheehy-Skeffington was released from Mountjoy Prison under the ‘Cat and Mouse Act’ which permitted re-arrest without trial. Public opinion was now too strong to allow his re-arrest. He was allowed to regain health and travel to America for a speaking tour on Irish Freedom.
James Connolly spoke for the first time on the phenomenon of ‘economic conscription’ where employers chose to lay off men and so forced their entry to for British armed services. Conscription continued to be a potential Pandora’s box that was promoted along predictable lines, Unionists and Lloyd George wanted it implemented, Labour, the Irish Parliamentary Party and Liberals preferring voluntary recruitment
6:
Zeppelin raids on the east coast of Britain kill 24, injure 40.
7:
Dr William J Maloney wounded in action in Gallipoli.
Dr Maloney ( 1882-1952 ) British born medical doctor practicing in NY. At outbreak of war, enlisted and served until wounded in Gallipoli. Resigned his commission in 1916 and returned a Military Cross before returning to medical practice in New York. He became an effective Irish Nationalist propagandist. Maloney was largely responsible for the American Commission on Conditions in Ireland and also instrumental in launching the American Committee for Relief in Ireland. Major disagreements between Maloney and the Friends of Irish Freedom developed during 1920 onwards.
8:
Washington: US Secretary of State, William Bryan resigns over war policy. He believed that Wilson’s notice to the Germans on the Lusitania sinking was ‘too belligerent’
10:
Plunkett meets with Captain Nodolny of the German General Staff where he was refused arms. The Captain saying that arms must come from America and the Irish Americans.
11:
Margaret Lynch, after a protracted illness, dies in Granig. Aged 68.
Serbian troops invade Albania and capture the capital, Tirana.
12
The Citizen Army held a ‘carnival’ at Croydon Park showing their military skills and drills.
15
Allied aircraft bombs Karlsruhe, Baden, in retaliation for bombing sorties over southern England.
18:
The annual Wolf Tone Commeration to Bodenstown took place. Along with the Irish Volunteers went the Citizen Army.
Western Front: The Artois offensive is halted by the Germans.
Joseph Plunkett leaves Germany, apparently in poor health.
19:
The first edition of Nationality edited by Arthur Griffith hits the Dublin streets.
21:
London: Government discloses terms of new war loan of £910 Million.
Belfast Railway workers come out on strike and supported by James Connolly. Strike would drag on until August 14th.
22
Lemberg recaptured by Austrians.
23:
Berlin: German industrialists outline new war aims: annexation of Poland, Ukraine & Baltic states.
24:
One of John Devoy’s staff, a salaried employee named Freeman, mailed some letters written on the Gaelic American stationery, critical of Casement and his performance in Germany. These were mailed to the German Foreign Office in Berlin. ‘These letters insinuated he was unfitted to represent the Irish people or Irish Revolutionary organisations’
Captain Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’ Chicago. 1932. Lynch Family Archives. P98
John Devoy along with a number of German and Irish Americans organisers held a monster rally at Madison Square Garden. Decoy estimated the crowd at 100,000. Official New York Police figures peg the numbers at 75,000. Impressive, but the speaker’s list was even more so. Amongst them were William Jennings Bryan who had just resigned as Wilson’s Secretary of State, George von Skal, John Devoy and Jeremiah O’Leary. The Gaelic American later trumpeted the meeting as ‘The greatest meeting ever held in New York’
25:
Joseph Plunkett returned to Ireland and immediately reported to Clarke and Pearse.
26
Montenegrins enter Scutari, Albania.
28:
The liner ‘Armenian’ is sunk by a U-Boat off Cornwall.
29:
London: Bill introduced for national register of all men aged 15-65.
O’Donovan Rossa died aged 84 in New York after a number of months of senile dementia in St Vincent's Hospital, Staten Island. There he was convinced he was still in an English gaol and had to be restrained from jumping from windows to escape.
‘Devoy cabled to Tom [Clarke] ‘Rossa dead, what shall we do?’. Tom cabled back ‘Send his body home at once’. He immediately began to organise the funeral and said ‘If Rossa had planned to die at the most opportune time for serving his country, he could not have done better’
Kathleen Clarke ‘Revoloutionary Woman’ O’Brien Press, Dublin 1991. P56
His wife, the poet Mary J. O’Donovan Rossa had his body wrapped in the ‘Fighting flag of the Irish Republic’ as his shroud and the casket was sealed. Source: Ellen Ryan Jolly Papers – Notre Dame Archives.
Devoy describes events as they occurred: ‘ There was a great funeral on Staten Island before the body was taken to Ireland for final internment in Glasnevin…the body was placed in the receiving vault in St. Peter’s Cemetery on July 3 and lay there until July 17 when it was shipped to Ireland on the American Line Steamship, St. Paul…there was an attempt at a contest for the control of the funeral made by two expelled members of the Clan na Gael, who had neither the money to pay the expenses nor the connection with Ireland to ensure the proper reception of the remains there, but Mrs O’Donovan Rossa quickly, but politely decided the matter when they called on her and made the proposition, and gave charge of everything to Clan na Gael. The two men had had a quarrel with Tom Clarke when he was living in Brooklyn and called him a ‘traitor’….Tom had spent nearly sixteen years in English prisons for Ireland while these men were doing nothing….I kept my grip on the arrangements doing nothing without the consent of Mrs O’Donovan Rossa until the body was placed on board the steamer, accompanied by his wife and daughter Eileen…on July 17th. ‘
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P332
30:
Casement made it clear he was against a rising in Ireland despite an Irish American priest sent by Devoy encouraging him to make a second attempt at establishing a brigade.
July 1915
A special committee was formed to organise the funeral for O’Donovan Rossa. This quickly became one of the broadest political committees in the history of Irish nationalism, comprising Constitionalists, Sinn Feiners, Irish Volunteers, the I.R.B, Labour and Womens groups. ‘in wartime Dublin, his cadaver would do a great deal for physical force nationalism’
Austen Morgan. ‘James Connolly – a political biography’. Manchester University Press. 1988. .p155
The general plan for the funeral was planned by Clarke ‘ but he and MacDonagh worked out the details…MacDonagh almost lived in our shop while working out the details of the plan as Tom’s experience of large processions in New York was helpful…the plan involved arranging where each section was to line up, its exact place in the procession and it's time for joining in. as men were pouring in from all parts of the country, this was a stupendous job. MacDonagh was perfectly competent for it as results showed…for a while Tom was considering who he would select to deliver the oration at the graveside, and finally decided on P.H.Pearse as the best available orator. It was a choice between Pearse and Fr. Michael O’Flanagan. When Pearse was made acquainted with this decision, he sent a note to Tom asking how far he would go. The answer to Pearse was verbal, one which I delivered ‘Make it as hot as hell, throw discretion to the winds’. The reason for Pearse’s query was that Sean MacDiarmada was in prison for a speech he had made, and it had been decided to refrain from speechmaking, the loss of such men as Sean MacDiarmada being too high a price to pay for a speech at such a critical time.’
Kathleen Clarke ‘Revoloutionary Woman’ O’Brien Press, Dublin 1991. P56
The O’Donovan Rossa Funeral Committee represented the majority of those involved in Irish Nationalism at the time.
Publicity: Arthur Griffith, Eamon Kent, ex Alderman Peter Macken, Councillor S.T. O’Kelly, J.J.O’Kelly (Sceilg) & Brian O’Higgins.
Delegates: James Connolly, Sean Fitzgibbon, Bulmer Hobson, Diarmuid Lynch, Joe Kelly, Cathal Power & James Tobin.
Trains: James Casey, Gerald Griffin, Peadar McNally, M. Slater, James Stritch ( Nat'l Treasurer Irish National Foresters ) & Sean Tobin.
Funeral/Cemetery J. Lawlor ( V.P. Dublin Trades Council ), John MacBride, Sean MacGadhra, Harry Nicholls, Richard O’Carroll, Joseph Plunkett, John Simmons ( Sec. Dublin Trades Council ) & John Larkin.
Obsequies Henry Dixon, Prof. Eoin MacNeill & P.H.Pearse.
Guards/Procession Thomas MacDonagh, T.J.Sheehan, Joseph Plunkett, The O’Rahilly, de Valera, M.W.O’Reilly, S. O’Kelly, Eamon Daly, Eamon Ceannt, James Connolly, Padriag O’Riain.
Badges: Martin Conlan, Joe McGuinness & James Whelan.
Accommodation C.Kickham
Contingencies: Walter Foley, Bat O’Connor, Seamus Buggy & John Larkin
Finance T Farren – President Dublin Trades Council, Alderman Thomas Kelly, Joe Murray, William O’Brien ( ex President Dublin Trades Council ), John O’Mahony & B.R.Parsons.
Reception: T.J.Clarke, Sean McDermott, James Stritch, Cathal Cruiceam, Sean McGhadra, Cathair O’Foghludha.
Trustees: Seamus O’Conchubhair, John R Reynolds, Thomas J Clarke, Edward Daly, Peader McNally, Michael Slator.
Cumann na mBan Mrs J Wyse Power, Mrs Tuohy, Mrs MacNeill, Mrs O’Rahilly, Miss MacMahon, Mrs Clarke, Mrs Joseph McGuinness, Miss Casidy, Mrs Kent, Countess Markievicz, Maeve Cavanagh, Miss J Walsh, Miss J Maher, Mrs Holohan, Mrs O’Moore, Marie Northern Ireland Raghnaill, M. Breathnac & Eileen Devoy.
Souvenirs: Brian O’Higgins, The O’Rahilly, Edward Daly, P O’Ryan, W. O. Curtis & John McGarry
Genera: Thomas J Clarke, Con Colbert, William Cullen, Sean Doyle, Proinsias O’Fathaigh, J.Farren, Tom Hayes, Luke Kennedy, P.T.Keohane, Eamon Martin, Prof Thomas MacDonagh, J.K.O’Reilly, Liam O’Brien, Colm O’Loughlin, Michael McGinn, Michael O’Foghludha, Cathal Brugha, Peadar Devoy, Thomas Byrne.
Secretaries Cathal Cuiceam, John R Reynolds.
2:
40,000 enrolled for voluntary munitions work.
U-Boats sink 4 ships off Ireland.
3:
Eastern Front: Germans continue advance into Poland.
London: Government estimates the war is costing £3 million daily.
5:
Forced labour and military conscription ‘are not in the contemplation of the Government’ Asquith told Parliament today. However a strong suspicion remains that a compulsory call-up may be on the way.
John Devoy was informed by the Gaelic American newspaper board that the paper was running out of money. ‘The paper only had $22 and a few cents in the bank…they should have told me long ago, but I was so absorbed in other work that I paid no attention to business’ Worse, by the time of Rossa’s funeral, the Clan was nearly as cleaned out as the Gaelic American’s coffers…before learning of his newspapers dire financial status, Devoy loaned the Clan $3,340 from the money he had inherited from his late brother’s estate and another $1,000 to several colleagues…. It’s not clear how the paper managed to right itself financially, but the crisis passed’
Irish Rebel – John Devoy and America’s Fight for Irish Freedom. Terry Golway. St Martin’s Press, New York. 1998. p209
6:
The O’Rahilly was prohibited from enterering the counties of Cork, Kerry and Limerick under DORA as he
‘ had been behaving in a manner prejudicial to the safety of the state’. Orders were also served on Ernest Blythe and Liam Mellowes requesting that they leave Ireland by July 17th. Mellowes refused to leave and was sentenced to three months imprisonment. Blythe, McCullough and Moore-Pim were jailed in Belfast for refusing to obey DORA sentences.
Capt. Robert Monteith hearing of the arrests sent a note to the Irish Volunteers HQ in Dublin that if the deportees came south
‘… and joined me and one or two men of the Limerick City regiment, we could take to the Galtee Mountains, where with arms and a plentiful supply of ammunition, it would give a considerable Government force all it could to get us. The people of the district, an old Fenian centre, were favourable to us, and the nature of the country made it an ideal territory for guerrilla warfare’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives. P45
Not too surprisingly, Irish Volunteers HQ did not reply. The concept of isolated guerrilla action would not take shape well after the Rising.
7:
Eastern Front: Russians defeat Austro-German troops south of Lyublin, taking 11,000 prisoner.
While on a visit to Granig, Alice Lynch suffered a miscarriage. Details emerged some 3 years later in a letter from Alice to Mary dated 29th August 1918:
‘…Probably the events of the preceding days unnerved me and made a miscarriage (abortion) likely, but even so I in no way ever blamed you. You did not know of the condition I was in and moreover I had no intention of telling you or anyone else at the time. I took the loss of my coming baby as God’s will, and in all the sorrow and disappointment I was resigned to his will. I intended telling you what happened when you returned from Cork that Wednesday evening, but first there was the trouble in the hall ( immediately on your return ), in the hearing of the servants because Denis had signed the insurance book, which action he did in good faith in consideration for you. Then immediately followed the row because Denis and the boys thought it was wise not to tell you that Diarmuid was summoned by the police for not registering. Then followed the Rosary, & when my decade came, being too weak and ill to say it myself, I asked Denis to say it for me; and you ordered him to stop & let the servant say it. Under these circumstances it was impossible for me to tell you what happened to me that morning at 9.30.
Then I begged Denis to take me away. We returned again the following weekend ( when I should have been in bed and being attended by a Doctor. It was just force of will power kept me from collapsing completely, on account of not being properly attended to and nursed that I had to have an operation later ) and I wanted to tell you even then, but as you did not recognise Denis at all I could not.
Just once more I wish to repeat that in no way did I or do I hold you accountable, but because of the unpleasant circumstances which occurred when you returned from Cork that evening, I did not tell you what happened…
Lynch Family Archives. Folder 5/1
Years later, it was discovered that Alice was sensitised RH Negative resulting in low probability of carrying pregnancy to term.
9:
German Southwest Africa surrenders to British South African troops under Gen. Botha.
13:
Royal Proclamation says that all disputes must be reported to the Board of Trade before strike action is contemplated.
15:
UK: 200,000 South Wales miners' strike for more pay.
The O’Donovan Rossa Organising Committee had organised large posters to be displayed throughout Ireland advertising the upcoming funeral. Special trains were chartered at reduced rates. Some 14,000 rail passengers were expected in Dublin on August 1st. The newly appointed Commandant of the Third Battalion Irish Volunteers, Eamon de Valera was assigned the supervision of the 17 special trains.
Probate in the will of Margaret Lynch granted. 'Probate of the will of Margaret J. Lynch late of Granig, County Cork, Widow, who died 11 June 1915, granted at Cork to Daniel J. Lynch and Timothy Lynch, farmers and Denis Lynch, Whiskey Distiller. Effects £1,016."
- National Archives of Ireland. Accessed online, May 4, 2015. http://www.willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/search/cwa/home.jsp
17
O’Donovan Rossa’s body was escorted onto the SS St. Paul and accompanied by his wife and daughter and a number of Clan na Gael dignitaries, the ship left New York for Ireland.
18
Connolly protested against the threat of military conscription at a public meeting in Beresford Place, Dublin.
20:
UK: Total UK casualties in the war: 330,995.
23:
US: President Wilson tells Germany than the US stands for maritime freedom ‘without compromise, at any cost’
24:
Connolly's ‘Workers Republic’ concluded its series on world armed insurrections with an article on ‘Street Fighting’. Connolly arguing that that ‘an irregular or popular force’ like the Irish Citizen Army should seize a number of important buildings in the city thorough ‘the active defence of…positions whose locations threatens the supremacy or existence of the enemy’ the insurgents could achieve military success…’
However, his conclusions resulted in an underestimation of British military skill and intent in suppressing a popular urban uprising during wartime.
25:
U-Boats sink 2 US merchant ships off Ireland.
James Larkin, while on a long organising tour of the American West, contacted John Devoy to help arrange meetings with the German Embassy and it wasn’t to discuss the labour movement in Germany. He needed funding and was prepared to support the German war effort in return. Larkin evidently wanted Devoy as a witness in case things went pear shaped. The German Embassy had other plans however and wanted Larkin to help organise sabotage in American ports.
‘Wolf von Igel took Larkin on a tour of Germany’s secret sabotage centre in Hoboken, New Jersey, just across the Hudson from Manhattan…Larkin refused a formal offer to supervise sabotage operations on the American East Coast, but he agreed to stir up labour trouble. How much Devoy knew of Larkin’s involvement isn't certain. Devoy’s letters from the period often refer to Larkin, usually under the codename Longfellow.’
Irish Rebel – John Devoy and America’s Fight for Irish Freedom. Terry Golway. St Martin’s Press, New York. 1998. p209
The sabotage centre was a laboratory in Hoboken operated by Dr. Walter T. Scheele. Although the laboratory was ostensibly fabricating agricultural chemicals, its genuine operation was to manufacture incendiary devices. ( The lab was raided a few months later by the US Secret Service and shut down. Dr Scheele escaped to Cuba )
Meanwhile back in New York , Diplomatic staff in the German Embassy in Washington were routinely shadowed by US Secret Service Agents. On this day, George Viereck and the lawyer, Dr. Albert at 3.30pm “ boarded the 6th Avenue’L’...closely shadowed by Houghton and Burke...Dr Albert lapsed into a comfortable doze from which he was suddenly awakened when the ‘L’ glided into the 50th Street station. Still half asleep, Dr. Albert hurried from the train, leaving his bag of documents upon the seat. Mr Burke at once seized the bag and rushed it to the Secret Service Headquarters in the city. After a cursory examination, the documents were taken to Washington for a further examination by secretaries Lansing and McAdoo. The more incriminating ones were handed over to the New York World for publication. Although most were ‘duds’ which the World could not explode, the impression created in the American public mind that Germany was plotting against American interests”
Tansill. ‘America and the Fight for Irish Freedom 1866-1922’. Devin-Adair. New York 1957. p195-196
Heinrich Friedrich Albert, a German lawyer, was serving as Commercial Attaché and financial advisor to the German Ambassador to the United States, Count Johann von Bernstorff. He was also the paymaster for the German sabotage operations in the United States. Albert was n unknown individual to American counterintelligence. He was six-feet tall, heavy-set, and had crosscut sabre scars on his right cheek, a dimpled chin and a stubby dark moustache. Every day, Albert rode the elevated train between his office at 45 Broadway and his Ritz-Carlton hotel room. He always carried his briefcase, which was stuffed with Berlin telegrams, communications from German agents, financial records and subordinate reports.
Knowing he could not retrieve his briefcase, Albert proceeded to the German Club on Central Park West, where he held an impromptu meeting with German Embassy military attaché, Captain Franz von Papen, and naval aide, Captain Carl von Boy-Ed. Based on what Albert told them, they decided that a common thief had taken the briefcase and, after searching through the papers, would find nothing of value. The best way to get the papers back, they reasoned, was to place an ad in the newspapers offering a reward.
When Burke opened the briefcase and saw the papers, he notified Flynn. Flynn, in turn, contacted Secretary of the Treasury, William G. McAdoo, at his summerhouse in North Haven, Maine. Flynn took the briefcase to McAdoo, who with his aids decided that the contents proved beyond doubt that the German Embassy in the United States was violating the neutrality laws. McAdoo then took the papers to President Wilson.
The President asked McAdoo to consult with Col. Edward House, the president's closest advisor, and Secretary of State Robert Lansing. The United States government was in a bind because any use of the papers by the government would show that a government agency had stolen the papers of a fully accredited diplomat. Colonel House suggested that the contents of the papers be given to one of the newspapers to publish. The New York World was chosen and selected papers were given to the editor, Frank I. Cobb, who agreed to publish them without attribution in return for exclusive use of the documents on August 15th.
27
On 27 July 1915, with no trace of the missing bag and documents, an ad appeared in the New York Evening Telegram. "Lost on Saturday. On 3:30 Harlem Elevated Train, at 50th St. Station, Brown Leather Bag, Containing Documents. Deliver to G.H. Hoffman, 5 E. 47th St., Against $20. Reward." The ad was seeking to recover the lost briefcase of Heinrich Friedrich Albert, a German lawyer, who was serving as Commercial Attaché and financial advisor to the German Ambassador to the United States, Count Johann von Bernstorff. He was also the paymaster for the German sabotage operations in the United States.
Denis in a letter to his sister, Mary:
Jones Rd Distillery, Dublin.
My Dear Mary.
I understand you are under the impression that I said to you ‘that none of the brothers would keep you in their homes’ or some such similar expression. Well, if it helps to relieve the upset of the past few weeks you may have it from myself that I said no such thing what so ever or even suggested it, not did the idea ever enter my mind. If I did say it, I would indeed be very sorry for it. If there is anything more than that I hope this letter will relieve the strained feeling at once rather than allow such petty differences continue perhaps for a life-time. By doing so we can more faithfully follow the lessons we were taught at the same table and live up to the example shown us.
Alice has done all in her power ( without any necessity ) to meet you and the rest now lies with yourself. We have no desire to keep up the differences and would like to live in unity with one another as Mother wished us all to do.
Denis.
Lynch Family Archives – Folder 2 – 1915-1916
28
O’Donovan Rossa’s body arrived in Ireland accompanied by his wife and daughter. They were met in Liverpool by Kathleen Clarke and Sean McGarry and escorted home, landing at Cobh where the body was received by a committee of the IRB and taken to Dublin. The cortege was taken to the Pro-Cathedral on the approval of Archbishop Walsh and laid before the High Altar with a guard of honour of Irish Volunteers for the night.
29
After a High Mass, the O’Donovan Rossa cortege was moved from the Pro-Cathedral to City Hall for lying in state before the funeral on Sunday, August 1st.
Pearse published a tribute to O’Donovan Rossa:
“ O'Donovan Rossa was not the greatest man of the Fenian generation, but he was its most typical man. He was the man that to the masses of his countrymen then and since stood most starkly and plainly for the Fenian idea. More lovable and understandable than the cold and enigmatic Stephens, better known than the shy and sensitive Kickham, more human than the scholarly and chivalrous O'Leary, more picturesque than the able and urbane Luby, older and more prominent than the man who, when the time comes to write his biography, will be recognised as the greatest of the Fenians---John Devoy--- Rossa held a unique place in the hearts of Irish men and Irish women. They made songs about him, his very name passed into a proverb. To avow oneself a friend of O'Donovan Rossa meant in the days of our fathers to avow oneself a friend of Ireland;
it meant more: it meant to avow oneself a `mere' Irishman, an `Irish enemy', an `Irish savage', if you will, naked and unashamed. Rossa was not only `extreme', but he represented the left wing of the `extremists'. Not only would he have Ireland free, but he would have Ireland Gaelic.
And here we have the secret of Rossa's magic, of Rossa's power: he came out of the Gaelic tradition. He was of the Gael; he thought in a Gaelic way; he spoke in Gaelic accents. He was the spiritual and intellectual descendant of Colm Cille and of Seán an Díomais. With Colm Cille he might have said, `If I die it shall be from the love I bear the Gael'; with Shane O'Neill he held it debasing to `twist his mouth with English'. To him the Gael and the Gaelic ways were splendid and holy, worthy of all homage and all service; for the English he had a hatred that was tinctured with contempt. He looked upon them as an inferior race, morally and intellectually; he despised their civilisation; he mocked at their institutions and made them look ridiculous.
And this again explains why the English hated him above all the Fenians. They hated him as they hated Shane O'Neill, and as they hated Parnell; but more. For the same `crime' against English law as his associates he was sentenced to a more terrible penalty; and they pursued him into his prison and tried to break his spirit by mean and petty cruelty. He stood up to them and fought them: he made their whole penal system odious and despicable in the eyes of Europe and America. So the English found Rossa in prison a more terrible foe than Rossa at large; and they were glad at last when they had to let him go. Without any literary pretensions, his story of his prison life remains one of the sombre epics of the earthly inferno.
O'Donovan Rossa was not intellectually broad, but he had great intellectual intensity. His mind was like a hot flame. It seared and burned what was base and mean; it bored its way through falsehoods and conventions; it shot upwards, unerringly, to truth and principle. And this man had one of the toughest and most stubborn souls that have ever been. No man, no government, could either break or bend him. Literally he was incapable of compromise. He could not even parley with compromisers. Nay, he could not act, even for the furtherance of objects held in common, with those who did not hold and avow all his objects. It was characteristic of him that he refused to associate himself with the `new departure' by which John Devoy threw the support of the Fenians into the land struggle behind Parnell and Davitt; even though the Fenians compromised nothing and even though their support were to mean (and did mean) the winning of the land war. Parnell and Davitt he distrusted; Home Rulers he always regarded as either foolish or dishonest. He knew only one way; and suspected all those who thought there might be two.
And while Rossa was thus unbending, unbending to the point of impracticability, there was no acerbity in his nature. He was full of a kindly Gaelic glee. The olden life of Munster, in which the seanchaidhe told tales in the firelight and songs were made at the autumn harvesting and at the winter spinning, was very dear to him. He saw that life crushed out, or nearly crushed out, in squalor and famine during '47 and '48; but it always lived in his heart. In English prisons and in American cities he remembered the humour and the lore of Carbery. He jested when he was before his judges; he jested when he was tortured by his jailors; sometimes he startled the silence of the prison corridors by laughing aloud and by singing Irish songs in his cell: they thought he was going mad, but he was only trying to keep himself sane.
I have heard from John Devoy the story of his first meeting with Rossa in prison. Rossa was being marched into the governor's office as Devoy was being marched out. In the gaunt man that passed him Devoy did not recognise at first the splendid Rossa he had known. Rossa stopped and said, `John'. `Who are you'? said Devoy: `I don't know you'. `I'm Rossa'. Then the warders came between them. Devoy has described another meeting with Rossa, and this time it was Rossa who did not know Devoy. One of the last issues of The Gaelic American that the British Government allowed to enter Ireland contained Devoy's account of a recent visit to Rossa in a hospital in Staten Island. It took a little time to make him realise who it was that stood beside his bed. `And are you John Devoy'? he said at last. During his long illness he constantly imagined that he was still in an English prison; and there was difficulty in preventing him from trying to make his escape through the window. I have not yet seen any account of his last hours; cabling of such things would imperil the Defence of the Realm.
Enough to know that the valiant soldier of Ireland is dead; that the unconquered spirit is free.”
July 30th 1915.
By the summer of 1915, Diarmuid recalled ‘the stage was being secretly set for insurrection against Britain [and] the time had come in my opinion when the ‘Left Wing’ should control the Coiste Gnotha – not to use it for the propagation of Republicanism but to obviate the possibility of tactics contrary thereto. I discussed this with my IRB colleagues on the Coiste…well in advance of the Ard Fheis date I communicated with prominent Gaelic Leaguers throughout the country – who were also IRB men – urging that delegates favourable to our political views should without fail be selected to attend at Dundalk. Colleagues on the Coiste next suggested that we endeavour to elect men then in prison; Sean MacDiarmada, Earnan de Blaghd [ Ernest Blyth ] and A. McCabe. It was felt that their election would convey a salutary lesson to all concerned.’
Shortly before the Ard Fheis, the delegates in Dundalk ( who were not all IRB men ) held a caucus meeting where the decision to run the prisoners for nomination was unanimous with one exception. Wording for the key resolution was finalised and the stage was set for a bloodless coup of the Gaelic League.
When the delegates had gathered in Dundalk, the key resolution was proposed, that:
“The Gaelic League shall devote itself to realising the ideal of a Gaelic speaking and independent Irish nation, free from all subjection to foreign influence”.
While Dr Hyde was reported to be greatly alarmed at the content of the resolution, it passed with a comfortable majority. Diarmuid Lynch wrote later that Hyde might have accepted as inevitable, a combination of both cultural and political nationalism, had it not been for the result of the elections for the new Coiste Gnotha. When the names of the pre-selected men were read out, Sean MacDiarmada appeared high on the list, followed by Ernest Blyth. At that, and recognising both men as political prisoners and that the Gaelic League was now in the hands of the ‘Left Wing’, Hyde threw down his papers and left the Convention Hall.
A delegation was sent to Hyde to plead with him to change his mind, but by this time, cultural nationalism was already firmly married to political nationalism and physical force. Hyde resigned his presidency in protest and Eoin MacNeill was elected in his place. Hyde’s lead was followed by many of the more moderate members. Sean MacDiarmada, Ernest Blyth and A. McCabe were elected to the Coiste Gnotha.
Dr. Hyde explained shortly afterwards: ‘we were doing the only business that really counted; we were keeping Ireland Irish, and in a way that the Government and Unionists, though they hated it, were powerless to oppose. So long as we remained non-political, there was no end to what we could do.’
Connor O’Clery ‘Ireland in Quotes’ The O’Brien Press Dublin 1999 p.38
However, the majority believed otherwise, the coup was complete and another step taken towards the Easter Rising in 1916.
31
The British Administration in Ireland was by the end of July, generally described as light and even-handed.. in command of the entire country remained Augustine Birrell, “ the Liberal of all Liberals...a convinced Home Ruler...” normally resident in London. Birrel’s Irish administration had been improved by the forced retirement of the Lord-Lieutenant, the Earl of Aberdeen. This Vice-Regal position had not endeared him to many, not only because of the ‘..dinginess and frugality of their vice-regal court...although the Earl was harmless enough, his large philanthropic countess was something of a political chimera, a cross between Mrs. Proudie and Lady Godiva ( in mufti ) who upset the Unionists by dabbling in democracy, and the administration by interfering with their departments.
His replacement in the Phoenix Park was to be the 42 year old Liberal Peer, Lord Ivor Churchill Guest, Baron Wimborne (1873-1939).
”Like Lord Aberdeen, Lord Wimborne...was little more than a figurehead, a position he accepted with a very bad grace ....and whose chief asset was thought to be a charming wife.”
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.150-151
In comparison with the previous Viceroy, Lord Wimborne and his wife ( nicknamed ‘Queen Alice’ and reputed to have a large framed portrait of her Spanish lover next to her bed ) entertained on a lavish scale. The Lord himself was known to the ladies as ‘His Ex’ and he had become... ‘after thirteen boring years of marriage, a fairly frank brandy-swilling bounder. He was stagy, with a tendency to express himself with wide gestures.’
Peter de Rossa. Rebels, The Irish Rising of 1916. Bantam Press, London. 1989. p64.
Lord Wimborne’s secretary was Lord Basil Blackwood, with a reputation for being a womaniser in his own right (‘If Basil ever gets to heaven, they had better lock up the Virgin Mary’ as one guest is reputed to have commented) and he was constantly requesting permission to join the Grenadier Guards in France which was routinely refused.
The busy social life ensured that Wimborne was kept from Irish affairs.
Both Birrell and Nathan were now able to run their administration with minimal interference.
“They hoped that the new Under-Secretary could bring Dublin Castle more in touch with the current of national life, and Sir Matthew Nathan made himself accessible to everyone who wished to see him. The trouble was that the current of national life was now liberally sprinkled with characters who did not wish to see Sir Matthew Nathan”
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.151
And so the British Administration relied more and more on the processed intelligence that was received from Police Inspectors and Informers throughout the country.
August 1915
Meanwhile, newly elected I.R.B. executive, Tom Clarke as Treasurer and Sean MacDiarmada as secretary of the I.R.B pushed ahead with plans for the rising and retaking control of the breakaway Volunteers by ordering 2,000 or so I.R.B. members to join the force.
At a meeting of the Executive of the Supreme Council I.R.B, Diarmuid Lynch moved for the co-option of Pearse to membership, along with Tom Clarke, Sean MacDermott and Dr. Patrick MacCartan.
Lectures were given on military strategy, house to house fighting, street warfare etc. In deciding the actual moment for the rising, it was hope that Britain would provide the occasion by either introducing conscription or proscribing the Volunteers.
In Cork, Terence MacSwiney was appointed County Organiser for the Irish Volunteers.
1:
Following the lying in state in City Hall, O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral became a national event. Many thousands filled the streets, with both British forces and police in barracks. Packed trains brought mourners from all parts of Ireland. The largest presence was from the Redmond’s National Volunteers but the armed Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army controlled traffic and security with the I.R.B. organising the huge committee which handled the event. Thomas MacDonagh organised the marching contingents.
The hearse was drawn by two plumed black horses, preceded by a group of priests, secular, Dominicans, Benedectines and Capuchins. They were followed by kilted Flanna scouts, Gaelic Leaguers, Transport Union workers with banners, mayors and corporation members from all over Ireland, pipe bands and an armed escort of the Irish Volunteers and Citizen Army marched alongside the hearse. The heavy rain of the morning had given way to blue skies * The procession stopped in silence outside Mountjoy Prison on the route to Glasnevin Cemetery as a mark of respect to the man who had been jailed there fifty years before.
* Marching near the head of the procession was none other than Brogan, the Irish-American who had gone to Germany in February to assist Casement and whom Devoy had grave doubts about his motives and loyalties. Devoy later met a person who had spoken to Brogan on the day ‘I learned that his dress made him conspicuous among those around him, and I was also informed that he drew particular attention to himself by ‘paying his respects’ to Rossa's widow and daughter at their carriage.’ Brogan was unheard of for a few months before resurfacing in London, late 1915 when he interviewed a prominent member of the IRB who advised Dublin. Sean MacDermott immediately travelled to London , where he put Brogan ‘through his paces and emphatically told him to keep his hands off. That was the last the Irish leaders heard of Brogan’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P447-448
On arrival at Glasnevin and end of the funeral rite in Irish, Patrick Pearse, who had been instructed by Tom Clarke to ‘throw discretion to the winds’ gave the funeral oration:
A Ghaedheala
Do hiarradh orm-sa labhairt indiu ar son a bhfuil cruinnighthe ar an láthair so agus ar son a bhfuil beo de Chlannaibh Gaedheal, ag moladh an leomhain do leagamar i gcré annso agus ag gríosadh meanman na gcarad atá go brónach ina dhiaidh.
A cháirde, ná bíodh brón ar éinne atá ina sheasamh ag an uaigh so, acht bíodh buidheachas againn inar gcroidhthibh do Dhia na ngrás do chruthuigh anam uasal áluinn Dhiarmuda Uí Dhonnabháin Rosa agus thug sé fhada dhó ar an saoghal so. Ba chalma an fear thu, a Dhiarmuid. Is thréan d'fhearais cath ar son cirt do chine, is ní beag ar fhuilingis; agus ní dhéanfaidh Gaedhil dearmad ort go bráth na breithe.
Acht, a cháirde, ná bíodh brón orainn, acht bíodh misneach inar gcroidhthibh agus bíodh neart inar gcuirleannaibh, óir cuimhnighimís nach mbíonn aon bhás ann nach mbíonn aiséirghe ina dhiaidh, agus gurab as an uaigh so agus as na huaghannaibh atá inar dtimcheall éireochas saoirse Gheadheal.
It has seemed right, before we turn away from this place in which we have laid the mortal remains of O'Donovan Rossa, that one among us should, in the name of all, speak the praise of that valiant man, and endeavour to formulate the thought and the hope that are in us as we stand around his grave. And if there is anything that makes it fitting that I, rather than some other, I rather than one of the grey-haired men who were young with him and shared in his labour and in his suffering, should speak here, it is perhaps that I may be taken as speaking on behalf of a new generation that has been re-baptised in the Fenian faith, and that has accepted responsibility of carrying out the Fenian programme. I propose to you then that, here by the grave of this unrepentant Fenian, we renew our baptismal vows; that here by the grave of this unconquered and unconquerable man, we ask of God, each one for himself, such unshakable purpose, such high and gallant courage, such unbreakable strength of soul as belonged to O'Donovan Rossa ....life springs from death; and from the graves of patriot men and women spring living nations, The Defenders of this realm have worked well in secret and in the open. They think they have pacified Ireland. They think that they have purchased half of us and intimidated the other half. They think that they have foreseen everything, think that they have provided against everything, but the fools, the fools, the fools! They have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree, shall never be at peace..”
Following this oration, the crowd cheered and applauded. The Irish Volunteer & Citizen Army Guard of Honour fired a volley over the grave and the Last Post was played by Bugler Willie Oman of the Irish Citizen Army. Less than a year later, most of the leaders at the graveside would be dead.
While designed to provoke the authorities, no official reaction took place on the day. The Chief Secretary, Augustine Birrell, on reading the newspapers the following day said: “..I do not suppose anybody in the whole concourse cared anything for the old fellow, who never cared for anything at any time” Even James Connolly had been moved ( by the graveside oration ), although Connolly had been heard to say before the funeral that he wished people would stop blethering about dead Fenians ‘..and get us a few live ones for a change’
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.147
2:
Tom Clarke visited his former Fenian prison mate, John Daly in Limerick. There it was decided that Robert Monteith should travel to Germany to assist Casement to finalise plans for the Rising. Clarkes reasoning is commented on by his wife ‘ he considered Casement was not sufficiently conversant with the actual situation in Ireland, that he did not know what the Supreme Council of the I.R.B wanted in their relations with Germany, and certainly did not know the extent of their control…he told Monteith he wanted him to go to the USA and from there to Germany to join Casement. He gave him credentials to John Devoy to help him…he told him to tell Casement that they did not want men, they wanted arms only…’
Kathleen Clarke ‘Revoloutionary Woman’ O’Brien Press, Dublin 1991. P52
Among the credentials, Clarke included a letter for John Devoy outlining the advantages of Fenit as a landing point for arms and included sections of an ordnance survey map of the area.
Monteith now began a series of letters to his wife in Dublin (knowing they would be intercepted by Dublin Castle detectives) with the object to smoothing the way to getting an exit permit from Ireland to emigrate to the US.
5:
Warsaw captured by Germans.
6:
The Gallipoli Peninsula campaign enters a second stage with the debarkation of a new force of British, Australian and New Zealand troops in Suvla Bay, on the west of the peninsula.
8:
Russians defeat German fleet of 9 battleships and 12 cruisers at entrance of Gulf of Riga.
9:
Eastern Front: German and Austrians propose peace terms with Russia. Tsar Nicholas rejects.
13:
On Michael’s return to Granig, he began to use information gathered during the Irish Volunteers training camp to make ammunition. The first attempts were unsuccessful as the moulds were made of plaster of Paris and unable to withstand the heat of molten metal. ‘ with the aid of a local blacksmith, Paddy Egan, I made an iron mould of a tongs type which would make six or eight slugs at a time. It was made in Egan’s forge. We made the depressions for the slugs in it with steel ball bearings while the iron was red hot. It did not have a groove into which the molten lead could be poured, so that it was necessary to have hot tallow in which the mould was immersed before putting it in the molten lead.’
Meanwhile in Dublin, plaster of Paris continued to be used, that is until The O’Rahilly heard of the mechanisation of slug making in Tracton and asked Michael to bring his development to Dublin for him to examine...’ he used it as a pattern from which to make others. I left it to him for a week, and they turned out a brass one in Dublin. Later brass moulds were also made in Haulbowline by some of our men working in the dockyard there. With my own mould I made thousands of slugs for the Cork Brigade [ Irish Volunteers ], several hundredweights of lead were collected by the Brigade and sent down to Tracton to me. I also filled some hundreds of cartridges with slugs myself ( about four slugs were put in a cartridge ).’
Statement by Michael Lynch. Bureau of Military History Archives. S351. Lynch Family Archives.
‘The munitions thus made I distributed to the men of my Battalion, and also sent supplied to the Cork City Batt.(Prior attempts in Dublin to make a successful mould of this type failed and the O’Rahilly borrowed my mould as a model ) This work of making ‘slugs’ and refilling shotgun cartridges with them, also the manufacture of ‘pikes’ (all at my personal expense ), I continued up to Saturday afternoon, April 22, 1916..’
Statement by Michael Lynch – part of application for Military Service Pension Certificate, December 1935. Lynch Archives.
Allies struggle to hold Gallipoli.
14:
UK: Nine die and 21 hurt when the Irish mail train from Euston derailed.
Sean Hegarty at the Cork Post Office came under increased scrutiny from the military authorities. His older brother had in 1914 been transferred from his post in Queenstown to Britain owing to his involvement with the German embassy. Sean was offered the opportunity to be transferred which was refused and he was dismissed.
15
The Albert Briefcase documents were finally published by the World Newspaper, New York. The paper reported that Albert was the master German spy, who, along with van Papen, devised the Bridgeport Projectile Company operation and obtained approval for it from the German military general staff. According to the newspaper, it was their idea to divert legitimate orders from the British and French away from honest American munitions firms to their cover company with the intention of simply storing the gunpowder and shell casings. In fact, they hired an American industrialist, George Hoardley, to build and operate the plant so as to appear it was a genuine business.
The New York World also reported that the German government was financing Viereck's newspaper, The Fatherland. Other newspapers picked up the story and were constantly hounding Albert for information. Albert, to try to calm the waters, gave the New York World a 2,500-word statement to print in its entirety. In his statement, he claimed that the press misinterpreted his papers. No one believed him and he was often mocked by being referred to as "the minister without portfolio."
Although Secretary of the Treasury, McAdoo wanted Albert recalled by the German government, no official U.S. action was taken against him.
16:
Washington: Wilson and Lansing instigate an enquiry into German espionage activities in the US, involvement of senior officials is suspected.
The New York Times carried a ‘remarkable’ news that Germany was attempting to form an Irish Brigade from some 2,000 Irish Prisoners of War in Limburg, Germany.
19:
U-Boat sinks the White Star liner “Arabic” off the Fastnet. 26 Americans among 44 dead.
21:
Italy declares war on Turkey. Total UK casualties to date: 381,983
Monteith received permission from Headquarters Irish Command in Parkgate Street to travel to Dublin and connect with the SS St Louis departing Liverpool on 28th August, 1915.
22:
Joseph Plunkett arrived in New York to report to Devoy and Clan na Gael on his mission to Germany. Diarmuid Lynch disputed a claim made by Devoy that Plunkett arrived in New York ‘en-route to Berlin on a special mission on behalf of the Revolutionary Council..’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P460
In his personal copy of Devoy’s book, he attached a memo on this subject:
“ On June 13, 1946, I wrote James McGurrin, New York , to have enquiry made at Ellis Island respecting the date of Joseph Plunkett’s arrival at New York…under date, August 2 1946, Rose McDermott received the following from T.F.Mullholland ( former Commissioner at Ellis Island):
Dear Ms MacDermott:
Joseph Mary Plunkett, who was at the time twenty seven years old, born in Dublin, arrived at New York on August 22, 1915 on SS. Philadelphia. He was detained on medical hold as there was a possibility of his having tuberculosis. He was, however, admitted for permanent residence on September 11, 1915 to the United States.
(signed) T.F.Mulholland.”
Lynch family archives.
However, on his arrival on August 22nd, he was detained by the Health Authorities on suspicion of having tuberculosis. Plunkett sent a request for Devoy to come to see him on Ellis Island.
23:
Devoy visited Plunkett on Ellis Island and wrote to McGarrity ‘The law forbids the landing of tuberculosis cases and his of the most pronounce type. It was folly to send him’.
Devoy however later appealed to US Senator for New York, James A. O’Gorman ‘and he succeeded in procuring permission for him to land, under a thousand dollars cash bond and remain in New York to do ‘literary work’. I provided the thousand dollars and during his stay ashore introduced him to all the men whom it was necessary for him to see.
Plunkett spent the time with poet Joyce Kilmer and other American writers. As events would unfold over the following months, Plunkett was the last of the Rebellion’s emerging leaders to come to America and he was the last Devoy would meet in person.
24
Monteith arrived in Dublin from Limerick and immediately visited Clarke accompanied by some members of the police who continued to shadow his movements. Clarke ‘appeared much surprised at my visit, stating he had written me that my going had been cancelled.’ But irrespective, Monteith was leaving for the US and all he required was for the organisation to look after his wife and family while away. Clarke said he would consult with the Irish Volunteer Committee (and also the underground IRB ) and would advise him of their decision the following day.
25:
When Monteith returned to Clarke’s Tobacconist shop the next day, Diarmuid Lynch was also there with Clarke. Monteith was advised that the ‘Committee’ had withdrawn opposition to his travel to the US providing he took his family with him as when or if it became known he was in Germany, life could become quite unpleasant for his family.
Diarmuid Lynch wrote in the margins of Monteith’s Book that ‘ Tom Clarke and I decided to give Monteith money ( from the IRB funds ) for his expenses. In my presence in Tom's shop, (Treasurer ) handed Monteith the sum of ( I think ) £100/0/0. D. Lynch. Feb.1945’ Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives. P48 and also noted in ‘The IRB and the 1916 Rising’ by Diarmuid Lynch . Mercier Press, Cork. 1957. P28
Western Front; British and French offensives in Artois & Champagne have reached stalemate.
Brest-Litovsk, Russian fortress, captured by Austro-Germans.
The Irish Lord Chancellor in discussion with Sir John R. O’Connell, solicitor and trustee for the Hermitage Estate in Rathfarnham and owner of St. Enda’s, said that Pearse was ‘in a very dangerous position’ politically. This prompted O’Connell to seek the advice of an associate, J.C.Meredith, one of Redmond’s nominees to the Provisional Committee. The resulting advice was to request full payment £300 representing 12 months' rent for St.Enda’s. Pearse normally paid £150 every six months and was now in danger of losing his school and being declared a bankrupt. Payment due date was September 6th.
27:
The SS St Louis was damaged while in the Liverpool docks and so Monteith had to get an extension to his stay in Dublin from the Irish Command HQ. This was granted to the date of sailing, September 1st aboard the SS New York.
The Daily Chronicle carried the story of events in a Prisoner of War camp in Germany as told by Corporal B. Thompson. Repatriated to Britain through an invalid POW exchange, he carried the story of events surrounding attempts to recruit an Irish POW into an Irish Brigade by Sir Roger Casement.
29: Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman born ( d. 29.8.82 )
30:
Eastern Front: Brest-Litvosk falls to the Germans.
British submarine attacks Constantinople and damages the Galata Bridge.
With Monteith’s departure from Dublin, a triangular organisation was soon at work: Clarke and MacDiarmada in Dublin, Plunkett and Devoy in America and Casement and Monteith in Germany.
Connolly’s “Workers Republic” jingles:
“ Full steam ahead, John Redmond said
that “Everything was well” chum,
Home Rule will come, when we are dead,
and buried out in Belgium”
One year into the war, actual recruitment in Ireland was actually decreasing in comparison with other parts of the UK. ‘ It would seem that enthusiasm for the war was never as widespread in nationalist Ireland as the media, dominated by pro-war elements, suggested. It wanted to virtual vanishing point from the autumn of 1915. The evidence goes some way to confirm the claim of Maurice Headlam *, a jaundiced but presumably well informed Dublin Castle official, that “ we in Ireland knew, that the bulk of the population seized any pretext to avoid fighting in France”
Prof JJ Lee. ‘Ireland 1912-1985 Politics and Society’ Cambridge University Press 1990. P24
* Maurice Headlam was the Treasury Remembrance and Deputy Paymaster of Ireland.
The reality was somewhat different. There was little publicity during 1915 of the role played by Irish Troops in the war. In the retreat from Mons, the 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers had fought a rear guard action and had been almost decimated waiting for orders that never arrived. Churchill’s Gallipoli landings devastated Colonial troops in addition to the Munster and Dublin Fusiliers. There were no pages of purple prose, no parades and no favourable notice.
September 1915
Diarmuid Lynch received special instructions from Pearse:
‘On instructions from Pearse, I paid a special visit to Tralee, Dingle and other coastal points in the South-West to ascertain the most suitable spot at which a ship load of arms from Germany could be landed and from which they could be most expeditiously distributed. I reported in favour of Fenit.’
Diarmuid Lynch ‘The Countermanding Orders of Holy Week 1916’ written for ‘An Cosantoir’ but not published on objection from Bulmer Hobson. Later published in ‘The IRB and the 1916 Rising’ 1957.
Diarmuid was characteristically brief here as to why Fenit was favoured but made the decision after discussions with the IRB officers in Tralee, Dingle and Listowel. The reasons however were strategic as the area included a deep water quay, a narrow gauge railway running from the quay to Tralee, a strong force of Irish Volunteers in the area and regular rail connections to Cork in one direction and Limerick in the other. This would allow for swift dispersion of arms and ammunition to the West and South in a support movement to Dublin. Earlier Pearse appeared to have in mind Ventry Harbour on the southern side of the Dingle peninsula. Diarmuid mentioned this in discussions but they pointed out the danger inherent in transporting the arms through the bottleneck of the peninsula between Ventry and Tralee.
[ additional sources: Florence O’Donoghue. ‘Thomas MacCurtain – Soldier & Patriot’ Anvil Books, Tralee, Co. Kerry. 1971. p.72 ]
I.R.B. Military Council had agreed a landing of German arms and possibly soldiers could be made at Fenit, in Tralee Bay following Diarmuid Lynch’s favourable report on the area.
1:
Monteith sailed from Liverpool in steerage aboard the SS New York taking some 9 days to cross the Atlantic. ‘Most of the passengers were seasick or half scared to death that the vessel would be torpedoed or sunk by a floating mine. The American colours were painted fore and aft on either side of the ship, illuminated at night by huge electric lights. All boats were swung out ready for launching. Passengers were instructed to keep their lifebelts handy on all occasions…’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives
2:
Pearse cabled McGarrity for funding to assist him save St. Endas College. Later that day, he wrote two letters of explanation, one by mail and one by hand should the mail be censored. ‘It’s their way of hitting at me. They will represent me as a bankrupt and discredited man who takes refuge in advanced politics and hides his failure to meet his creditors by preaching sedition…my fall no will – I speak without any exaggerated idea of my own importance – be bad for the whole cause, will discredit the whole cause. If I were free to do so, I would go out to America by the first ship and earn and collect the money. But to go to America now would be to desert the danger gap. Whatever the consequences, I must stand here as a rock.’
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’ Anvil Press 1972. P56
Tom Clarke supported Pearse’s request to McGarrity with a cable to a Clan na Gael member in Brooklyn, New York:
‘..if at all possible, Garrity should attend to Paddy’s communication regarding school – it is both urgent and vital. Ask Garrity to cable Paddy at once, even if he can't see his way.’
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’ Anvil Press 1972. P56
4:
The first overnight exercise for the Cork City Companies of the Irish Volunteers took place on the evening of Saturday 4th. They marched from the city to Tracton, ‘ and they bivouacked that night at Lynch’s Granig, and, after exercises next day marched back to the city.’
Thomas MacCurtain – Soldier and Patriot. Florence O’Donoghue. Anvil Press 1955. P.64
5:
Tsar Nicholas of Russia assumes command of Russian armies. Grand Duke Nicholas is transferred to the Caucasus to fight the sideshow war against Turkey.
The first meeting of the re-organised Supreme Council of the I.R.B took place. Elected members were:
President: Denis McCullough – Ulster
Secretary Sean MacDermott
Treasurer Tom Clarke
Leinster Sean Tobin
Munster Diarmuid Lynch
Connaught Alex McCabe
England-South Dick Connolly
England – North Joseph Gleeson
Scotland Patrick McCormick
Co-Opted Patrick Pearse and Dr. Patrick McCartan.
McGarrity sent the funds to a bank in Dublin and the school’s rent was paid.
6:
Albert Einstein proposed his Theory of Gravity, challenging the established Newton principles. He says gravity is a result of the curvature of space due to the presence of matter.
7:
UK: The Trades Union Congress votes to oppose conscription.
8:
The first Irish Volunteers Officers training camp was held in the Wicklow Mountains over 8 days. The camp was conducted by JJ O’Connell* and attending were both Diarmuid and Michael Lynch, along with Sean Nolan and Daithi Barry from Cork. This training camp covered such diverse aspects as urban warfare, target practice, military strategy and how to make arms and ammunition.
Statement by Michael Lynch – part of application for Military Service Pension Certificate, December 1935. Lynch Archives.
* JJ’Ginger’ O’Connell (1887-1944) later became the Free State Deputy Chief of Staff. His kidnapping by Ernie O’Malley on 26 June 1922 precipated the Civil War. Chief Lecturer at the Army School of Instruction, Intelligence Branch, Quartermaster General and Director of Military Archives.
9:
UK: Lloyd George tells the T.U.C ‘We can’t win without you’.
US: Wilson orders recall of Austrian ambassador, implicated in plot to prevent manufacture of munitions for the Allies.
Monteith landed in New York and as he was going aboard the ferry from Ellis Island, ‘I met the only Irishman I encountered during my short stay in the United States before going to Germany. He was landing on the Island. Larry de Lacey*, by name. He was one of the men, who left Ireland hurriedly on account of some little difference of opinion with the British Government on the matter of high explosives, seditious literature etc.’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives
* It’s not surprising Larry de Lacey was arriving in the United States. Things were particularly hot for him back in Co. Wexford where he was not only well known to the RIC for anti Government activities, but also to the IRB & Diarmuid Lynch.
In the RIC Dublin Castle Intelligence Reports for 1915, Larry features under the title:
‘Cases of unlawful possession and larceny of high explosives – Co. Wexford’:
‘Certain anti-recruiting notices having been posted up in different parts of County Wexford, which were believed to be in the handwriting of John Hegarty, a dismissed postal employee, a warrant for his arrest was issued by the General Officer Commanding in Ireland, which the police executed on the morning (2am ) of the 24th February 1915. When arrested Hegarty was in bed…in the house of Laurence De Lacey, 8 New Street, Enniscorthy. On searching Hegarty’s bedroom the police found, in addition to seditious notices and pamphlets, a paper parcel containing nineteen sticks of gelatine dynamite, each bearing on the wrapper ‘Kynoch’s, Ark low, Ltd., London’ and in another part of the room some fuse and .303 cartridges etc, all of which the police seized. In the bedroom of Laurence de Lacey…the police found two cartridges of gelatine dynamite, two of gelignite and a number of .303 cartridges etc which the police also seized. De Lacey denied ownership of the explosives…[ the following day ] .. the police…failed to effect the arrest of de Lacey, who had in the meantime absconded, and he has not since been made amenable.’
RIC Intelligence Reports 1915. State Paper Office 1966. P159.
Unknown to the RIC, they had caught a big IRB fish in their net. John Hegarty was none other than Sean O’Hegarty, Head of the IRB in Cork and in direct contact with the Munster Head of the IRB, Diarmuid Lynch and the Supreme Council. It appeared very likely that O’Hegarty would be quickly tried under the Court Martial provisions in the Defence of the Realm Act regulations and in all probability receive a lengthy prison sentence if not death.
However, at the time an amending Bill was before Parliament on the legality of the Court-Martials of civilians and to provide a charged defendant with the choice of a trial by jury or trial by courts martial. As a result, the case against O’Hegarty was deferred until the Bill was passed. In the subsequent trial by jury, defended by Tim Healy ( later to become Governor General of the Free State ) who showed that no evidence existed to show what Hegarty meant to do with the dynamite and was acquitted on the charge of having explosives on his possession in the vicinity of a railway contrary to provisions of Section 33 of the Defence of the Realm regulations. He was then re-arrested on the sediditious literature charge. When the second case came to court, on the charge of writing and publishing seditious statements contrary to the Defence of the Realm regulations, the jury was undecided and so the case was adjourned until the next hearing in June, at which O’Hegarty was once again acquitted. Following this, he was discharged from custody and placed under restrictions by the Military Authorities.
During the main and subsequent RIC searches of de Lacey’s house, a large print run of Sir Roger Casement’s ‘Freedom of the Seas’ pamphlet produced by the Enniscorthy Echo newspaper on orders from the Supreme Council earlier in the year was completely overlooked. So when the fuss had died down, the pamphlets were quickly moved ‘to a friendly farmer’s place ‘somewhere in Wexford’ where they remained for many months’ and led to Diarmuid Lynch’s involvement in what became known as the ‘Distribution of the Casement Pamphlets, 1915’.
The Casement Pamphlet
The pamphlet comprised a series of articles written anonymously by Roger Casement some years earlier and published by the Gaelic American in 1914 and run in Irish Freedom, Dublin. The IRB Supreme Council in November 1914 ordered a large edition to be printed by the Enniscorthy Echo ( the editor, sub-editor and most of the staff were IRB members ). When printed, these were stored in Larry de Lacey’s home and overlooked when the property was raided, capturing Sean O’Hegarty. Pamphlets were quickly moved to ‘a friendly farmer’s place’ where they remained for a number of months.
In the spring of 1915, the subject of these pamphlets distribution was raised at a Supreme Council IRB meeting but deemed not urgent and passed over. Diarmuid at a later meeting "proposed a plan for getting copies of the pamphlet to each County, Urban and Rural Councillor and to professional men throughout the country. The job was left in my hands'
Diarmuid had sets of envelopes printed by James Connolly in Liberty Hall, with the name and address of seed merchants from one of each of the six centres ( Dublin, Galway, Tralee, Cork, Waterford and Dundalk ) proposed for distribution. Those chosen were specifically staunch Unionists. Names and addresses of all councillors were gathered along with prominent businessmen. Addresses were typed and envelopes distributed to each centre for filling with the pamphlet. The next step was to source the pamphlets from Wexford.
10:
Monteith met with John Devoy and preparations began for his travel to Germany in addition to finding a home for his wife and family. Finding a ship that would take Monteith to neutral Holland or occupied Belgium would have been relatively easy if he had a passport. No ship would take a person without papers on board owing to the rigorous blockade policed by the Royal Navy. The Clann organised Casement’s assistant, Adler Christensen to smuggle Monteith aboard as a stowaway aboard a Norwegian freighter en-route to Christiania. Days later he successfully boarded the ship and sailed for Europe.
South Atlantic
The Endurance, icebound since January 1915, was finally destroyed by ice and sank. Shackelton, with his crew aboard two small craft salvaged from the Endurance, made their way to Elephant Island, where they spent the summer months waiting for rescue. With no sign of a rescue craft, on 24 April 1916, he set sail for South Georgia.
17:
Monteith and Clann na Ga
18:
Sean MacDiarmada released from Mountjoy Prison and was met by a number of friends including Tom & Kathleen Clarke. He was brought back to their home in Richmond Avenue for breakfast. Afterwards, events were discussed. ‘Sean disapproved of Arthur Griffith being appointed editor; he believed Griffith was so wedded to his own policy and ideas that he would, despite his promise, revert to his own policy…Sean said ‘I know Griffith better than you Tom, I worked with him’…
Kathleen Clarke ‘Revoloutionary Woman’ O’Brien Press, Dublin 1991. P52
Diarmuid Lynch recalled ‘Shortly after McDermott's release I was informed that he and Tom Clarke were co-operating as ex-officio members of that ‘Committee’ [ originally the Military Committee of Pearse, Plunkett and Ceannt ] which from that time forward may be termed ‘The Military Council’.’
Diarmuid Lynch Supplementary Statement – Bureau of Military History. Copy in National Library of Ireland. MS11.128
London: Government reveals the war is costing £3.5 million daily.
Berlin: Kaiser Wilhelm II gives assurance that no neutral or passenger shipping will be attacked.
22:
Balkans: Bulgaria mobilises its army
24:
Balkans: Bulgaria invades Serbia.
The fifty men who joined Casement’s Brigade in Germany, issued a statement countering widespread press allegations that they were mere mercenaries in receipt of ‘German gold’
Casement had the statement smuggled to Devoy in New York where he had hoped to have it circulated and printed. However, Devoy writes:
“but because of the attitude of the Press in this country…it never saw the light in any American daily. It was published in the Gaelic American and thus reached our own people’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P440
Along with the statement, Casement provided a financial statement and acknowledged that he had received the sum of $7,740 to date from Clan na Gael.
25
Allies open offensive on Western front and occupy Lens.
26:
Western Front: The Autumn offensive began with 2 ‘massive blows against German lines, by the French in Champagne and the British in Flanders’ General Joffre’s view is that the offensive ‘could possibly end the war’ observers disagreed saying that the bombardment merely indicated an attack was imminent and prompt German Command to bring in reinforcements,
27:
Diarmuid Lynch in a letter to P. Lynch*, 52 Porter St, Somerville, Massachusetts:
‘Very glad to get your post card & to learn that self and family are well.
Mother died last June. She had been ailing some considerable time previously. Otherwise we are all OK here.
Conditions in Ireland are more or less normal – notwithstanding the war. There are exceptions of course!
Business in my line is slow, but still enough to pull along.
Nationally, things are hopeful.
The Gaelic League is to have a new Sec – for which I am glad. The old one muddled the matter of sending out the Gaelic Alliance membership cards, which leaves me in an awkward position with my American friends.
I believe the League in Boston is as good as dead. I’m not surprised. The collection of cranks is too large to allow the other to get very far.
With best regards,
Lynch Family Archives – Folder 2 – 1915-1916
* Believed to be P.J.Lynch, Editor of the Boston Post.
29
The Irish Volunteers HQ issued a directive that it was the duty of every Volunteer ‘in the final resort to lose his life rather than suffer himself to be disarmed.’
Florence O’Donoghue. ‘Thomas MacCurtain – Soldier & Patriot’ Anvil Books, Tralee, Co. Kerry. 1971. p.68
October 1915
1:
Connolly negotiated wage increases from Shipping Companies for Dublin Port workers on the North Wall. However the Burns-Laid Line withdrew its offer when it was not immediately accepted.
By October 1915, over 75,000 Irish men had enlisted, replacing the over 1,100 weekly casualties on the Western front.
Dublin workers were now strong enough to win a dispute with the Dublin Steam Packet Company. Murphy had once again called for a lock-out but this time his employer friends refused to follow him They had won two years earlier but at a great financial cost. They were in no hurry to spend such large amounts of money again.
3:
London: reported that recruiting authorities have cards with details of 150,000 men of military age in the capital.
Allied troops land in Salonika in north-eastern Greece to counter possible Central Powers moves in the area.
Sir Hugh Lane’s will was published, detailing that his collection of Impressionist Art was to be bequeathed to the National Gallery in London, unless, as stated on a codicil written before he sailed on the Lusitania, that a suitable building to house the
collection be provided in Dublin within 5 years of his death, the pictures would go to Dublin.
Monteith arrived in Copenhagen from Norway and continued onto Germany.
5:
Monteith arrived in Berlin and attempted to find Casement. After tracking his stay in numerous hotels, he was finally found to be staying near Munich and a telegram was sent. Casement replied with a request for Monteith to travel overnight to Munich.
Franco-British force lands at Salonika and Greek ministry resigns.
6
In the German Embassy in Washington, George von Skal, assistant to Captain Franz von Papen, sent word to the German Foreign Office that it was important to send ‘a number of rifles, together with ammunition’ to Fenit, located ‘seven miles from Tralee’. These rifles would be put to very good use by a group ‘organised in Ireland to resist recruiting’
Tansill. ‘America and the Fight for Irish Freedom 1866-1922’. Devin-Adair. New York 1957. p191.
Monteith met with Casement who advised of progress to date in the recruitment of Irish prisoners of war for the Irish Brigade.
‘The additions to the British and French fleets had put the possibility of a German naval victory out of the question and he had therefore stopped recruiting. This was most unpleasant news for me as I had orders to push recruiting for the Brigade.’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p66
Monteith stated his orders to push recruiting for the Brigade, to which Casement agreed subject to the War Office in Berlin giving approval. Both men returned to Berlin and obtained the necessary permission to attempt recruiting again.
85 men and women of the Citizen Army took part in night manoeuvres around Dublin Castle.
8:
Balkans: Russia declares war on Bulgaria.
9:
Belgrade again occupied by Austria-Hungary & German forces.
10:
Following the withdrawal of offer by the Burns-Laird Line, Connolly called for a withdrawal of labour, and supported by funds contributed by the city’s union members, remained on strike until months end when Burns Laird agreed to increase rates. Less well known is that he ordered the Citizen Army to ‘lend their rifles to the waterfront pickets..’
Connolly as Commandant of the Irish Citizen Army ordered the study and practice of ‘Insurrectionary Warfare involving ‘barricades in the streets, guerrilla warfare in the country’ Austen Morgan. ‘James Connolly – a political biography’. Manchester University Press. 1988. .p164
12:
Balkans: Britain breaks off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria.
Edith Cavell, English nurse, shot by Germans for aiding British prisoners to escape from Belgium.
Casement and Monteith met with the men that formed the Irish Brigade in Zossen. The uniform designed by Casement was in use, grey-green in colour with emerald green facings ornamented with harp and shamrock. In the Brigade were 14 non-commissioned officers: 1 Sergeant-Major, 1 Quartermaster-Sergeant, 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals and 4 Lance-Corporals.
Monteith reported: ‘I found that excellent discipline had been kept. The men fully appreciated their position as Irishmen and conducted themselves accordingly. The interpreters, attached to the Brigade, had started classes in German in order that all ranks might have a working knowledge of the language…Zossen was a huge training ground. At least a quarter of a million troops were in training there…’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p66-67
In the US, a strong move was developing in Irish-American circles to disassociate themselves from John Redmond and his program. In a letter to John Devoy, Richard McGinn of Patterson, New Jersey, suggested calling a convention that would go on record as to its position on the European war and opposition to Redmond. He felt that Irish-Americans all over the US looked to John Devoy as the leader of the nationalist cause in America. Devoy discussed the matter with Judge Cohalan, Richard Dalton and other members of Clan na Gael. The Convention was decided for March 4/5th 1916 in New York.
13:
During one of the common midnight manoeuvres of the Irish Citizen Army, Connolly, Countess Markievicz along with Michael Mallin, led a mock attack on Dublin Castle in thick fog while followed and observed by the RIC and Intelligence officers. After accepting the guard's surrender, they returned to Liberty Hall and celebrated. Connolly's justification for these military rehearsals was that while constitutional argument was fine in peacetime, Revoloutionary action was demanded in wartime. Not surprisingly, both his views and actions brought him into conflict with the I.R.B who were less concerned with his political rhetoric and more with keeping their own Revoloutionary plans and preparations secret.
London: £100 fine and/or six months in jail bans drinkers from buying rounds. The level of excessive drinking by shipyard and munitions workers has cut down production and refits.
London bombarded by Zeppelins; 55 persons killed; 114 injured.
14:
Bulgaria at war with Serbia.
15:
US: President Wilson approves plans to expand the US army.
Britain declares war on Bulgaria.
Pearse wrote to McGarrity thanking him for the financial support for St. Enda’s sent in early September:
‘Your action now and on former occasions has been so prompt and sop extraordinarily generous that it leaves me without any adequate words…to hold St. Enda’s for another year means so much. I am writing to John [Devoy] and the Judge too, for I know that it was they who co-operated with you..’
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’ Anvil Press 1972. P59
16:
Monteith now went to Limburg an der Lahn to recruit more Irish Brigade members from the prisoner of war camps.
‘Casement was altogether against admitting any more men to the Brigade and gave me instructions not to accept married men. For the trip to Limburg…I took with me a Sergeant Major and two Sergeants, also an interpreter…after breakfast, we went to the camp. There I found that in addition to the Irish prisoners of war, there were about four thousand Russian and French….I was provided with a pass to visit the camp at any time. An office was placed at my disposal and every facility given me to interview my fellow countrymen..’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p68
17:
Monteith began work interviewing the Irish POW’s. ‘I usually interviewed about fifty a day. No German officers were present at these talks. No pressure whatever was put upon the men. I had no bribe to offer in money or kind an opportunity to fight for Ireland in Ireland, was all I could put before them. At first I found it hard to convince some of them that I was not an English speaking German in disguise…during my stay in Limburg I made a thorough investigation of the reports current in Ireland that Casement had been booed, hissed and driven out of camp by the Irish. I questioned over five hundred men on this point. None of them had ever heard of such an incident…the statement that he had to be protected by the Prussian Guard is false…. My experience with the Irish troops showed me that the men were willing to hear everything I had to say, whether they agreed with me or not.
…The charge that the rations of prisoners were shortened, because some refused to join the Brigade is also false. If England starved the Germans into submission, as is her boast, she must shudder the responsibility of having starved her own men, prisoners of war, in Germany.’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p66
France at war with Bulgaria.
20:
London: Government announces that women can apply for licences to be bus & tram conductors.
21
Monteith and Christiansen travelled through Denmark, catching the boat from Copenhagen to Warnemunde in Germany. From there they were admitted and took the night train to Berlin to meet Casement.
22
Monteith found that Casement had already left Berlin for a visit to Munich. He collected his official identification papers and the next day took the express to Munich.
Diarmuid Lynch recalled: ‘In the autumn of 1915, those of the Provisional representatives elected ( or re-elected ) during the months preceding, who were available, met in Dublin to complete the personnel of the Supreme Council in accordance with the constitution i.e. to co-opt four members. On this occasion it was my privilege to move the co-option of a man not hitherto a member of the S.C., Padraic Pearse. He was no chosen. ( The other three were Tom Clarke, Sean MacDermott and Dr. McCartan’
Diarmuid Lynch Supplementary Statement – Bureau of Military History. Copy in National Library of Ireland. MS11.128
23
Monteith finally met up with Roger Casement, passed his instructions to him. That night they travelled back to Berlin.
24
140 Citizen Army volunteers took part in military exercises around Dublin Castle.
26:
The Irish Prisoners of War that had agreed to join the Irish Brigade had now been moved to Zossen, 17 miles south of Berlin. Casement and Monteith went there to meet the 50 or so prisoners.
27:
Dublin: Connolly and the Transport Union began a strike on the Dublin quays. 40 Casual labourers came out at the North Wall for an increase of daily pay from 5/8 to 6/2. The English and Scottish companies came to agreement shortly but the Dublin Steampacket Company under the Watson Family held out. This continued until settlement some six months later on 15 April 1916. Connolly began drilling the striking men.
28:
Robert Monteith was made a Lieutenant by the German War Office and returned back to Zossen to begin training the Irish Brigade recruits. Casement was invited to visit and assess their progress and performance. ( No mention of his promotion in his book? )
30:
Connolly’s ‘Workers Republic’ published an article ‘stating that the force [ Irish Citizen Army ] would ‘co-operate in a forward movement…[ but would ] advance by itself if needs be’. This was an clear and unambiguous policy statement from the Citizen Army that they were prepared to ‘go it alone’ and run their own uprising against the British Authorities if the Irish Volunteers were unable or unwilling.
"An armed organisation of the Irish working class is a phenomenon in Ireland. Hitherto the workers of Ireland have fought as parts of the armies led by their masters, never as a member of any army officered, trained and inspired by men of their own class. Now, with arms in their hands, they propose to steer their own course, to carve their own future."
James Connolly, Workers' Republic 30 October 1915
31:
The Irish Volunteers second convention was held in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.
Russia: 1.5 Million Jews are reported to have been deliberately starved.
P.H.Pearse said of Cumann na mBan
“ I would not like to think of women drilling and marching in the ordinary way, but there is no reason that they should not learn to shoot”
Quoted by George Dangerfield “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” Constable London. 1977. P135
See Eileen's book for details on shipment of arms to Cork Volunteers.
November 1915
The growing rift between Connolly and the Irish Volunteers came to print in the Workers’ Republic:
‘..revolutionists who shrink from giving blow for blow, until...they have every shoe string in its place and every man has got his gun, - and the enemy has kindly consented to postpone action so as not to ... disarrange their plans - such revolutionists only exist in two places - the comic opera stage and the stage of Irish national politics. We prefer the comic opera brand. It at least serves its purpose”
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.153
1:
London: Asquith says there are 1 million Britons on the Western Front.
3:
Paris: Premier Briand says France’s only war goal is the return of Alsace-Lorraine.
4:
Washington: President Wilson outlines US defence plans.
In an undated letter to McGarrity, Pearse commented on events at home:
‘the Defence of the Realm Act prevents the Irish people for expressing their views in public…conscription will be the next and Lord knows what its consequences will be…we expected at the time the Lusitania was torpedoes the Americans would declare war on Germany, owing to this danger to shipping. Flour and other provisions have got very dear and it will press hard on the poor. Those who have means will not suffer at all practically as they ar getting big prices for their stock. So you can see the rich men are making on the war while the very poor are on the verge of starvation. And yet they want the poor to work at home and fight abroad so that the so-called noblemen may sit at ease and comfort and congratulate each other on the glory and greatness of the British Empire . this was with all its misery may be the means of uplifting the poor workers to their proper place. Nations can never again afford to despise the worth of the poor worker and the workers themselves will realise much better the purpose for which many of their lives have been sacrificed.’
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’ Anvil Press 1972. P60
5:
Nish, Serbian war capital, captured by Bulgarians.
The German Admiral Staff finally replied to the Imperial Military Staff that they believed Tralee Bay was not deep enough for submarines and that if they were attacked, they would be easily detected and sunk, therefore no submarine support would be possible in event of an Irish Rising. If arms were to be transported to that area, it would be necessary to use trawlers of English design, manned by Irish crews so that they would not have to make the hazardous trip back to Germany.
6:
London: The Globe newspaper was censored following allegations that Lord Kitchener was to be removed as secretary for war.
The Cunard Steamship company issued a notice stating that they would no longer accept bookings from British subjects that were ‘ fit and eligible for military service’. This resulted in over 400 would be emigrants from the West of Ireland being refused passage to the US.
8:
Mediterranean: Over 208 die when the Italian liner ‘Ancona’ torpedoed off Sardinia.
9:
British war casualties to date: 510,230.
10:
‘Women who volunteered to help the war effort by taking over men’s jobs, are proving immensely successful, according to latest reports. One survey estimates that factories are now two and a half times more productive. Foremen, who were reluctant originally, now praise the women’s energy punctuality and willingness. The average wage is around 32/ per week for day shifts and £3 a week for nights. A further 100,000 women will soon be needed’
British press release.
The German Admiralty staff passed on the communication from the Washington Embassy requesting rifles and ammunition to Fenit. They shortly received a reply that owing to the shallowness of Tralee Bay, it would be impossible for submarines to carry on any operations there. If arms were to be transported, they would have to be moved by trawlers of English design and manned by an Irish crew not required to make a hazardous trip back to Germany.
11:
New War Cabinet announced: Churchill resigned from the Government. The PM & First Lord of the Admiralty: Arthur Balfour. Secretary of State for War: Lord Kitchener, The Colonial Secretary: Bonar Law, Minister for Munitions, Lloyd George and Chancellor of the Exchequer, McKenna. The priority of the new cabinet is the military manpower shortage.
12:
The Irish Brigade was beginning to take some shape. Monteith described them as three distinct types:
‘The soldiers of fortune…men to whom empires were as nothing, men scornful of ease and order, contemptuous even of death. Then there were the men who realised the wrong they had done their Motherland in serving her enemy and who sought to make amends, and the indifferent ones, for whom life held little that was new.’
Sergeant Major – ‘a quiet dispositional man, of plump short physique, prone to follow the line of least resistance but with the knack of getting things done. He had at one time served in an American Cavalry regiment and at every available opportunity, would get off a story of ‘Custers Outfit’.
15
Casement commenting on the spectre of conscription in Ireland: ‘If conscription is applied to Ireland, it will be met, and instead of recruits for the British Army in Flanders, England will have to greatly increase her garrison in Ireland. Already we have kept 200,000 Irishmen out of the ranks of the British Army in this war…this act of mine is termed treason in England. In Ireland men call it by another name.’
Conor O’Clery ‘Ireland in Quotes’ The O’Brien Press Dublin 1999 p.38
Redmond warned Asquith that conscription in Ireland would be impossible to enforce.
19:
London: Government says married men will not be called up until unmarried men have been.
21:
Balkans: Austro-German troops reported to be in full control in Serbia.
In Minane Bridge, Diarmuid Lynch drilled 30 men of the Tracton Irish Volunteers under command of his brother, Michael. According to information supplied to Dublin Castle by either the R.I.C. or an informer, also present at this drilling was the local PP, Rev. O’Mahony of Tracton Parish. The Reverend Gentleman's attendance at an Irish Volunteers training caused sufficient concern in the Castle as the report appears under a list of “Clergymen coming under notice due to disloyal language and conduct” as part of the monthly RIC Intelligence Notes.
This Parish Priest was later in the year moved to another parish and replaced by a PP considered more appropriate and sympathetic to Dublin Castle , Canon O’Leary.
22:
India: Mohandas Ghandi returns from South Africa.
23:
Redmond on his return from visiting Irish Regiments on the Western Front ‘Ireland would forever be disgraced in the history of the world if, having sent these men to the front, she did not raise the necessary reserves to fill every gap that may arise in their ranks.’
Conor O’Clery ‘Ireland in Quotes’ The O’Brien Press Dublin 1999 p.38
28
The Manchester Martyrs Commeration in Cork city was a successful gathering of 1,200 Volunteers marching through the city streets after 9am mass in the Cathedral and afterwards, Sean MacDiarmada delivered an ovation at the National Monument in Grand Parade.
December 1915
Some of Pearse’s character seems to show through in his contrasts, not to mention the reactions of others to his romantic visions as in this comment:
“ Bloodshed is a cleansing and sanctifying thing, and the nation which regards it as the final horror has lost its manhood. There are many things more horrible than bloodshed; and slavery is one of them.”
The Irish Uprising 1916-1922. P.18
“(Pearse in the classroom was ) ..preaching violence and bloodshed but could hardly bring himself to handle a knife to cut a loaf, off the platform he was shy and gentle but we find him writing in ( December ) 1915:
“The last sixteen months have been the most glorious in the history of Europe..the old heart of the earth needed to be warmed by the red wine of the battlefields”.
This opinion was certainly not shared by James Connolly writing in the “Irish Worker”:
”No we do not think that the old heart of the earth needed to be warmed with the red wine of millions of lives. We think that anyone who does is a blithering idiot”.
T.P.Coogan - “Ireland since the Rising” Pall Mall Press. 1966. p11
What Coogan left out has perhaps more historic connotations than what he left in, the sentence was taken from ‘Peace and the Gael’ :
‘..the old heart of the earth needed to be warmed by the red wine of the battlefields. Such August homage was never before offered to God, the homage of millions of lives given gladly for love of country....what peace (Ireland) has known these latter days, has been the devil’s peace, peace with dishonour...the sin was the sin of submission to an alien and heretic rule: it could only be redeemed in blood”
Pearse. Political Writings and Speeches. Dublin 1966. p216.
3:
Washington: German attaches dismissed.
Monteith returned to Berlin as Casement was ill. ‘He was unable to attuned to the Brigade business and handed it over to me. Zossen was within easy reach of the capital, so I persuaded him to join us there and rest. The village was about half an hour’s walk from my quarters and I saw him almost daily. He always accompanied us on our route marches, much to the delight of the boys, whom he treated to light refreshments at the quiet little inns along some of our routes….Sir Roger remained with us until about December 22nd when he left to spend Christmas [ in Dresden and Munich ] with some friends’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p72
4:
Henry Ford, with large party of peace advocates, sails for Europe on chartered steamer Oscar II, with the object of ending the war.
The Citizen Army had its third and last night manoeuvre with the target being a raid on an army drill hall in Sutton, Co. Dublin. Only wooden rifles were found, for use by the local home defence force.
7:
US: Wilson asks for a standing army of 142,000 with reserves of 400,000.
10:
US: Ford makes its one millionth car.
13.
Serbia in hands of enemy, Allied forces abandoning last positions and retiring across Greek frontier.
14:
Reported that over 1 million Armenians have been killed by the Turks.
Casement received a letter from John Devoy, warning that Adler Christensen was in his opinion, little more than a double agent
15:
Western Front: after 16 months commanding British forces, Sir John French has been replaced by Sir Douglas Haig, First Army Commander in Flanders
Pearse writing in the pamphlet ‘Peace and the Gael’ commented that ‘Ireland has not known the exhilaration of war for over a hundred years. Yet who will say that she has known the blessings of peace? When war comes to Ireland, she must welcome it as she would welcome the Angel of God. And…we must not faint at the sight of blood. Winning through it, we ( or those of us who survive ) shall come unto great joy.’
18:
US: President Wilson married.
Writing in the Workers’ Republic, Connolly reminded his readers of the great strike of 1913
‘..when the misguided Irish people stood so callously by....out of that experience is growing the feeling of identity between the forces of real nationalism and labour which we have long worked for and hoped for in Ireland... we want and must have economic conscription in Ireland. Not the conscription of men by hunger to compel them to fight for the power that denies them the right to govern their own country, but the conscription by an Irish nation of all the resources of the nation - it’s land, its railways, its canals, its workshops, its docks, its mines, its mountains and rivers and streams, its factories and machinery, its horses, its cattle and its men and women, all cooperating together under one common direction that Ireland may live and bear upon her fruitful bosom the greatest number of the freest people she has ever known.’
19:
Chief Secretary Birrell wrote to Redmond that the real conditions in Ireland were alarming and mostly due to the conscription scare.
20:
Allies retreat from Gallipoli disaster - over 90,000 men, 4,500 animals, 1,700 vehicles and 200 guns were evacuated. The House of Commons was told that the ‘Dardanelles casualties were 25,000 dead, 76,000 wounded, 13,000 missing and 96,000 sick admitted to hospitals ‘ Actual casualties were 50,133 killed. Of these, 21,255 were British & Irish, 9,874 French, 8709 Australia, 7597 Indian and 2701 New Zealanders. In Australia, it is still commonly felt that the ‘British fought ‘till the last Australian’.
Francis Sheehy-Skeffington returned from a speaking tour of the US.
22:
Henry Ford leaves his peace party at Christiania and returns to the United States.
The Irish Parliamentary Party pledged a ‘vigorous resistance’ to the parliamentary move to enforce conscription in Ireland.
Pearse and Plunkett held a meeting at 41 Parnell Square, at which Thomas MacDonagh ‘had unexpectedly turned up…Pearse was proposing that he and Plunkett should launch a new weekly paper in which he was to write inflammatory articles, designed to rouse the country to fever pitch. The idea was reminiscent of what Mitchell had done, and for which he had been transported…MacDonagh took great exception to what Pearse was proposing and left the meeting very angry. He told Tom [Clarke] he believed the sole reason for the proposal was that Pearse and Plunkett resented the fact that Sean and Tom had more power than they had…Pearse had no money to start the new paper, so he and Plunkett had been obliged to await Tom’s return from Limerick [ where he was spending Christmas with his wife’s family ] to get his consent on the proposal’
Kathleen Clarke. ‘Revoloutionary Woman’. O’Brien Press, Dublin. 1991. P61
Monteith wrote that Casement went to spend Christmas with some friends, and that although he wanted to spend it with the Brigade, he was persuaded to go. ‘Christmas festivities require careful handling in an Irish Regiment, and I did not want to disillusion the chief. Before he left, he made ample provision to give the boys a good time. This was the first entertainment the men had in Germany…few delicacies were obtainable, but the boys searched the countryside to provide a substantial dinner. Invitations were sent out and we were honoured by the presence of a number of charming girls…during the evening it was clearly demonstrated that the language of love is universal – those who could not speak German got on as well with the girls as those who could…the sequel of our dance came within a few days. I had five applications for permission to marry…after a few days I spoke to these men individually, and urged them to use common sense. I pointed out that there were enough widows in Germany without adding to the list. All agreed with me but one. The lad ended up by asking for an advance of fifty marks on his pay to buy an engagement ring. He was a private and fifty marks would have mortgaged his pay for a period of almost six months’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p72-73
23
Alice Lynch in a letter to her Sister in Law, Mary in Granig:
Jones Rd Distillery.
My dear Mary.
I, or rather, we cannot let this holy season of peace and goodwill pass without sending you from Denis and myself, best wishes for a happy Xmas filled with untold consolations. I know it will not be as other Xmas’ but please God you will find at this time many joys and blessings.
You may be surprised to hear from us, but Mary [ our ] relationship is too sacred, and brotherly and sisterly love ought to be above such differences. Each of us have, and will have many sad trials to bear which will be God’s will for us, without making trials and sadness for ourselves.
I am at the moment overwhelmed by the news of Dear Uncle Richard’s death. Only, thank God that I have a dear, loving husband to console and cheer me, it would be more than I could bear. We are all broken hearted, for poor Uncle Richard with his big soft heart was more dear to each one of us. He shared all the joys and sorrows when he was amongst us, and since he went to Canada also. He lightened everyone’s problems often by increasing his own and now God has taken the good, big-hearted man to himself. Denis and I have had sorrows this year which has left us well nigh desolate * and so I say Mary, we will all have our share of sorrows, without making more for ourselves.
And now may our dear Lord console us all this Xmas, and replace our sorrows with joys and blessings.
Will you give our love and good wishes to Diarmuid, Tim, Dan and Michael and accept the same for yourself.
Yours affectionately, Alice
PS Our love and good wishes to Aunt Julia also.
Lynch Family Archives – Folder 2 – 1915-1916
25:
Eoin MacNeill wrote in the Irish Volunteer, directed to Connolly ‘No man has a right to seek relief of his own feelings at the expense of his country’.
27:
Following a discussion on the proposed Pearse paper, Clarke vetoed it on the grounds that the Rising was planned and publication would alert the authorities to the potential dangers in their own back yard.
30:
Mediterranean: 400 die when a U-Boat sinks the P&O Liner “Persia”.
Devoy’s views of the Casement mission to Germany were factual: Considering the mission to Germany had three main objectives:
Devoy commented: “Casement did his best in all these things, but did the first ineffectively, succeeded admirably in the second and failed badly in the third.’
Christensen was now engaged to transport another two former officers in the Irish Volunteers from New York to Germany. Devoy writes that he was to detail how Christensen ‘double-crossed us in our endeavour, but suffice to say he proved himself a trickster and a fraud, with the result we were compelled to abandon the project and to summarily dismiss him. Had Christensen acted honestly, we could have dispatched at least 50 dependable and partially trained men whose presence among the prisoners of war enrolled by Casement in Germany would have improved their morale, and would in all probability have been the means of inducing a far larger number of Irish soldiers of the British army – who were then prisoners of war – to join the ‘brigade’. As events transpired at Tralee Bay in 1916, it made no difference.
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P441
Hits of the year: “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag” & “Back home in Tennessee”
Connolly’s views on an armed insurrection were such that:
‘..He was now convinced that nothing but an insurrection during the war would give Ireland her right to be heard at the peace table. Whether this insurrection was successful or not was beginning to be quite immaterial; indeed, he was ready to come out with his little Citizen Army if the Irish Volunteers did not make a move’
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.154
In late December, the Military Council agreed that the Rising should come on Easter Sunday, 23 April, 1916. Connolly was beginning to be viewed as a distinct menace and threat to the Rising plans, after all, could he not start a premature insurrection with the Citizen Army and ruin all plans?
Meanwhile, the British administration in Dublin Castle continued the policy of Birrell and Nathan:
‘ of minimum action and maximum inaction’. They had resisted those who requested strong measures such as proclaiming the Irish Volunteers or the Irish Citizen Army, deporting James Connolly back to Edinburgh or acting against the ITGWU, but the looming threat of compulsory military service in Ireland could cause immense problems within the administration. The question of conscription for unmarried men led to the threatened resignation of Birrell amongst others which was only resolved on December 31st, 1915 with the compromise that the proposed Conscription Bill for Bachelors would contain no mention of Irish bachelors.
War Overview: By December 1915, the stalemate in the West continued. Military thinking, particularly on the Allied side, still operated on the Napoleonic era, sending troops forward in hapless attempts to capture enemy lines through a hail of shell and machine gun fire, barbed wire, poison gas and land that was churned into a mire of mud. Advances had been miniscule and losses were mounting. 600,000 German and 1,500,000 British and French men were lost. The Eastern front saw widespread Russian defeats as German forces took Poland and Lithuania. However, the worst of the war was still to come.
By the start of 1915, many of the still loosely connected but inter-related nationalist groups began to overhaul, prepare and analyse for a future confrontation with the British Authorities.
As regards the security situation in Ireland at the time, there were British Army garrisons and depots throughout the country, the RIC were a well armed and vigilant police force of some 10,000; with intimate local knowledge, the Dublin Metropolitan Police of some 1,000 unarmed men was responsible for the Dublin area and Dublin Castle had its Intelligence Service.
Poverty of the most primitive kind remained part of everyday life in Dublin. In the period 1910-14 the infant mortality rate in London was 106 per thousand live births, in Dublin it was 147 – higher at this time that the prevailing known rate in either Moscow or Calcutta.
January 1915
Michael Collins left his position as a Clerk with the Board of Trade in London and took up employment with the Guaranty Trust Company of New York located on the Strand, London.
1:
German Submarine U24 sinks HMS Formidable in the North Sea.
British army strength stands at 720,000 men.
Devoy wrote a lengthy letter to Casement in Berlin. Casement comments that he received it on January 23rd but nothing of its contents. No record of the letter survives.
England, in support of France, blockaded Germany, disregarding the 1909 Contraband regulations. The United States still believed in the difference between contraband and raw goods and supported Germany's right to receive the imports that it needed to survive. The United States reversed its position when it entered the war against Germany, and international law was changed. In response to the British blockade, the Germans tried to blockade England. Their most effective weapon was the submarine, which although still primitive, took the British by surprise. In 1915 the Germans declared British waters a war zone. All Allied ships in those waters would be torpedoed. Ironically, the U-boat was originally intended as a defensive craft. It was only mobilized offensively in response to the British blockade. Life aboard a German U-boat could hardly be described as pleasant. The first U-boats were visible during the day and night, as oil fired engines produced thick white smoke and sparks visible at the surface. After the switch to diesel, smoke and sparks were eliminated, but the smell on board was unbearable. Human waste could only be pumped off by hand and even then, the risk was high the sub could be spotted from the surface. It was said that three scents marked a submariner; diesel, sweat and shit.
2:
Casement addressed 80 of the 2,400 Irish Prisoners of War in Limburg camp.
‘The method which he employed to obtain recruits for his Irish brigade was characteristic of his inability to appreciate any view but his own. To ask the regular soldiers who had taken part in the retreat from Mons to desert their regiments showed a strange blindness to realities. It was chiefly non-commissioned officers, who had almost all been with their regiments for ten years at least, that he addressed in his first appeal, believing that they would respond immediately, and that the rest would follow their example...’
Dennis Gwynn. Casement. P14/15. Quoted in Tansill, ‘America and the fight for Irish Freedom 1866-1922. Devin Adair, New York p.185
Devoy with his successful history in recruiting men to the Fenian cause from British forces, wrote that Casement tackled the work required of him ‘in the wrong way. Instead of approaching the men individually, he had them all assembled at a meeting at which he delivered an address that went over their heads. The good and the bad, the Orangeman and the Catholic, the half-decent fellow and the blackguard, were all there to listen to his highly patriotic sentiments, and what was still worse, old reserve men – whose wives were receiving subsistence money from the British Government and who naturally would think of the interests of their families before and above all else – were present..
To step out of the ranks and volunteer for service against England under such circumstances required a degree of moral courage that is rare among Irishmen of that class and the wonder is that even fifty of them were bold enough to do so.’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P436
Casement quickly realised his mistake but it was too late. He did attempt the remedy the situation by asking for a priest to act as a chaplain, and the Vatican agreed to the request, However, aware of the diplomatic tight-rope, two chaplains were sent. ‘One of whom lectured the men on their duty to keep their oaths as soldiers, while the other in a half-hearted way talked a little about Irish patriotism. This got Casement nowhere, so he asked for a priest to be sent from America.’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P436
Clan na Gael’s first effort was a failure. Their initial recommendation fell through just as the boat was about to sail, but Devoy does not detail why. The second choice, a Fr. Nicholson was more successful ‘but the harm had already been done by the public meeting attempt and only a few more recruits were obtained for the Brigade.’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P436
No mention is made of any of these meetings by Casement in his diaries and written by Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922.
The Dublin-Holyhead mail boat ‘SS Leinster’ was chased by U-Boats in the Irish Sea and the first hospital ships carrying Irish casualties from the war front arrived in Dublin.
In the Antarctic, Ernest Henry Shackelton and his crew became icebound aboard the Endurance. There was to be no escape with ice crushing the craft in September 1915.
5:
William T. Cosgrave returned un-opposed as the Sinn Fein member of Dublin Corporation.
6
On a voyage leaving Liverpool on 16 January 1915 the Lusitania was involved in an international incident which gave the ship's presence in the North Atlantic a very high profile. The ship was travelling through rough seas on the way to Queenstown and, fearing the possibility of a torpedo attack, the Captain hoisted the 'stars and stripes'. With America still neutral Germany was reluctant to bring her into the war on the side of the Allies, so it was considered that this would guarantee a safe passage. The use of the US flag, however, came to the notice of the press and the incident made world news.
From Neil McCarthy “ Atlantic Liners of the Cunard Line from 1884 to the Present Day “ - PSL, 1993.
13:
Earthquake in Central Italy kills 29,000 people.
The Austrian-Hungarian foreign minister, Leopold Berchtold who had arranged the fateful ultimatum to Serbia, was forced to resign.
15:
On the Eastern Front, a new Russian army of 800,000 advances on West Prussia.
Limburg: Casement in his diaries records his feelings: ‘Now that I have practically abandoned the idea of the Irish Brigade, there seems little object in remaining in Germany. The Government will not want me I am sure. Once the hope of the Irish Brigade is gone, they will feel little interest in the other aspects of the Irish Question.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.152
W. J.Maloney. “The Forged Casement Diaries.” Talbot Press, Dublin 1936. p115
18:
Rome: The Clan na Gael sponsored Fr Nicholson from the US arrived in the city and would leave for Berlin the following day.
19
Zeppelins raided the Norfolk coast, killing 20 and leading to widespread fears in both Britain and Ireland that an invasion was imminent. Casement writing in Berlin commented that the raid ‘can only damage the German cause in the eyes of the world – for the English will represent it ..as a deliberate murder of women and children’.
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.161
23
Berlin: Casement returned to Berlin, commenting in his diary ..’to be near Blucher and also Lay, the US Consul General, whom I wish to consult on my proposed letter to Sir E Grey, denouncing the criminal efforts of H.B.M Minister at Christiania. I also want to apply for American citizenship..’
Meyer met Casement with news that there was finally written evidence of the British Ambassador to Norway attempt to have him captured or killed. Casement’s associate, Christensen, had extracted from Findlay a note written on official British Legation stationery at Christiania and personally signed on January 3rd:
‘on behalf of the British Government, I promise that if, through information given by Adler Christensen, Sir Roger Casement be captured either with or without his companions, the said Adler Christensen is to receive from the British Government the sum of £5,000 to be paid as he may desire. Adler Christensen is also to enjoy personal immunity and to be given a passage to the United States should he desire it..’
Christensen returned at once to Berlin and the letter was handed over to Meyer on January 5th.
‘The letter is the most damning piece of evidence, I suppose, ever voluntarily given by a Government against itself!’ commented Casement and ‘I told Wedel that the document was mine – my property – and that I should use it quickly and outlined my intention of formally charging Grey with responsibility for a dastardly criminal conspiracy – and also of my intention to inform the Norwegian Government and to go personally to Norway to do so. He agreed, in a perfunctory sort of way… I now hold the warrant of shame and ignominy His Majesty’s Government signed by their own Minister in their name…’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.154 & 159
Casement also received a lengthy letter from John Devoy written in New York on January 1st but nothing of its contents.
Over the next week, Casement prepared an open letter to Sir Edward Grey, the British Foreign Minister, giving in detail the ‘dubious conduct of Mr Findlay ‘...he stressed the devotion to the cause of Ireland and remarked ‘to save Ireland from some of the calamities of war was worth the loss to myself of pension and honours, and was even worth the commission of an act of technical ‘treason’ ...’. As he felt that the British diplomatic service had not reacted honourably, he severed every connection he ever had with the British Government. Returned were the insignia of the Order of St Michael and St George, the Coronation Medal of King George V and ‘any other medal, honour or distinction conferred upon me by His Majesty’s Government, of which it is possible to divest myself’
The letter eventually was passed to Judge Cohalan in New York in March 1916 on instructions from Casement.
24:
German Cruiser, ‘The Blucher’ sunk in the North Sea.
Berlin: Casement in his diaries wrote: ..’I know not what to do. To stay in Berlin or in Germany, idle, inactive and with the huge disappointment of the Irish Brigade failure staring me in the face, and with no hope of further action by the German Government [for] Ireland – is a policy of despair. Besides I have not the means to live here. Life is very expensive and I must stay at expensive hotels and incur constant outlays. It would be better to return to Norway – convict Findlay up to the hilt, get H.M. Government exposed and if necessary return to Germany should Father Nicholson succeed with the soldiers.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.161
25
US: Long distance telephone lines now spanned the US. Alexander Graham Bell once again spoke to his assistant, Watson as on the day the telephone was invented – this time he was in New York and Watson was in San Francisco.
Berlin: Count Wedell of the Foreign Office met with Casement ....’he then began to talk of the heavy expense I had been put to in fighting Findlay and begged that I would allow the German Government to recoup me for all that outlay! I refused point blank. He urged and urged – saying we were a ‘joint cause’. We were ‘all one’ and fighting a ‘common enemy’ I pointed out only that it was quite impossible for me to allow the German Government to contribute a penny to me, or my cause.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.179
Casement was now intent on shortly confronting the British Ambassador Findlay in Christiania and having the Norwegian Government investigate the affair. With his intentions made clear, the Government organised three armed detectives to accompany and protect him in Norway.
However, Casement commented that Meyer ‘has a silly scheme for me to go there, and try and get Findlay to kidnap me and through my three detectives to catch him and his and hand them over to the police. I rejected this on von Roeder’s and Blucher’s advise – and decided to go to Norway openly, as myself’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.176
27
Letter from Diarmuid Lynch to Kathleen O'Connell. 27 January, 1915
(Source: UCD Archives - Papers of Kathleen O'Connell (1888-1956) P155.110. Annotations in red)
Miss K. O’Connell,
624 Madison Ave
New York
Granig, Jan. 27. ’15
A Caitlín, a ċara.
Many thanks for letters etc which I was glad to get. I have been on the go between Cork, Dublin etc for the past month & did not have much time to reply.
Sorry to hear McDonough has been in hospital. Apart from this fact however I am quite sure that the G.A. (Gaelic Association – Gaelic League?) there is dead. The attitude of the League here put the finishing touch on it. Fraher, Rohan etc had no heart to do anything & as you know I did not feel like urging them.
The Brown/Geoghegan combination manages to keep me in the limelight. I saw an advance notice of this Feis in the Gaelic American some time ago. They will never amount to anything & between all the various crowds the G.L. need expect very little from Boston.
Indeed the more I see of the league myself, the less I care whether it gets money or not. Enclosed clippings will be of interest. Please forward to D.F.C. (Daniel Francis Cohalan - Judge Cohalan)
I suppose you saw the recent copy of an C.S. (an Claidheamh Soluis – Gaelic League Newspaper) containing acknowledgement of subscriptions. It looked as though the money came in since we returned & the next publication will give the same idea. It makes very little difference.
Of course you are aware that the State League acted on the Keogh letter. I would have preferred it otherwise but on the whole am glad it appeared in an C.S. – I mean the N.Y. correspondence. Your letter to Fionán re Films [two words unclear] was red at the last C.Z. [letter unclear could be an Irish G] meeting. They were amused at the objections of the County representatives. Let me know how they were taken at the Harford entertainment.
I wanted additional representatives sent out to America. The Cairde would not sanction this. They said F. and Nellie would be coming back soon and I’m satisfied it will be some time before any other expedition will be sent. (this is the second fundraising team that the Gaelic League sent to the US after Lynch & Ashe)
Glad to hear about O’BBurkes [sic] and Miss K.
No, our friend did not write me about the office. I got only the one letter since returning here. My reply was not what you’d call “Sympathetic” & I did not expect any further epistles.
Tomás (Tomas Ashe) has had a couple of letters though on general topics. I gave him my opinion on some matters.
I went out to Tomas [sic] from Dublin for a day’s shooting. Between us we got one green plover. Enough said! No I am not “N.A.”
The majority of the existing Vols (Volunteers) are on the McN (McNeill) side now. The opposition has dwindled & the whole movement more or less disrupted. Most of those who stood by J.E.R. (John Edward Redmond – IPP leader) have lost confidence but still they hold on through a mistaken sense of loyalty.
It would be a most [word begun and crossed out] difficult matter to give an opinion as to the feelings of the people at present. Their natural instincts put them on one side – the press etc swing a large percentage so that they don’t know where they stand. We are surely and extraordinary people (I don’t care to use other adjectives). Thousands left the Volunteers in disgust, other thousands because they felt it was preliminary to being marked men for an army they don’t want to join – and so it goes.
All around the coast line [sic] farmers have been warned to clear away all stock to inland points & butter, hay etc which they can’t carry in the event of a German landing. The farmers are going to do no such thing. The question is does the Govt really fear a landing, or was the move in the interest of recruiting. It makes very little difference anyway, as far as the people around here are concerned.
The general feeling at present is that conscription will not come. Others say that when the newly trained men are sent away, the Govt must resort to some sort of conscription to get another army. In case they do there will be some hot work – that much is certain.
Sorry you had such a lonely Xmas. Why didn’t you call to Máire T. It passed off as usual here. I had the usual few days shooting and that kept my mind occupied.
I have my agency with the Equitable, but there is very little business to be had. (Diarmuid was the Munster agent for Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States)
Fionan wrote Barrett recently that they could send £200. So he must have had some money in hand as Keogh had only $480.
The only items on your list of Jan 8 which came in since I left were the second & third & the last fine. I suppose I got the $5 from Fitzgerald, Detroit. How was the $480 (above) made up?
Please send me a copy of your next list to Miss W. & mark any items that may be credited to our work. I don’t suppose they will amount to much.
I understand some of the G.A. membership cards went out recently. I hope the particulars were filled in neatly.
Miss W’s salary was withdrawn just before I returned & she decided to continue the work without salary for the time being. At the last C.G. (Clann na nGael?) meeting it developed that I sent money for her & the C. ordered that all money in future come to the Treasurer in the usual course and the C. will decide what salaries are to be paid out of it as far as this side is concerned.
I note that the Ex. Party are now pushing the G. alliance. It is high time they did something along this line.
I don’t think there is any good in bothering further about the cards issued by Tomás and myself. In cases where money was collected it should of course come along, but how are we to know. One of the Foresters in Boston wrote saying he turned in his to John O’Keeffe (the man I paid the $5 for) but the latter answered none of my letters. I was told that Mrs Lynch Boston was doing some collecting but I have no means of ascertaining whether it was a case ot going to do something or not. If things were right in the League here I would write them but what’s the use!
You speak of another “form letter”. Any more circularizing would be a waste of money.
The news about Lyons amuses me. We certainly are a great people.
I never saw Miss K. since returning.
I have written to Comptroller of Telegraphs about my Cable of Nov. 9.[?]
Hope you are quite well.
Best regards. Diarmuid
P.S. I got back my property from Liverpool. (probably refers to his revolver declared to customs in Liverpool on return from the US)
Biographical notes:
Kathleen O’Connell was born in October 1888 in Caherdaniel, Co Kerry into a family with strong nationalist credentials. She emigrated to the United States in 1904. O’Connell worked as secretary to the American Delegation of the Gaelic League in New York from 1912. She joined Cumann na mBan in America in 1916 and, shortly afterwards, the Friends of Irish Freedom.
From 1919, O’Connell worked as a secretary to Eamon de Valera and Harry Boland in the US. De Valera visited the United States from June 1919 to December 1920, primarily to raise funds, but also to ask for official recognition of the Irish Republic, to secure a loan to finance the work of the government and the IRA and to secure the support of the American people for the Republic.
O’Connell returned to Ireland in January 1921 to work for de Valera in his capacity as president of the Irish Republic and president of the Irish volunteers.
On June 22nd 1921, O’Connell was arrested, along with de Valera, by British forces, but released soon afterwards. She carried on working for de Valera during the truce period and she states that on June 28th, 1922, following the outbreak of the Civil War and during a period of heavy fighting in Dublin, she carried despatches between a number of anti-Treaty posts there. O’Connell continued to work with de Valera during the Civil War until his arrest in Ennis, Co Clare on August 15th 1923. After that she worked for Sinn Féin TD for north Mayo PJ Rutledge.
28
One of the detectives was sent back to Berlin immediately with Casement’s papers.
Ernest Blythe, while working as an IRB organiser in Cork ‘gave a withering account of the state of the [ Irish ] Volunteer organisation with the single exception of that at Mitchelstown. He depicted Volunteer meetings in Mallow as little more than opportunities for drinking cheap liquor and he poured scorn on the training methods used by the Hales brothers around Bandon.’
Michael Hopkinson ’The Irish War of Independence’ Gill & MacMillan, Dublin 2002. p104
30:
Three merchant ships sunk by U-Boats in the Irish Sea.
31:
Tear gas is used for the first time by the Germans against the Russians on the Eastern Front.
Berlin: Copies of Casement’s letters to Grey were returned to him along with news from the German Admiralty that an ‘English submarine might stop the mail boat [ from Germany to Norway ] in the Baltic and demand my surrender! The staff think it possible…I said I should go on and if this happened I’d resist and not be taken alive…’
Pensive, he wrote later that evening of his situation ‘Not afraid of the submarine – but of the action of the British Government in Norway, their influences there, their power and gold and my own penniless and defenceless position. To go out, single handed, to thus challenge the mightiest Government in the world and to charge them publically with infamous criminal conspiracy though their accredited representative is a desperate act. I have no money; no friends; no support; no Government save that of the one bent on destroying me, to appeal to. They are all potent and will not sacrifice Findlay without a fight and in that fight they must win. Such were my reflections through the night’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.178
February 1915
1:
Berlin: Casement & Christensen accompanied by three armed detectives left Berlin for Sassnitz and the Baltic mail boat-ferry to Norway. While waiting in Sassnitz’s Monopol Hotel, Casement apparently reconsidered. Both his friends, von Roeder and Blucher had earlier unsuccessfully attempted to discourage him from taking such action in a neutral country but Adler Christensen managed to persuade Casement from the action. ‘I went over the pros and cons with Adler, burned some papers I found the enemy might seize if I were arrested and finally decided to return to Berlin tomorrow instead of going on. I told the three detectives this…it is not kidnapping now I fear – but the direct, open assault of the British Government and some demand for my surrender or else a law case in which, with all their wealth and power, poor Adler and I would cut a sorry figure.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.178
Berlin: News dispatch to the New York World read “Berlin wants Sir Roger to deliver Irish Revolt. Germany has paid Casement $12,000 retainer..he planned flight to United States but Britain guards sea and has ordered him seized…meanwhile the German Government is beginning to wonder when he will fulfil his promises, and to look askance at his continue residence in Germany, where he can do nothing to earn his $12,000 retainer. His friends say that it is understood, he will depart soon in strict incognito and will make a dash for America."
2:
Germany warns that all neutral shipping in British & Irish waters will be sunk without warning.
Churchill by now had issued top-secret orders to all merchant shipping
Berlin: Back in the capital, Casement writing in his diary confessed the reasons that he decided to abort his attempts to confront Findlay in Norway: ‘I had very little money left – about Mks2000. I had to fight the greatest Government in the world. Immediately I charged Findlay in Christiania with the dastardly attempt, I was sure to be assailed by England with all her power. I should probably fail completely...
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.180
And in his dealings with the German Foreign Office in 76 Wilhelmstrasse ‘..made me feel that I had made an awful fool of myself in ever believing that this Government would help Ireland. I never recovered faith in them.”
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.181
Casement returned to the Foreign Office, met with Wedel and explained why he had returned. ‘He said he thought Findlay would never dare to fight or protest – that the ‘guarantee’ was far too damning. I said all the same, the risk was far too great of defeat and that I proposed sending my letter [ to Foreign Secretary Grey ] to Holland to be posted there and then when that was done and sure of to send out copies to the Governments here represented. He agreed.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.182
A German-Irish Society was formed in Berlin and some 50,000 marks as a contribution to the Irish cause had been collected. Casement commented on Die Deutsche-Irische Gesellschaft: ‘generous indeed – but I cannot accept – at any rate it must be left to my friends in the U.S.A. to decide.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.183
3:
Hugh Lane made an unsigned codicil to his will ‘to the effect that a group of pictures now at the London National Gallery, which I had bequeathed to that institution, I now bequeath to the city of Dublin providing that a suitable building is provided for them within five years of my death.’ This was not recognised later by the British Government as it was not witnessed. The paintings were a group of 39 French Impressionist works.
Russians invade Hungary.
Berlin: Casement made some slight changes to his letter to Grey and when complete, was taken by special messenger to the Hague for mailing to London on February 4th.
4:
British casualties in seven months: 104,000.
Berlin: Casement finalised the Grey letter for distribution to the Ambassadors representing America, Austria-Hungary, Italy,. Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Romania and Switzerland. 3 copies were also made ready for sending to Rome, one each to Monsignor O’Riordan, Dr O’Hagan and Fr O’Gorman ‘begging them to use publicly and show Holy Father’.
Berlin advised that they would not publish first, but only after another country broke the news.
5:
30,000 Germans killed in battle with Russians on Eastern Front.
Sir Edward Grey in the House of Commons commented in reply to questions that ‘Sir Roger’s pension would be suspended pending investigation into his action against Great Britain’ and in reply to another question he said – the public liar! – that ‘he did not know whether Sir Roger Casement was in Germany or not’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.193
Casement’s pension was paid quarterly in arrears into his account in William Deacon’s Bank at 20 Birchin Lane, London.
6:
Berlin: Casement ‘sent a long letter to John Devoy with Grey letter. Also posted on – registered – to Bryan and State Department’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.194
Copies of the Grey letter were sent to the legations and embassies by the Continental Hotel Head Porter in a taxi.
7:
Dublin: First issue of ‘an extremist nationalist organ’ the Spark appears and continued publication until 23rd April 1916.
8:
A Galway postman was fined £1 for spreading ‘false reports that German forces had sunk six British warships’. This was also the first prosecution under the Defence of the Realm Acts ( DORA ) introduced by the Government in August 1914.
Berlin: Casement received some replies to his letter: ‘got a very courteous reply from the Swedish minister by this morning's post – and tonight a very discourteous one from the Portuguese minister. Latter refused to send my letter to Lisbon as it ‘exceeded the legal rights of his legation’ and he returned it to me.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.195
9
Berlin: Meyer of the Foreign Office met with Casement, taking the Portuguese reply to show to the Foreign Minister. He also advised that no newspaper would publish the letter in Italy as while officially neutral, most were pro-ally. Casement felt however that ‘Meyer is so secretive and lacking in frankness that he tells me nothing. I am treated by him as a sort of tool or agent – to be directed and used – but never kept informed or referred to – or consulted. Only directed…the wretched suspicion and mistrust of everybody that characterises all their conduct of public affairs again revealed here. I decided to go out to the sanatorium at Grunewald…Meyer will make a mess of everything I am convince. He and his department are the acme of stupidity and blight. I have lost all faith in their good sense and action..’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.195-6
Britain banned all cables originating from Europe.
10:
Russians defeated by Germans in Battle of Masurian Lakes. 100,000 taken prisoner.
President Wilson warns Germany that attacks on US ships breach US neutrality and also protests to Britain for allowing ships, such as the Lusitania, to fly the US flag to dupe Germans.
The Washington Post Newspaper charged that Casement ‘had received money from the Kaiser’s Government to the tune of some $12,000 for his services in promoting Irish sympathy in Ireland and in America for Germany in the present war.’ It was also suggested that the German Government was the financial backer of his crusades in the Congo and the Putumayo’
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’. Anvil Press, Co. Kerry. P55
11:
Berlin: “ I am in my room at the sanatorium writing up my diary and eating my heart out. An agent of the secret police has just called (11:20am) to ask for my ‘military pass’ – I have none. I gave him my old police card of Mr Hammond which I happily still have and referred him to the Auswartige Amt for further information. It is highly possible that they will bungle things there and I may be hauled off to jail’
This was Casement’s last entry in his regular diary from the time of his arrival in Berlin at the end of October 1914. Filling some 4 quarto notebooks of 180 pages each. Casement was to write of his dairies in one of his additions on April 9th 1916: “the diaries are very poor stuff, very poorly written and hastily put together – and would need much editing by a friend; for I often say things in them I should not like to stand for ever. It is so hard to see straight even when one is well and not troubled – and I am not well in body and have not been for long and thus greatly troubled too in mind – so that my remarks are often unjust and ill considered.” Adding the reasons why he stopped writing ‘I stopped that diary when it became clear that I was being played with, fooled and used by a most selfish and unscrupulous Government for its own sole petty interests. I did not wish to record the misery I felt or to say the things my heart prompted. But today it is my head that compels me to the unwelcome task.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.197
New York: The New York American newspaper picked up details of Casement’s open letter to Sir Edward Grey from a South American paper. It’s editor in turn cabled the British Embassy in Norway and the British Foreign Office for either confirmation or denial. No reply was received.
12:
French begin an offensive in Champagne.
Berlin: The German Government sent it’s daily news updates to the Washington Embassy, included formal comment on the British plot to assassinate Casement in Norway. This was intercepted and later passed in edited form to a US news agency for general release.
13:
McGarrity replied to the Washington Post allegations against Casement, branding them ‘mischievous untruths’ he went on to say: ‘ I can state with sufficient knowledge that Sir Roger never received a dollar from the German Government for any purpose whatever and his work in the Congo and Putumayo in the interest of humanity has made him beloved by all those who read the horrible expose and were possessed of human feelings and sympathy for the oppressed….certain English interests gave him to understand that he would be handsomely rewarded should he declined to reveal the black story of the treatment accorded the Peruvian natives, but no price was large enough to swerve him from his duty to humanity….his knowledge of England’s method of diplomacy gained in the Consular service will be a weapon he can use in the service of his beloved Ireland in her struggle for the freedom that is coming’ The Washington Post returned McGarrity letter with a formal notice declining publication.
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’. Anvil Press, Co. Kerry. P55-56
14:
New York: Casement’s open letter to Sir Edward Grey was published by the New York American following translation from a South American news-source.
18:
The planned 1916 Olympic Games in Berlin are cancelled.
German submarine 'blockade' of British Isles begins.
Winston Churchill sets up a committee to investigate the possibility of building an armoured vehicle capable of resisting bullets & shrapnel, crossing trenches, flattening barbed wire and negotiating the mud of No Man’s Land in Flanders. Walter Gordon Wilson (1874-1957), from Blackrock, Co. Dublin was put in charge of the project. Wilson had in 1899 developed the caterpillar tracks and successfully tested these in Kilkenny in 1904. Along with the London engineer, William Tritton, the first tank was completed late in 1915. The Mark 1 Tank was used for the first time at the Battle of The Somme during September 1916.
Ivor Churchill Guest, Baron Wimborne sworn in as Lord Lieutant of Ireland.
The once notorious Frank James, brother of Jesse, died at the family farm in Missouri. Sons of an Astee, Co.Kerry emigrant, the James Boys and Gang had terrorised the Mid-West from 1866-1882, holding up numerous banks, trains, stagecoaches from Iowa to Alabama and Texas. Jesse was killed in 1882 by another gang member that claimed the $10,000 ‘Alive or Dead’ reward and after a number of trials and acquittals, Frank retired to the family farm in 1883, dying in the same room as he was born.
19:
Norwegian ship, the ‘Belridge’ is the first victim of German blockade – torpedoed and sunk.
Royal Navy begins bombardment of Turkish forts in the Dardanelles in preparation for a later landing of troops to force a supply passage to Russia’s Black Sea ports. However, due to British Government delays, the troop landings took place two months later on April 25th allowing heavy reinforcement of Turkish positions.
When the Vice-Regal Aberdeen's somewhat reluctantly finally left Ireland in February 1915, an editorial in "The Leader" said that they had opened everything in Dublin "except the Parliament House in College Green and the safe containing the Crown Jewels."
Even their departure aroused ridicule in the streets of Dublin. A large crowd gathered, out of curiosity or, perhaps, some affection, to witness their leaving. Spectators first saw a mounted escort, then the Viceroy and his staff who were also mounted. When Lady Aberdeen's carriage came into view it provoked outbursts of laughter for she was holding a camera above her head which she operated with the aid of a long tube and a rubber bulb, and taking photographs of nothing in particular. Their tenure in Ireland never received the approval of smart Ascendancy society but the Aberdeen's had spent much of their own money on social improvement in more deprived areas of the country. Lady Aberdeen’s philanthropic projects specifically was her campaign against tuberculosis, though it had been said that her forceful publicity gave the unfortunate impression that everyone in Ireland was a consumptive. So it was goodbye to ‘Jumping Jack’ and ‘Blowsy Bella’
Particularly pleased to see the Aberdeen's leave was Augustine Birrell, Chief Secretary.
The Aberdeen's, whose style of hospitality was described by F.S.L. Lyons as "parsimonious and bourgeois" were succeeded by the Wimbornes. No contrast could have been greater. Wimborne, a cousin of Winston Churchill was a very wealthy man. The style of life that they brought to Vice-Regal Lodge seemed, to many, to be inappropriate in a time of war. Lady Diana Cooper described visiting there. "I went straight up to dinner at the Vice Regal Lodge in the grandest tenure and alone. Perfect, I thought - don't believe a word said against it. Forty to dinner, Convention men, Labour ones and Peers - red ties, diamond studs and stars. The Laverys, McEvoy, Leonie Leslie, A.E. - in fact a court as we would choose one. Her Excellency clotted and weighed down with jewels. Ivor flashy but very graceful - flashy from being unlike the King but not unlike a King. The tables and its pleasures a treat - all gold and wine and choicest fruit. One Conventioneer said he had never tasted a peach before. (l didn't believe him.) The footmen too, such beauties, battling with their silver cords, blinded by powder."
Devoy comments in his ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ of the problems he and Clan na Gael faced from other Irishmen and Irish-American’s wishing to aid and assist the Irish cause:
“The strong individuality of the Irishman is his best quality, but it often turns out to be his most dangerous one. He is always inclined to ‘butt in’, convinced that he could do things better than those entrusted with the task…among those who ‘butted in’ were some men who might be expected to know better. Letters from Irishmen, offering all sorts of suggestions, began to reach the German Ambassador, and they were all referred to me. Some of these were undoubtedly from British spies and were transparently dishonest, but others were from men I knew’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P436
Devoy details of schemes and suggestions from those he knew, ranging from starting a pro-German New York paper, to a German financed subsidy of Irish newspapers known to be anti-recruiting. Devoy considered this as foolhardy as it would have ‘leaked out in Ireland, and Arthur Griffith and all others connected with the anti-recruiting campaign would have been hanged…but I cannot imagine Griffith accepting German money’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P443
The next man to ‘butt in’ was none other than the militant pacifist and feminist Dubliner, Francis Sheehy Skeffington. He wrote in while in a small Belgian town, passing it on to the local German commander. The letter eventually arrived on Devoy’s desk after being processed through the German Foreign Office and the German Embassy in Washington DC. Devoy described its contents: “It began with an admission that he did not belong to any Irish revolutionary organisation, but said the leaders trusted him. It recited the effective work done by the anti-recruiting movement, pointed out its importance to the Germans and made an estimate of the cost of keeping it going….although violently opposed to all war, Skeffington evidently wanted England beaten in that particular war, and was willing to make a pacifists contribution towards bringing about that result….had the English Government the smallest scrap of evidence that Skeffington had written that letter, or held any sort of communication with the Germans in Belgium, he would doubtless have been executed long before ‘Easter Week’.
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P443
There was another Irish-American working behind the scenes in Germany, unknown for some time to Devoy and the Clan. Brogan ( who was ‘never a real Nationalist and sneered at the Clan na Gael at every opportunity… a glib talker’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P444 ) had been sent there by the German-American owner of the New York Evening Mail, Rumely. By the time Devoy heard of his presence, he fired off a stiff warning note to Casement on February 19th . As all correspondence between Devoy and Casement travelled by courier, he had to wait for the letter to leave New York.
24
Berlin: Casement sent telegrams to the Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs and the British Ambassador to Norway, Findlay, repeating earlier statements on the conspiracy to kidnap him and bribery of Christensen. Both were sanctioned by the German Government through the Prussian Minister in Hamburg, von Bulow. There was no reply to either.
25
Allied fleet destroys outer forts of Dardanelles in Turkey.
27
Cork Irish Volunteers took over new headquarters at Sheares Street.
Germany: Anthony Fokker invented a method of firing a machine gun so that the bullet went between the blades of a whirling propeller. With synchronised machine guns, Aircraft could now fight each other in the air.
March 1915
1:
Navy blockade of Germany begins. All shipping to Germany to be impounded in UK/France.
Casement received a visitor at the Continental Hotel, Berlin which he later described in a letter to Devoy. It was none other than Brogan ‘accompanied by a friend of the German Army – the son of a well known and highly placed officer in Germany…he explained who he was and that he had come to Europe solely to assist ‘The Cause’ and would do nothing I disapproved of. He was vouched for by his military friend who had known him in the USA. ‘
2
Allied troops land at Kum-Kale, on Asiatic side of the Dardanelles in Turkey.
4:
Berlin: Casement made a final attempt to publicise the Findlay affair with a formal comment to the Norwegian Ambassador to Germany, that ‘as I have received no reply wither to my letter or telegrams, I feel at liberty to assume that neither the Norwegian Government nor the British Government is in a position to disprove the charge I have formally preferred against the British minister in Norway and those he represents. I therefore, hold myself free to take such further steps as may be desirable to deal with this matter’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.214
In addition, similar letters were mailed to the Ambassadors representing America, Austria-Hungary, Italy,. Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Romania and Switzerland based in Berlin.
5 -10: Casement in Hamburg.
9:
Germans defeat Russians at Grodno on the Eastern Front.
10:
British take Neuve Chapelle on the Western Front.
Eleanor Birrel, the Irish Chief Secretary wife died from an inoperable brain tumour. He returned to Dublin full time.
Pearse, Plunkett, Hobson and the O'Rahilly were made commandants on the Headquarters Staff of the Irish Volunteers. The Battalion Commanders were also appointed: No.1: Ned Daly, No.2: Thomas MacDonagh, No.3: Eamon De Valera, No.4: Eamon Ceannt. All but De Valera and the O'Rahilly were members of the IRB.
An order signed by Pearse - Director of Organisation, the Irish Volunteers:
‘Every Company of the Irish Volunteers is to provide itself with an Irish flag which is to be carried on recruiting marches, at church parades etc.. the authorised flag is a plain gold harp on a green ground and no other flag, except authorised regiment colours is to be carried by bodies of the Irish Volunteers..”
Diarmuid Lynch papers. National Library of Ireland MS 31-409(5)
Casement returned to Berlin from Hamburg. Received the letter from Devoy dated 19th February and discussed the matter of Brogan with German officials. When confronted with the accusations from the US, Brogan protested ‘he gave me references Dr. John F Kelly in New York and others, and declared that he had never made money from his patriotism and that he only desired to work with me and do anything he could to help the cause I directed.’ Sir Roger Casement to John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P445
11:
HMS Bayano sunk off Scotland.
14:
German Battleship ‘Dresden’ sunk in the Pacific.
15:
Berlin: Casement drafted a final statement on the Findlay affair, commenting on ‘the London correspondents of several so-called American newspapers cabled to their journals a series of slanders against the man whose charge the British Government could not refute…one of the lies set on foot in New York is that Sir Roger Casement was paid $12,000 (50,000 marks ) by the German Government to instigate a rebellion in Ireland. Another of the lies manufactured by the Downing Street Lie Factory for export was that Dir R.Casement employed the Norwegian, Christensen, to blackmail Findlay, the British Minister in Christiania, and has used for his own purposes the money Christensen obtained under false pretences. Yet another London lie cabled from Downing Street to New York is that Sir Roger Casement is now in jail in Germany for trying to blackmail the German Government, who getting tired of his importunity, locked him up…[Casement] cannot meet the British Government on their ‘home pitch’ – the ground of calumny, slander and defamation – chosen in preference to meeting him before the Tribunals of the country, whose neutrality they violated and whose law they outraged…[and] is forced to leave them to the undisputed use of the chief weapons in their armoury – the black lie and the slanderer’s knife – and to rely for his defence on the one weapon they do not possess – the truth.’
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.197
17:
Plunkett chosen by the Supreme Council of the I.R.B. to travel to Germany to begin organising plans for German military aid in event of a rising. He had a history of ill-health with many years spent in Italy, Sicily, Malta and Algeria and this was used as a cloak for his I.R.B. activities. He left Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day travelling to Berlin via London, Paris, Barcelona, Genoa and Berne under the alias of Johann Peters of San Francisco. He kept a secret diary of the journey, partly in English and partly in ungrammatical Irish.
Sean T. O’Kelly was sent on a secret mission to the US to contact John Devoy, Judge Cohalan and Joseph McGarrity to request funds for the future rising. “..in order to avoid the police, I mapped for myself a devious course to America. I boarded a tram for Dalkey, and there took the train to Greystones, where my younger brother Michael met me with my small suitcase. Then I headed for Rosslare and boarded a boat for Farnborough, England. After a two day visit with my married sister…I travelled to Liverpool, took a third class berth on SS St. Paul and set off on an extremely uncomfortable sailing to New York..’
S.T.O’Kelly in “The Irish Uprising 1916-1922”. CBS NY 1966. P98.
Casement discussed further the matter of Brogan with German authorities who advised him that he could prove of use in Germany. Brogan was now sent to Limburg and the Irish soldiers ‘who reported his visit as useful’. Sir Roger Casement to John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P445
18
An amendment to the DORA regulations now allowed trial of non-alien civilians by jury in civil courts.
Berlin: Casement sent a cable to his old friend, John Quinn in New York advising that he had sent a letter to him via the German Embassy in Washington, requesting he represent his interests in suing the New York World for libel following the publication of allegations he took a $12,000 retainer from the German Government. The message was intercepted by Room 40.
20:
Eastern Front: Russians capture Memel.
Western Front: French offensive in Champagne fails.
22
Austrian fortress of Przmysl surrenders to Russians.
With widespread victimisation of Irish Volunteers in public and private employment, it became necessary to found a national organisation to relieve financial distress amongst their members families. An Cumann Cosanta began.
Casement’s letter to John Quinn arrived at his office in New York via the German Consul office. Quinn refused the request. That morning the New York Times reported from London that ‘Casement to Sue for Libel – Sir Roger reported to be vexed at the New York World’ that the London Daily Mail said that Casement has ‘instructed his attorney in New York to proceed against the New York World, owing to a suggestion of the World that he was not entirely unacquainted with German Government moneys’
W. J.Maloney. “The Forged Casement Diaries.” Talbot Press, Dublin 1936. p84
John Quinn wrote to the German Ambassador, von Bernstorff, giving reasons for refusing to act, of which the last was:
‘it is doubtful whether the statement however personally annoying is libellous unless it is more directly concerned with other facts. It would be no crime for Sir Roger to have been paid by Germany. It does not reflect upon his integrity, or his honour, or his personal reputation. He is acting for Germany. He is doing it openly not secretly. It would be the most natural thing in the world if Germany did help him out, particularly as he has lost his pension…for all these reasons the institution of a libel suit would I think be inadvisable and would be out of the question for me.’
W. J.Maloney. “The Forged Casement Diaries.” Talbot Press, Dublin 1936. p84
24:
Casement reported to Devoy that Brogan had now left Germany ‘on a mission of which I have no details…I have heard nothing of him since, and believe he went to a neutral country first and then further. His mission I gathered involved danger to himself and is of service to the cause. He may prove of use, and so far as I can see and the authorities here. He cannot do harm here but may prove very serviceable to them.’
26:
Suffragettes are promised equal pay with men for war work.
27: The Helga, operated by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction was taken over by the Admiralty and re-commisioned as an ‘armed steam yacht’.
30:
King George V offers to abstain from alcohol for the war’s duration as an example to workers.
The four Russian armies invading Austria advanced steadily through Galicia; they took Przemysl and Bukovina, and by the end of March 1915 were in a position to move into Hungary
April 1915
Redmond’s National Volunteers continuously overshadowed the Irish Volunteers by sheer numbers. The largest gathering was for Easter Sunday in the Dublin'’ Phoenix Park when 27,000 National Volunteers assembled.
1:
Germans sink 3 British trawlers.
Over 33,000 women have signed up for war service.
2:
Devoy, unaware of developments between Casement and Brogan, sent off a wireless message from the German Embassy in Washington advising ‘this New York man is dishonest’.
Combined German and Austrian army drove the Russians back from the Carpathians
4:
Casement received the Devoy message and wrote later to New York that he ‘thought him honest and believed he changed from Redmondism quite sincerely when he saw where it was going. He said again and again that John Devoy [ John Devoy ] was right from the start and all Irishmen now saw it, but he thought J.D. too bitter against those who had differed from him, and trusted that now all Irishmen would pull together.’ Sir Roger Casement to John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P445-446
Devoy commented that ‘Casement’s plea that the fellow could do no harm was a specimen of his good natured, easy going methods’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P446
Brogan in fact had been sent to Italy where Casement had sent him some documents. Acting on the latest news from New York, he appeared to have had second thoughts and requested German officials to intercept the courier before the documents were handed over. Devoy recalled these were picked up in Switzerland but admitted he never found out what they were. Nothing more was heard of Brogan until the O’Donovan Rossa funeral in August 1915.
Pearse organised a mock battle for the Irish Volunteers outside Dublin.
5:
Western Front: French army begins offensive from the Meuse to Moselle.
Allied plans were finalised for a troop landing in Turkey and to force their way up the narrow straits towards Constantinople.
Sean T. O'Kelly on the mission to Clan na Gael in the US, was in contact with Devoy, Cohalan and McGarrity. It took the Clan almost a month to source the funds (considered highly unusual, that is until the day of the sailing around May 2nd. )
Berlin: Casement, replying to a letter from Dr Chatterton Hill, released from prison following his intercession with the German Government, commented: “The Irish cause is a penniless cause unless you enter it to betray. Those faithful to it always met disaster…there is no living in being an Irish patriot. It is the lost cause of history! Men can serve Ireland only by sacrificing themselves…”
Dr. Charles E Curry. “Diaries of Sir Roger Casement – His Mission to Germany & The Findlay Affair.” Arche Publishing Co, Munich. Germany 1922. Lynch Archives – Granig. P.223
6:
Casement managed to get a letter couriered from Germany to Devoy in New York, in which he described progress with the Irish Brigade, the ‘Poor Brothers’ and outlined some of the difficulties he was facing:
‘With regard to the ‘Poor Brothers’ things are improving and today I got fairly good news. There is a chance of a move there – but nothing can be said openly yet. The day I cable ‘publish text’ you will know that the men have responded and that the Treaty of Alliance and recognition may be proclaimed. The first need is officers. Something must be done to have these available, for as you see from the Treaty, no active operations can be undertaken until our own nationality is in command. …so far as Ireland is concerned, everything, almost, depends on this effort. If this cannot be done, nothing is done…”
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P437
Devoy commenting some years later wrote ‘It will be noted that Casement developed the idea that his mission was the really important part of the movement. We in America were convinced that our most essential task was to furnish, to the utmost, means whereby the men in Ireland could arm and equip themselves…as to the measure of risk which Irishmen were taking and were ready to assume to a greater extent was to be found in the activities of the IRB and the Volunteers in Ireland in the teeth of the British Government …(and ) the manner in which the men of the Clan na Gael not alone financed the men at home but stood up to all the pro-British propaganda in this country and to the antagonism of the Wilson administration..’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P437
Also in this letter, Casement commented that he was short of funds. A small group of German supporters raised a sum of money for him, but “I don't like taking this German fund and in any event it is for the general cause and I personally cannot touch it – yet for the moment I am forced to use some of it on my personal needs, as all my other money came to an end three weeks ago – owing chiefly to the Findlay outlay.’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P421-422
Devoy commented that ‘over the remaining months of 1915, we forwarded to Casement five remittances of $1,000 each…I dislike to dwell at such length on these money matters..I repeat that Casement with regard to expenditures on himself was one of the most economical of men and he was the soul of honour’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P422
9:
Casement sent a long communiqué to the New York American for publication as it appeared the newspaper had misquoted. Devoy recalled the incident, writing that the New York American did not publish it as it had ‘covered some two months earlier and which at the latter date had lost it’s ‘news value’. This Casement did not understand and he seemed not to appreciate the fact that the American in the first instance had done him and his friends here a great service in giving such wide publicity to the English murder plot’.
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P430
Meanwhile, Adler Christensen who had travelled with Casement on Oskar II, made a statement under oath before the Vice Consul of the United States in Berlin regarding the events the previous year in the British Embassy, Norway.
10:
Clan na Gael handed another $1,000 to von Papen for transfer to Germany for Casement.
15:
Many of Casement’s letters to Devoy did not reach New York, either captured en-route or destroyed. One that did reach him was a note dated 15 April 1915 where Casement again argued the case for an officer, preferably Irish American with at least the position of Colonel to lead the small band of recruits. Devoy’s response was one attempting to reason with Casement, that no American Officer would take command of 50 deserters, let alone one of such a ranking as requested.
17
April 1915, the German embassy in Washington sent warnings to the newspapers in New York to the effect that the passengers travelling on Allied ships did so at their own risk. For its 17 April voyage from Liverpool the Lusitania was commanded by Captain William Turner, who relieved Captain Dow when he went on leave. It made its final sailing from Pier 54 in New York on 1 May 1915, with some 1,959 passengers on board, amongst whom were the usual sprinkling of famous and wealthy. The cargo was entered on the manifest as foodstuffs, metal rods, ingots and boxes of cartridges. Controversy about the true nature of the cargo would persist for many years.
From Neil McCarthy “ Atlantic Liners of the Cunard Line from 1884 to the Present Day “ - PSL, 1993.
20:
Joseph Plunkett arrived in Berlin, travelling under the alias, James Malcolm, and imitated meetings and discussions within the German High Command and Von Bethman Holliveg. Plunkett had brought with him detailed assessments of British strengths in Ireland, detailing barracks, troop numbers, artillery etc. The information had been carried in Plunkett’s hollowed out walking stick. There he requested 50,000 rifles and ammunition for the Irish Volunteers. He was in turn told bluntly that the Irish-Americans in the US should provide them.
President Wilson urges strict US neutrality for the duration of the war.
Lloyd George urges the adoption of war economy.
Berlin: Suspicion had surround Adler Christensen for some time in the motivation for his dealings with Casement. Rumours had circulated for some time that he was little more than a swindler and a liar and the distinct possibility of being a double-agent in the pay of the British legation in Norway.
22:
Western Front: The Spring offensive was launched against the entrenched Germans at Ypres becoming the Second Battle of Ypres. Over the next month, a mere quarter square mile of wood was captured at cost of 69,000 killed, 164,000 wounded. The first day of battle, the German’s sent a cloud of poison chlorine gas from 5,000 cylinders rolling over the Allied lines. British lines collapsed as the gas caused troops to smother on their own blood from damaged lungs. German forces were unprepared for the breakthrough. Quickly, British forces used their own gas against German lines leading to indiscriminate use by both sides.
25:
Gallipoli Campaign (April 25, 1915-January 8, 1916), major land and sea operation of World War I, in which British, French, Australian, and New Zealand forces unsuccessfully attempted an invasion of Turkey. The action was confined to the Dardanelles Strait and the tip of the Gallipoli (Gelibolu) Peninsula near Istanbul. The purpose of the campaign, devised by British munitions minister David Lloyd George, first lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, General Herbert H. Kitchener, and Admiral Sackville H. Carden, was to open up a new theatre of war as an alternative to the stalemate in France, to relieve Turkish pressure on Russian forces in the Caucasus, and, by gaining control of Istanbul and the straits, to provide a direct link with Russia via the Black Sea. What initially was to be exclusively a naval operation failed in February 1915 when several British and French ships were damaged by floating mines. A land invasion was then decided on, but it was not begun until late April. An amphibious landing at that time was met with heavy resistance by the Turks. Excessive caution and timorous leadership by the British commander, Sir Ian Hamilton, resulted in several lost initiatives. Little headway was made beyond the several beachheads. In early August, after three months of stalemate and stagnation on the beaches, a new major offensive was begun. Once again, however, the caution and indifferent leadership of the British command offset the effect of heavy reinforcements. The Turkish forces, on the other hand, were inspired by the leadership of Mustafa Kemal (Kemal Atatürk, later president of Turkey) and the skill of their German commander, Otto Liman von Sanders. Australian, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth forces facing Kemal's troops suffered particularly badly. After a few more months of stalemate, Hamilton was replaced by Sir Charles Monro, who was sent to evaluate the situation. Monro recommended evacuation, and the allied forces were withdrawn in December and January.
British, Australian, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth casualties were 205,000 out of 410,000 troops committed; the French sustained a rate of 47,000 out of 79,000; Turkish, 250,000 to 300,000 out of 500,000. The fiasco badly stained the reputations of Churchill, Hamilton, and Kitchener, and created an enduring myth of British callousness and incompetence in Australia and New Zealand. Despite its overall failure, however, the Gallipoli campaign weakened the Turks enough to facilitate the British seizure of Palestine in 1917. The action also distracted the Germans from a plan they had in 1915 to begin another offensive in France.
Amongst the ANZAC forces landing were the First Royal Munster Fusiliers on V Beach. To put ashore a large number of troops in quick succession on the beach-head, an old collier, the River Clyde was run aground at 6.30am and troops rushed out of specially cut doors, along a flimsy catwalk and over a bridge of lighters. They ran straight into concentrated Turkish machine gun and small arms fire. Some 1,000 soldiers from the Munster Fusiliers and the Hampshire Regiment were killed on the gangways or died in the water, the remainder stayed aboard the collier. A bare handful managed to get ashore and dug themselves in. One officer wrote ‘the dear men were just mown down in scores into a bloody silence.’
26:
Churchill’s plan to supply the Russian’s by forcing a passage through the Dardanelles began as Australian, New Zealander, British and French forces storm ashore at Gallipoli. Men from the Munster & Dublin Fusiliers landed at ‘V Beach’ where heavy casualties were reported from heavily fortified Turkish forts. Australian losses were heavy at ‘ANZAC Cove’ & Suvla Bay.
Another Treaty of London was signed secretly between Italy, Britain and France following promises made on Austrian-Hungarian territory along with the coast of Dalmatia and some of the German African colonies to be ceded to Italy at the end of the war. While the Italian leadership signed, there was a strong neutralist feeling among the Italians. War would be declared within a month.
29:
Commons adopts heavy increases in duties on alcohol.
30:
Dunkirk comes under German bombardment.
Germany invades Russia’s Baltic provinces.
Some 38 years after a major difference of opinion between both men, John Devoy met with O’Donovan Rossa following a request from the old man to see him. ‘He recognised me an once, lifted his enfeebled hand to mine and said ‘John, I’m sorry we ever quarrelled’ . I could say nothing but t ‘So am I , Rossa.’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P330.
May 1915
James Connolly’s newspaper “Workers’ Republic” began publication. He was obliged to register the publication under the 1881 Newspaper Libel and Registration Act, but as this would have quickly brought it to the authorities attention under the 1914 Defence of the Realm Act as a potentially seditious newspaper, Connolly simply did not register. The subject of armed insurrections were announced in the 29th May edition, yet despite the content of the ‘Workers Republic’…
‘..No action was taken against it. This argues a dispensation rather mild than otherwise, for the ‘Workers Republic’ was a highly provocative sheet. Each week, on its back page, it would discuss insurrection in terms of what had taken place other times in other countries, for example, in Moscow in 1905, or the Tyrol in 1809; or at the Alamo - ‘one of those defeats that are often more valuable to a cause than loudly trumpeted victories’..Connolly was thinking in terms of... military action. In 1915, he know nothing of the tentative plans being made for a Rising in the spring of 1916, not a member of the I.R.B., still less of its Military Council...’
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.152
Connolly was by now reformulating his earlier socialist theories on the Irish, British and European working classes. The August 1914 nationalism where thousands joined the armed forces to slaughter each other on European battlefields caused a radical shift in the theory that socialism would destroy nationalism
‘He concluded that is socialism were to come to Ireland at all, it could only come through nationalism, or rather through republicanism’
Prof JJ Lee. ‘Ireland 1912-1985 Politics and Society’ Cambridge University Press 1990. P20
Plunkett spends the month with Casement near Limburg, where the Irish Prisoners of War had been transferred. Efforts to recruit from the 2,000 strong only resulted in 53 joining the Irish Brigade. These were later transferred to Zossen, near Berlin where the Germans refused to arm them due to ‘their lack of discipline’. Austen Morgan. ‘James Connolly – a political biography’. Manchester University Press. 1988. .p158
In fact, it appears that the men were frequently brawling with German troops, although the historian McColl commented that the Germans found the Irish nearly as objectionable as the French and brawled with them in various beer gardens.
MacColl…Roger Casement p 145-146
A prominent Dubliner at this time was Francis Sheehy-Skeffington. Counted James Joyce as one of his friends, being portrayed as McCann in ‘Portrait of the Artist as a young man’ But he was also
‘ ... a great embracer of causes - he was a feminist, a vegetarian, a teetotaller, a pacifist, a socialist. Tobacco and vivisection had no greater enemy. Larkin and Connolly no better friend than he. His appearance was all of a piece with the rest of him. He was small and wiry, with a reddish-brown beard and keen serious eyes. He was usually dressed in tweeds, knickerbockers, long stockings, boots and a cloth cap. On his lapel there would be a large button with the words ‘Votes for Women’
In Dublin he was known and highly regarded as a crank; since his views were barely respectable this did not prevent him from being often assaulted in one way or another ‘After blows of fists, stocks or umbrellas’ writes Professor Roger McHugh ‘he would still have his way, and one Dublin snap shot of memory, catches Skeffington, clinging to a lamp post from which he is being dragged by the police, and saying in his high-pitched voice ‘one further point before I go...’
He had a brilliant mind which no one would accuse of being overburdened with humour. On the other hand, he was a gentle and lovable man, with a wife ( she was Hanna Sheehy, the strong minded daughter of a Nationalist MP. ) who shared to the full his passion for humanitarian causes and his disregard for the ordinary creature comforts...’
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.194
Sheehy-Skeffington was well known to Dublin Castle for his anti-recruiting stance, normally trumpeted from the steps of Liberty Hall or from the pages of the ‘Irish Citizen’, ‘The Nationalist’ or ‘The National Democrat’. He published works on Michael Davit in 1906 and 1908.
1:
Widespread resentment of new anti-alcohol measures reported from Ireland.
American steamer Gulflight torpedoed off Scilly Isles by German submarine; 3 lives lost.
New York Papers advertise notice from the German Ambassador, Count Bernstorff, warning American nationals not to sail on the Lusitania. That morning, she sailed from Pier 54 with 1,959 passengers & crew plus and an unlisted cargo of contraband (1248 shells for the British war effort ). Americans still believed in their right, as members of a neutral nation, to travel unharmed.
2:
Sean T. O'Kelly was met on the morning he was due to sail for Ireland by Denis Spellissey, an officer of the Clan. “..Spellissey arrived with two large cardboard boxes which, he told me, contained the money. Each of the boxes held one thousand English gold sovereigns: he had thought it would make a glorious gesture for us to buy the arms with which we were to fight the English with English gold, and he had gone to enormous trouble to get hold of the sovereigns. I suggested, as gently as I could, considering my hurry, that the gesture be preserved in memory – his and mine – and that he hurry to a bank and exchange the gold for twenty five and fifty pound notes. He was as I could see, disappointed, but I shuddered to imagine myself trying to get through customs and the long journey ahead with two large cardboard boxes filled with gold….back in Dublin I gave Tom Clarke £1000 for the IRB and Eoin McNeill £1000 for the Volunteers…”
Sean T. O'Kelly reminiscence. “The Irish Uprising” CBS 1966. P.98
Michael Mallin, who had served in the British Army in India was now responsible for getting the Citizen Army into an efficient military group. He imposed an immediate and strict discipline along with outdoor exercises on Sundays and bank holidays. Arms were few, but most were either bought or stolen from Richmond Barracks in Inchicore. Mallin lived in Emmet Hall at the time and every so often, a sympathetic soldier would spirit the occasional rifle over the adjoining wall. Mallin appeared to be versatile, between instilling army discipline and gun running, he found time to conduct the four-member Worker’s Orchestra based in Liberty Hall.
Austro-German troops launch offensive against Russians in Galicia.
British South Africa troops under General Botha capture Otymbingue, German Southwest Africa.
3:
Western Front: French bombard HQ of German Crown Prince
Lloyd George’s budget statement says the war is costing Britain £2.1 million per day.
Allegations of heavy drinking by armament workers. Lloyd George describes the three main enemies as Germany, Austria and Drink.
7:
Lloyd George withdraws scheme to impose higher duties on alcohol.
The Lusitania had now entered what was called the danger zone, waters in which enemy submarines might be expected. Captain Turner took all possible precautions ordering all the lifeboats to be swung out, all the bulkhead doors to be closed, look-outs to be doubled and steam pressure to be kept high to give the ship all possible speed in case of emergency. At 8.00am speed was reduced to 18 knots to secure the ship's arrival at the bar outside Liverpool at 4.00am the following day, in order to catch the high tide. At 12.40pm the ships course was altered in order to make a better landfall. The ship was brought closer to land and the Old Head of Kinsale was sighted at 1.40pm. Having steadied the ship on this course an officer began to make a four-point bearing at 1.50pm, but this was never completed.
At 2.00pm the passengers were finishing their lunch as the submarine U20 skippered by 32 year old Kapitanleutnant Schwiger readied to launch torpedoes, exploding on the starboard side, between the third and fourth funnels. Almost simultaneously there was a second explosion, which was thought at the time to be a second torpedo but has since been confirmed as an internal explosion. The Lusitania lost all lighting and immediately took on a heavy list to starboard and in about 20 minutes it had sunk, with the loss of 1,198 lives. The ship sank bow first, with its stern almost perpendicular out of the water, just as the Titanic had done some 3 years earlier and settled 315 feet down. Casualties included 118 Americans, among them Alfred Vanderbilt. Another casualty was Hugh Lane, returning from a purchasing expedition in the United States with a case of paintings. Although these may have been destroyed, it is also possible they were stored in protective lead cylinders and may have survived. Prior to sailing, Sir Hugh made a number of bequests of paintings which eventually resulted in the National Gallery of Modern Art being established. .
Between 8 and 11 p.m. that night, boat after boat put in to Queenstown and Kinsale with survivors and dead.
There were complaints from some of the survivors about the manner in which the lifeboats were launched, their condition and the lack of leadership from the ship's officers. The political repercussions were enormous, although it did not directly bring the United States into the War.
From Neil McCarthy “ Atlantic Liners of the Cunard Line from 1884 to the Present Day “ - PSL, 1993.
The American Ambassador in London wired to President Wilson, virtually urging him to cast neutrality aside in favour of Britain against Germany.
The long awaited British confirmation that the Lusitania was carrying munitions came 81 years after the sinking. The Irish Times carried the headline on May 15th, 1996:
'Lusitania' was carrying munitions, court is told
An American millionaire who owns the wreck of the ill-fated liner Lusitania, told the High Court yesterday that the British authorities had admitted two years ago that munitions were present on board the vessel.
Mr F. Gregg Bemis Jnr, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, was granted a declaration by Mr Justice Barr that he was the sole owner of the wreck. The State, though not opposing that claim, will be contending in the courts that it owns the cargo and especially any pictures belonging to the late Sir Hugh Lane's collection which might be on board. English and US courts have already decided the former Cunard luxury liner is owned by Mr Bemis. He is currently appealing a US court's decision refusing him ownership of the cargo.
Giving evidence yesterday in support of his claim, Mr Bemis referred to a letter from the British Treasury Solicitor of October 13th, 1994, in which, he claimed, it was admitted there were munitions on board.
Mr Bemis said the letter had been sent to Davey and Associates in Norfolk, Virginia, representing Fifty Fathoms, a group of four US divers challenging his ownership who had dived that summer (1994) and had pillaged the ship.
The letter, signed "pp David Stalker, for the Treasury Solicitor", stated: "I regret to say that my records in relation to the Lusitania are not as clear as might be but I can tell you that she carried a cargo owned by the Ministry of Munitions in which this office has an interest, by virtue of the Ministry of Munitions Cessation Order of 1921 which transferred the interests of the Ministry of Munitions to the Treasury Solicitor….Being Crown cargo, the MOM cargo was not insured and remains the property of the Treasury Solicitor….I have just acquired a report of the proceedings in camera at the formal investigation into the circumstances attending the foundering on May 7th, 1915, which I will need to read to ascertain whether or not they can shed any further light as to the cargo carried."
Mr Bemis said the wreck had a political significance for Irish people, who had tried to save as many lives as they could. It was his objective to be able to offer artefacts to museums in Cork and Kinsale and mount a travelling exhibition. Mr Justice Barr, granting the declaration of ownership, said he was satisfied Mr Bemis was the sole and exclusive owner of the rights, title and interest in the Lusitania, the hull, tackle, appurtances, engines and apparel. The judge said Mr Bemis also claimed ownership of the cargo and personal effects of the passengers and crew, and this had been adjourned for hearing to a later date.
© Copyright: The Irish Times Wednesday, May 15th, 1996.
Germans capture Libau, Russian Baltic port.
8:
Casualties in the disastrous Gallipoli campaign totalled 6,000 dead and 14,000 injured out of a total Allied force of 70,000.
29:
At a meeting of the I.R.B Executive, Diarmuid Lynch in capacity of acting-Secretary (substituting Sean MacDermott who was in prison) proposed to co-opt P.H.Pearse (then Operations Director of the Irish Volunteers),Joseph Plunkett and Eamon Ceannt to the ‘Military Committee’ ( termed ‘The Military Council’ after the Rising ) Although none of the three was a member of the Supreme Council, the motion was approved by Dennis McCullough and Tom Clarke.
Sean O’Hegarty was requested by the Supreme Council to check the depths of waters in Kinsale harbour at various stages of tide and later sent to Kerry with an instruction for Austin Stack to supply similar information on Tralee Bay. This was to facilitate the possible landing of arms by German submarine.
Western Front: 2nd battle of Artois begins.
10:
Pearse wrote in the ‘Irish Volunteer’:
‘We want recruits because we are absolutely determined to take action the moment action becomes a duty. If a moment comes when the Irish Volunteers will be justified to their consciences in taking definite military action, such action will be taken.’
In the same issue, Hobson wrote ‘They [the Irish Volunteers ] seek no quarrels either at home or abroad’
Florence O’Donoghue. ‘Thomas MacCurtain – Soldier & Patriot’ Anvil Books, Tralee, Co. Kerry. 1971. p.58
Zeppelins bomb London for first time.
11:
Rupert Brooke’s collection of poems “1914 & Other Poems” published:
The Soldier
If I should die think only this of me
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is forever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England’s, breathing English air.
Washed by the rivers, blest by sons of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away.
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace under an English heaven.
Brooke, Rupert Chawner (1887-1915), English poet, born in Rugby, Warwickshire, and educated at King's College, University of Cambridge. While serving with the British Royal Naval Division during World War I, Brooke died of blood poisoning in Greece. His untimely death, his great personal attraction, and the charm of his verse made him a symbol of all the gifted youth killed in that war. His first collection Poems, was published in 1911; “The Old Vicarage, Grantchester”, Brooke's tribute to the lovely village near Cambridge, appeared in 1912. The poet's most famous work, the sonnet sequence 1914 and Other Poems, embodying the mood of romantic patriotism of the early war years, was published in the year of his death. These poems continue the boyish idealism of his earlier poetry. In The Letters of Rupert Brooke (1968) are found poignant views on the tragedy and waste of war. His experiences in the United States and Canada are described in Letters from America (1916).
12:
President Wilson demands explanation and compensation for sinking of the Lusitania in an official protest to Berlin:
To Ambassador Gerard:
Please call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and after reading to him this communication leave with him a copy.
In view of recent acts of the German authorities in violation of American rights on the high seas which culminated in the torpedoing and sinking of the British steamship Lusitania on May 7, 1915, by which over 100 American citizens lost their lives, it is clearly wise and desirable that the Government of the United States and the Imperial German Government should come to a clear and full understanding as to the grave situation which has resulted.
The sinking of the British passenger steamer Falaba by a German submarine on March 28, through which Leon C. Thrasher, an American citizen, was drowned; the attack on April 28 on the American vessel Cushing by a German aeroplane; the torpedoing on May 1 of the American vessel Gulflight by a German submarine, as a result of which two or more American citizens met their death and, finally, the torpedoing and sinking of the steamship Lusitania, constitute a series of events which the Government of the United States has observed with growing concern, distress, and amazement.
Recalling the humane and enlightened attitude hitherto assumed by the Imperial German Government in matters of international right, and particularly with regard to the freedom of the seas; having learned to recognize the German views and the German influence in the field of international obligation as always engaged upon the side of justice and humanity; and having understood the instructions of the Imperial German Government to its naval commanders to be upon the same plane of human action prescribed by the naval codes of other nations, the Government of the United States was loath to believe -- it cannot now bring itself to believe -- that these acts, so absolutely contrary to the rules, the practices, and the spirit of modern warfare, could have the countenance or sanction of that great Government. It feels it to be its duty, therefore, to address the Imperial German Government concerning them with the utmost frankness and in the earnest hope that it is not mistaken in expecting action on the part of the Imperial German Government which will correct the unfortunate impressions which have been created and vindicate once more the position of that Government with regard to the sacred freedom of the seas.
The Government of the United States has been apprised that the Imperial German Government considered themselves to be obliged by the extraordinary circumstances of the present war and the measures adopted by their adversaries in seeking to cut Germany off from all commerce, to adopt methods of retaliation which go much beyond the ordinary methods of warfare at sea, in the proclamation of a war zone from which they have warned neutral ships to keep away. This Government has already taken occasion to inform the Imperial German Government that it cannot admit the adoption of such measures or such a warning of danger to operate as in any degree an abbreviation of the rights of American shipmasters or of American citizens bound on lawful errands as passengers on merchant ships of belligerent nationality; and that it must hold the Imperial German Government to a strict accountability for any infringement of those rights, intentional or incidental....
The Government of the United States, therefore, desires to call the attention of the Imperial German Government with the utmost earnestness to the fact that the objection to their present method of attack against the trade of their enemies lies in the practical impossibility of employing submarines in the destruction of commerce without disregarding those rules of fairness, reason, justice, and humanity, which all modern opinion regards as imperative.... The Government and the people of the United States look to the Imperial German Government for just, prompt, and enlightened action in this vital matter with the greater confidence because the United States and Germany are bound together not only for special ties of friendship but also by the explicit stipulations of the treaty of 1828 between the United States and the Kingdom of Prussia.
Expressions of regret and offers of reparation in case of the destruction of neutral ships sunk by mistake, while they may satisfy international obligations, if no loss of life results, cannot justify or excuse a practice, the natural and necessary effect of which is to subject neutral nations and neutral persons to new and immeasurable risks.
The Imperial German Government will not expect the Government of the United States to omit any word or any act necessary to the performance of its sacred duty of maintaining the rights of the United States and its citizens and of safeguarding their free exercise and enjoyment.
BRYAN
Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan.
13
The Lusitania crime
Irish Times - Thursday, May 13 1915
"AMERICA WILL NOT GO TO WAR"
LEADING JOURNALIST'S VIEWS.
PRESIDENT WILSON'S IDEALS.
(BY OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER)
Mr. Norman Hapgood, Editor of Harper's Weekly, and formerly Editor of Collier's Weekly, who has been to Queenstown in an endeavour to identify the body of a friend, who was one of the victims of the Lusitania disaster, discussed with me at some length yesterday evening the details of the calamity, and its probable effect on the United States Government and public opinion in America generally. Regarding the incident itself, he said that he could add nothing of interest to the horrible details of the painful scenes which have already been published. In Queenstown and Cork, more especially in shipping circles, there was naturally a great deal of talk concerning the possible action of the United States, but no definite course of action was suggested.
AMERICA'S ATTITUDE NOT AFFECTED
"It seems to me," said Mr. Hapgood, "that the attitude of the United States Government will not be affected by the Lusitania incident. The same principle will evidently be followed as in the case of the Falaba of the ship which was carrying American relief to Belgium, and the other ships torpedoed, in respect of which American interests were affected. President Wilson has made his course clear from the beginning. He wishes to have increasing world opinion on the enforcement of rights, and he does not wish to have the meaning of right denied simply because it has been attacked by material force." "When he says," for instance, "that Germany will be held to 'strict accountability' for the loss of the life of any American citizen, I take it he refers to cases where life is lost in a ship which has been flying the American flag as ruse de guerre. I think it is evident that he meant to limit that statement to loss of life under the American flag."
PROTECTION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
It was pointed out to Mr. Hapgood that President Wilson must either get some satisfactory apology from Germany in reference to the Lusitania incident, or else be compelled to tell the American ships, as, if they travel under the British flag, he is powerless to protect them. Mr. Hapgood admitted that the problem was an exceptionally difficult one, but he pointed out that the ideal President Wilson was trying to follow was to make peace talk have some influence and reality, and that it should not break down even in face of a serious crisis such as has now arisen - in other words, that the progress of peace ideals was worth the making of serious sacrifices.
LOGIC OF GERMANY'S ARGUMENT.
Everyone admits, I pointed out, the right of Germany to sink British ships, but that it was essential that before doing so an opportunity should be given of saving the lives of civilians on board, even in the case of ships carrying contraband of war. Mr. Hapgood replied there was a certain amount of logic in Germany's argument on this point. When the rules regarding food supplies as contraband of war were agreed to there was no such thing as submarines. England altered the conditions as regard to food supplies, and Germany contends she had an equal right to alter the conditions in regard to submarine warfare. If it were laid down as a fixed rule that before a vessel like the Lusitania was torpedoed she must get warning, than it was evident such a vessel could not be torpedoed, as her speed would save her.
AMERICA'S WEAKNESS.
These were all matters which were being carefully considered by thinking persons in the United States, but probably the most important reason for non-intervention was the firm conviction that America could not play a decisive role in the war, and that more useful work could be done by a strict neutrality. President Wilson has signed peace treaties agreeing that even matters affecting national honour shall be submitted to arbitration, and that negotiations must proceed for a certain specified time before war could be declared. In face of these treaties, President Wilson would, be believed, only agree to intervention as a last resource.
"AMERICA WILL NOT GO IN."
14
In Berlin, Judge James Gerard, the US Ambassador handed the Washington note of protest to Zimmermann at the Foreign Office. There, Zimmermann shouted ‘We have 500,000 German reservists in America who will rise in arms against your Government if it takes action against us’ to which Gerard is reputed to have said ‘ We, sir, have 500,001 lampposts in America to hang them from’.
The US warning inhibited the German Navy for almost two years, until the German Navy ceased to consider the United States an immediate threat. The German Navy began to claim that, with unrestricted submarine warfare, they could force the British to surrender in six months. The experts calculated that it would take the United States at least a year to mobilize, and by that time, the British surrender would be complete. The Germans were willing to risk American intervention because they were confident they could secure British surrender. The German plan seemed to be an early success; however, with the intervention of America's strong navy and the implementation of the convoy, the United States neutralized the German U-boat.
Before President Woodrow Wilson signed an Executive Order on 14 May 1915, authorizing surveillance of German Embassy personnel in the United States, the Secret Service was limited to watching clerks, technicians and errand boys for the Germans. After Wilson's order, William J. Flynn, chief of the Secret Service, immediately assigned a ten-man squad to keep the Germans under surveillance. Frank Burke, a young agent, was named head of this unit, located on the top floor of the Customs House at the Battery. Burke initiated coverage on all the significant people he knew involved in German activities.
16
Sean MacDiarmada was arrested in Tuam, charged with making a speech endangering peace of the realm and jailed in Arbour Hill, Dublin to await trial.
18:
John Redmond as leader of the Irish Party received a letter from Asquith that the cabinet was to be reconstructed and ‘I am most anxious that you should join. The administration will be a war administration and will cease when the war is ended...the opposition are anxious that Carson whose administrative gifts they value should be included”
Asquith to Redmond. National Library of Ireland. MSS 15,165 (5)
Redmond refused the offer, replying to Asquith that the principles and history of the Irish Party made an acceptance of the offer unacceptable and questioned the inclusion of Carson in the cabinet.
19
Sean MacDiarmada was tried and sentenced to 4 months jail under DORA. Sheehy-Skeffington and Sean Milroy were also tried the same day.
20
Following MacDiarmada’s jailing, Clarke offered the editorship of Eire on a temporary basis to Griffith on condition he kept strictly to the editorial policy. The position of manager of Eire went to Sean T. O'Kelly.
23:
Italy remained neutral until May 23, 1915, when, to satisfy its claims against Austria, it broke with the Triple Alliance and declared war on Austria-Hungary and began an invasion along a 60 mile front. There was no point in fighting along the Alps, so Italian forces struck north-east towards Trieste. However over the next two years, both sides fought some 11 battles along the river Isonzo without any gain, except for massing casualties.
President Wilson called for the Chief of the Secret Service, William J Flynn, to ‘make a discreet but thorough investigation of the activities of Count von Bernstorff and his staff, as it had been reported they were violating all the rules of neutrality, and the President wanted facts...it was thought necessary to tap the telephone wires of the German and Austro-Hungarian embassies in Washington...it also required a staff of competent linguists, who made a record of the conversations which took place in several languages. Each night a stenographic report of these conversations was placed in the hands of Mr Flynn who turned them over to the Department of State. In some reports there were ‘uncomplimentary references to high personages in the White House and the State Department’
Tansill. ‘America and the Fight for Irish Freedom 1866-1922’. Devin-Adair. New York 1957. p195
25:
A coalition Government formed cited as being ‘the best method for finishing the war successfully’. This was the price Asquith had to pay to avoid a major crisis over the shortage of shells on the Western Front and the Dardanelles. He stayed as PM. Lloyd George was promoted to the new ministry of Munitions. Churchill demoted from Admiralty to a junior position following the resignation of Lord Fisher as First Sea Lord. Edward Carson became Attorney General and Bonar Law became Chancellor of the Exchequer. John Redmond was offered, but refused a cabinet post. His refusal was in keeping with his party principles but eventually doomed both his and the Irish Parliamentary Party’s representation of Nationalist Ireland. J.H. ‘Galloper’ Campbell was appointed as Attorney General for Ireland, a calculated snub considering Campbell's activities in Ulster.
‘Underneath these upheavals lay two things - a fear that the Liberal Government was not equipped to wage a global war and the existence of a profound division between the principles of voluntarism and compulsion. Mr. Asquith had in fact, re-arranged his cabinet with stern resolution, so as to maintain a balance between those who advocated one or other of the two embattled principles, and thus to postpone the evil day when something positive would have to be done”
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.149
Redmond protested to Asquith on the Campbell appointment ‘there is a limit to our patience…the feeling in Ireland is one of the most intense character’.
Tansill. ‘America and the Fight for Irish Freedom 1866-1922’. Devin-Adair. New York 1957. p163
29:
First edition of Connolly’s ‘Workers Republic’ hit the streets, becoming more strident in promoting the nationalist cause. It replaced the Irish Worker.
The I.R.B. Executive in the Supreme Council established a new council, with the express purpose of centralising its secret control over the Irish Volunteers. The Council, originally consisting of Pearse, Plunkett and Ceannt, was now committed to the task of formulating plans for a future Rising. This grouping would remain secret, even from the Supreme Council of the I.R.B. until September 1915.
Diarmuid Lynch recalls in his supplementary statement to the Bureau of Military History:
‘The ‘Military Committee’ originally comprised Padraic Pearse, Joseph Plunkett and Eamon Ceannt. They were so appointed in the Summer of 1915 on my motion at a meeting of the IRB Executive ( Denis McCullough, Tom Clarke and myself ). I was then acting-Secretary of the Executive – as substitute for Sean MacDermott who was then in prison. The Three appointees ( or perhaps only two of them ) were present on that occasion, though neither of them was a member of the Supreme Council IRB.’
Diarmuid Lynch Supplementary Statement – Bureau of Military History. Copy in National Library of Ireland. MS11.128
31:
Francis Sheehy-Skeffington was arrested under the Defence of The Realm Act for ‘Making statements likely to be prejudicial to recruiting’ His comment that earned his arrest was: ‘..there is no such thing as a war to end war, my friends. Each war is a prelude to the next...’ made at Beresford Place. He was sentenced to six months in jail with hard labour and a further six months if he did not produce the £50 bail imposed. ‘Any sentence you may pass on me’ he said from the dock ‘ is a sentence upon British rule in Ireland...had I lived in England, I should still deem it my duty to insist on propaganda to stop the war in the only way people can, by ceasing to provide food for cannon...you will say that this is a breach of the law. What of it? We have had distinguished lawbreakers before in Ireland’. On arrival in Mountjoy Prison, he was taken before the Governor who told him in friendly way that he could reduce his sentence by good conduct and industry. To this, Skeffington said ‘ I know of a better way: by bad conduct and idleness’ and immediately began what was to be a six day hunger and thirst strike.
German Zeppelins bombard suburbs of London.
June 1915
1
Lord Wimborne continued touring the country urging enlistment.
Pearse Street Station opened. Designed for the Dublin metropolitan Police (DMP) and now the main Garda Station for the south city, Pearse Street Station is a large building in the Scottish Baronial style. Sited on an awkward corner with Townsend Street to the rere, the building manages to turn the corner successfully with the use of a curved bay. An unusual feature of the building is what became known in the 20’s as the 'Keystone cops', corbelled heads of policemen used to support segmental arches over the main ground floor doorways. The DMP were so formal about rank that ordinary beat officers were not allowed use the same doorway as their superior officers – the stone heads indicated which door was to be used by which rank. A helmeted rank-and-file head marked the door for lowlier officers, while that of a flat capped superior welcomed their bosses. This station was the HQ of the DMP’s B Division, responsible for Government security.
Pearse Street Station.
2:
Word spread of Sheehy-Skeffinton’s hunger and thirst strike and conditions and a massive outcry began.
Helena Moloney (1884-1967) appointed as Secretary of the Irish Women Worker’s Union by James Connolly.
3:
The Under-Secretary for Ireland, Sir Matthew Nathan with Cabinet approval, issued a letter of warning to all civil servants in Ireland that continued membership in the Irish Volunteers would bring instant dismissal.
Bishop Michael Fogarty of Killaloe wrote to John Redmond: ‘home rule is dead and buried and Ireland is without a national party’
4:
Eastern Front: The Russian front begins to collapse.
German aircraft bomb English towns.
5:
Francis Sheehy-Skeffington was released from Mountjoy Prison under the ‘Cat and Mouse Act’ which permitted re-arrest without trial. Public opinion was now too strong to allow his re-arrest. He was allowed to regain health and travel to America for a speaking tour on Irish Freedom.
James Connolly spoke for the first time on the phenomenon of ‘economic conscription’ where employers chose to lay off men and so forced their entry to for British armed services. Conscription continued to be a potential Pandora’s box that was promoted along predictable lines, Unionists and Lloyd George wanted it implemented, Labour, the Irish Parliamentary Party and Liberals preferring voluntary recruitment
6:
Zeppelin raids on the east coast of Britain kill 24, injure 40.
7:
Dr William J Maloney wounded in action in Gallipoli.
Dr Maloney ( 1882-1952 ) British born medical doctor practicing in NY. At outbreak of war, enlisted and served until wounded in Gallipoli. Resigned his commission in 1916 and returned a Military Cross before returning to medical practice in New York. He became an effective Irish Nationalist propagandist. Maloney was largely responsible for the American Commission on Conditions in Ireland and also instrumental in launching the American Committee for Relief in Ireland. Major disagreements between Maloney and the Friends of Irish Freedom developed during 1920 onwards.
8:
Washington: US Secretary of State, William Bryan resigns over war policy. He believed that Wilson’s notice to the Germans on the Lusitania sinking was ‘too belligerent’
10:
Plunkett meets with Captain Nodolny of the German General Staff where he was refused arms. The Captain saying that arms must come from America and the Irish Americans.
11:
Margaret Lynch, after a protracted illness, dies in Granig. Aged 68.
Serbian troops invade Albania and capture the capital, Tirana.
12
The Citizen Army held a ‘carnival’ at Croydon Park showing their military skills and drills.
15
Allied aircraft bombs Karlsruhe, Baden, in retaliation for bombing sorties over southern England.
18:
The annual Wolf Tone Commeration to Bodenstown took place. Along with the Irish Volunteers went the Citizen Army.
Western Front: The Artois offensive is halted by the Germans.
Joseph Plunkett leaves Germany, apparently in poor health.
19:
The first edition of Nationality edited by Arthur Griffith hits the Dublin streets.
21:
London: Government discloses terms of new war loan of £910 Million.
Belfast Railway workers come out on strike and supported by James Connolly. Strike would drag on until August 14th.
22
Lemberg recaptured by Austrians.
23:
Berlin: German industrialists outline new war aims: annexation of Poland, Ukraine & Baltic states.
24:
One of John Devoy’s staff, a salaried employee named Freeman, mailed some letters written on the Gaelic American stationery, critical of Casement and his performance in Germany. These were mailed to the German Foreign Office in Berlin. ‘These letters insinuated he was unfitted to represent the Irish people or Irish Revolutionary organisations’
Captain Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’ Chicago. 1932. Lynch Family Archives. P98
John Devoy along with a number of German and Irish Americans organisers held a monster rally at Madison Square Garden. Decoy estimated the crowd at 100,000. Official New York Police figures peg the numbers at 75,000. Impressive, but the speaker’s list was even more so. Amongst them were William Jennings Bryan who had just resigned as Wilson’s Secretary of State, George von Skal, John Devoy and Jeremiah O’Leary. The Gaelic American later trumpeted the meeting as ‘The greatest meeting ever held in New York’
25:
Joseph Plunkett returned to Ireland and immediately reported to Clarke and Pearse.
26
Montenegrins enter Scutari, Albania.
28:
The liner ‘Armenian’ is sunk by a U-Boat off Cornwall.
29:
London: Bill introduced for national register of all men aged 15-65.
O’Donovan Rossa died aged 84 in New York after a number of months of senile dementia in St Vincent's Hospital, Staten Island. There he was convinced he was still in an English gaol and had to be restrained from jumping from windows to escape.
‘Devoy cabled to Tom [Clarke] ‘Rossa dead, what shall we do?’. Tom cabled back ‘Send his body home at once’. He immediately began to organise the funeral and said ‘If Rossa had planned to die at the most opportune time for serving his country, he could not have done better’
Kathleen Clarke ‘Revoloutionary Woman’ O’Brien Press, Dublin 1991. P56
His wife, the poet Mary J. O’Donovan Rossa had his body wrapped in the ‘Fighting flag of the Irish Republic’ as his shroud and the casket was sealed. Source: Ellen Ryan Jolly Papers – Notre Dame Archives.
Devoy describes events as they occurred: ‘ There was a great funeral on Staten Island before the body was taken to Ireland for final internment in Glasnevin…the body was placed in the receiving vault in St. Peter’s Cemetery on July 3 and lay there until July 17 when it was shipped to Ireland on the American Line Steamship, St. Paul…there was an attempt at a contest for the control of the funeral made by two expelled members of the Clan na Gael, who had neither the money to pay the expenses nor the connection with Ireland to ensure the proper reception of the remains there, but Mrs O’Donovan Rossa quickly, but politely decided the matter when they called on her and made the proposition, and gave charge of everything to Clan na Gael. The two men had had a quarrel with Tom Clarke when he was living in Brooklyn and called him a ‘traitor’….Tom had spent nearly sixteen years in English prisons for Ireland while these men were doing nothing….I kept my grip on the arrangements doing nothing without the consent of Mrs O’Donovan Rossa until the body was placed on board the steamer, accompanied by his wife and daughter Eileen…on July 17th. ‘
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P332
30:
Casement made it clear he was against a rising in Ireland despite an Irish American priest sent by Devoy encouraging him to make a second attempt at establishing a brigade.
July 1915
A special committee was formed to organise the funeral for O’Donovan Rossa. This quickly became one of the broadest political committees in the history of Irish nationalism, comprising Constitionalists, Sinn Feiners, Irish Volunteers, the I.R.B, Labour and Womens groups. ‘in wartime Dublin, his cadaver would do a great deal for physical force nationalism’
Austen Morgan. ‘James Connolly – a political biography’. Manchester University Press. 1988. .p155
The general plan for the funeral was planned by Clarke ‘ but he and MacDonagh worked out the details…MacDonagh almost lived in our shop while working out the details of the plan as Tom’s experience of large processions in New York was helpful…the plan involved arranging where each section was to line up, its exact place in the procession and it's time for joining in. as men were pouring in from all parts of the country, this was a stupendous job. MacDonagh was perfectly competent for it as results showed…for a while Tom was considering who he would select to deliver the oration at the graveside, and finally decided on P.H.Pearse as the best available orator. It was a choice between Pearse and Fr. Michael O’Flanagan. When Pearse was made acquainted with this decision, he sent a note to Tom asking how far he would go. The answer to Pearse was verbal, one which I delivered ‘Make it as hot as hell, throw discretion to the winds’. The reason for Pearse’s query was that Sean MacDiarmada was in prison for a speech he had made, and it had been decided to refrain from speechmaking, the loss of such men as Sean MacDiarmada being too high a price to pay for a speech at such a critical time.’
Kathleen Clarke ‘Revoloutionary Woman’ O’Brien Press, Dublin 1991. P56
The O’Donovan Rossa Funeral Committee represented the majority of those involved in Irish Nationalism at the time.
Publicity: Arthur Griffith, Eamon Kent, ex Alderman Peter Macken, Councillor S.T. O’Kelly, J.J.O’Kelly (Sceilg) & Brian O’Higgins.
Delegates: James Connolly, Sean Fitzgibbon, Bulmer Hobson, Diarmuid Lynch, Joe Kelly, Cathal Power & James Tobin.
Trains: James Casey, Gerald Griffin, Peadar McNally, M. Slater, James Stritch ( Nat'l Treasurer Irish National Foresters ) & Sean Tobin.
Funeral/Cemetery J. Lawlor ( V.P. Dublin Trades Council ), John MacBride, Sean MacGadhra, Harry Nicholls, Richard O’Carroll, Joseph Plunkett, John Simmons ( Sec. Dublin Trades Council ) & John Larkin.
Obsequies Henry Dixon, Prof. Eoin MacNeill & P.H.Pearse.
Guards/Procession Thomas MacDonagh, T.J.Sheehan, Joseph Plunkett, The O’Rahilly, de Valera, M.W.O’Reilly, S. O’Kelly, Eamon Daly, Eamon Ceannt, James Connolly, Padriag O’Riain.
Badges: Martin Conlan, Joe McGuinness & James Whelan.
Accommodation C.Kickham
Contingencies: Walter Foley, Bat O’Connor, Seamus Buggy & John Larkin
Finance T Farren – President Dublin Trades Council, Alderman Thomas Kelly, Joe Murray, William O’Brien ( ex President Dublin Trades Council ), John O’Mahony & B.R.Parsons.
Reception: T.J.Clarke, Sean McDermott, James Stritch, Cathal Cruiceam, Sean McGhadra, Cathair O’Foghludha.
Trustees: Seamus O’Conchubhair, John R Reynolds, Thomas J Clarke, Edward Daly, Peader McNally, Michael Slator.
Cumann na mBan Mrs J Wyse Power, Mrs Tuohy, Mrs MacNeill, Mrs O’Rahilly, Miss MacMahon, Mrs Clarke, Mrs Joseph McGuinness, Miss Casidy, Mrs Kent, Countess Markievicz, Maeve Cavanagh, Miss J Walsh, Miss J Maher, Mrs Holohan, Mrs O’Moore, Marie Northern Ireland Raghnaill, M. Breathnac & Eileen Devoy.
Souvenirs: Brian O’Higgins, The O’Rahilly, Edward Daly, P O’Ryan, W. O. Curtis & John McGarry
Genera: Thomas J Clarke, Con Colbert, William Cullen, Sean Doyle, Proinsias O’Fathaigh, J.Farren, Tom Hayes, Luke Kennedy, P.T.Keohane, Eamon Martin, Prof Thomas MacDonagh, J.K.O’Reilly, Liam O’Brien, Colm O’Loughlin, Michael McGinn, Michael O’Foghludha, Cathal Brugha, Peadar Devoy, Thomas Byrne.
Secretaries Cathal Cuiceam, John R Reynolds.
2:
40,000 enrolled for voluntary munitions work.
U-Boats sink 4 ships off Ireland.
3:
Eastern Front: Germans continue advance into Poland.
London: Government estimates the war is costing £3 million daily.
5:
Forced labour and military conscription ‘are not in the contemplation of the Government’ Asquith told Parliament today. However a strong suspicion remains that a compulsory call-up may be on the way.
John Devoy was informed by the Gaelic American newspaper board that the paper was running out of money. ‘The paper only had $22 and a few cents in the bank…they should have told me long ago, but I was so absorbed in other work that I paid no attention to business’ Worse, by the time of Rossa’s funeral, the Clan was nearly as cleaned out as the Gaelic American’s coffers…before learning of his newspapers dire financial status, Devoy loaned the Clan $3,340 from the money he had inherited from his late brother’s estate and another $1,000 to several colleagues…. It’s not clear how the paper managed to right itself financially, but the crisis passed’
Irish Rebel – John Devoy and America’s Fight for Irish Freedom. Terry Golway. St Martin’s Press, New York. 1998. p209
6:
The O’Rahilly was prohibited from enterering the counties of Cork, Kerry and Limerick under DORA as he
‘ had been behaving in a manner prejudicial to the safety of the state’. Orders were also served on Ernest Blythe and Liam Mellowes requesting that they leave Ireland by July 17th. Mellowes refused to leave and was sentenced to three months imprisonment. Blythe, McCullough and Moore-Pim were jailed in Belfast for refusing to obey DORA sentences.
Capt. Robert Monteith hearing of the arrests sent a note to the Irish Volunteers HQ in Dublin that if the deportees came south
‘… and joined me and one or two men of the Limerick City regiment, we could take to the Galtee Mountains, where with arms and a plentiful supply of ammunition, it would give a considerable Government force all it could to get us. The people of the district, an old Fenian centre, were favourable to us, and the nature of the country made it an ideal territory for guerrilla warfare’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives. P45
Not too surprisingly, Irish Volunteers HQ did not reply. The concept of isolated guerrilla action would not take shape well after the Rising.
7:
Eastern Front: Russians defeat Austro-German troops south of Lyublin, taking 11,000 prisoner.
While on a visit to Granig, Alice Lynch suffered a miscarriage. Details emerged some 3 years later in a letter from Alice to Mary dated 29th August 1918:
‘…Probably the events of the preceding days unnerved me and made a miscarriage (abortion) likely, but even so I in no way ever blamed you. You did not know of the condition I was in and moreover I had no intention of telling you or anyone else at the time. I took the loss of my coming baby as God’s will, and in all the sorrow and disappointment I was resigned to his will. I intended telling you what happened when you returned from Cork that Wednesday evening, but first there was the trouble in the hall ( immediately on your return ), in the hearing of the servants because Denis had signed the insurance book, which action he did in good faith in consideration for you. Then immediately followed the row because Denis and the boys thought it was wise not to tell you that Diarmuid was summoned by the police for not registering. Then followed the Rosary, & when my decade came, being too weak and ill to say it myself, I asked Denis to say it for me; and you ordered him to stop & let the servant say it. Under these circumstances it was impossible for me to tell you what happened to me that morning at 9.30.
Then I begged Denis to take me away. We returned again the following weekend ( when I should have been in bed and being attended by a Doctor. It was just force of will power kept me from collapsing completely, on account of not being properly attended to and nursed that I had to have an operation later ) and I wanted to tell you even then, but as you did not recognise Denis at all I could not.
Just once more I wish to repeat that in no way did I or do I hold you accountable, but because of the unpleasant circumstances which occurred when you returned from Cork that evening, I did not tell you what happened…
Lynch Family Archives. Folder 5/1
Years later, it was discovered that Alice was sensitised RH Negative resulting in low probability of carrying pregnancy to term.
9:
German Southwest Africa surrenders to British South African troops under Gen. Botha.
13:
Royal Proclamation says that all disputes must be reported to the Board of Trade before strike action is contemplated.
15:
UK: 200,000 South Wales miners' strike for more pay.
The O’Donovan Rossa Organising Committee had organised large posters to be displayed throughout Ireland advertising the upcoming funeral. Special trains were chartered at reduced rates. Some 14,000 rail passengers were expected in Dublin on August 1st. The newly appointed Commandant of the Third Battalion Irish Volunteers, Eamon de Valera was assigned the supervision of the 17 special trains.
Probate in the will of Margaret Lynch granted. 'Probate of the will of Margaret J. Lynch late of Granig, County Cork, Widow, who died 11 June 1915, granted at Cork to Daniel J. Lynch and Timothy Lynch, farmers and Denis Lynch, Whiskey Distiller. Effects £1,016."
- National Archives of Ireland. Accessed online, May 4, 2015. http://www.willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/search/cwa/home.jsp
17
O’Donovan Rossa’s body was escorted onto the SS St. Paul and accompanied by his wife and daughter and a number of Clan na Gael dignitaries, the ship left New York for Ireland.
18
Connolly protested against the threat of military conscription at a public meeting in Beresford Place, Dublin.
20:
UK: Total UK casualties in the war: 330,995.
23:
US: President Wilson tells Germany than the US stands for maritime freedom ‘without compromise, at any cost’
24:
Connolly's ‘Workers Republic’ concluded its series on world armed insurrections with an article on ‘Street Fighting’. Connolly arguing that that ‘an irregular or popular force’ like the Irish Citizen Army should seize a number of important buildings in the city thorough ‘the active defence of…positions whose locations threatens the supremacy or existence of the enemy’ the insurgents could achieve military success…’
However, his conclusions resulted in an underestimation of British military skill and intent in suppressing a popular urban uprising during wartime.
25:
U-Boats sink 2 US merchant ships off Ireland.
James Larkin, while on a long organising tour of the American West, contacted John Devoy to help arrange meetings with the German Embassy and it wasn’t to discuss the labour movement in Germany. He needed funding and was prepared to support the German war effort in return. Larkin evidently wanted Devoy as a witness in case things went pear shaped. The German Embassy had other plans however and wanted Larkin to help organise sabotage in American ports.
‘Wolf von Igel took Larkin on a tour of Germany’s secret sabotage centre in Hoboken, New Jersey, just across the Hudson from Manhattan…Larkin refused a formal offer to supervise sabotage operations on the American East Coast, but he agreed to stir up labour trouble. How much Devoy knew of Larkin’s involvement isn't certain. Devoy’s letters from the period often refer to Larkin, usually under the codename Longfellow.’
Irish Rebel – John Devoy and America’s Fight for Irish Freedom. Terry Golway. St Martin’s Press, New York. 1998. p209
The sabotage centre was a laboratory in Hoboken operated by Dr. Walter T. Scheele. Although the laboratory was ostensibly fabricating agricultural chemicals, its genuine operation was to manufacture incendiary devices. ( The lab was raided a few months later by the US Secret Service and shut down. Dr Scheele escaped to Cuba )
Meanwhile back in New York , Diplomatic staff in the German Embassy in Washington were routinely shadowed by US Secret Service Agents. On this day, George Viereck and the lawyer, Dr. Albert at 3.30pm “ boarded the 6th Avenue’L’...closely shadowed by Houghton and Burke...Dr Albert lapsed into a comfortable doze from which he was suddenly awakened when the ‘L’ glided into the 50th Street station. Still half asleep, Dr. Albert hurried from the train, leaving his bag of documents upon the seat. Mr Burke at once seized the bag and rushed it to the Secret Service Headquarters in the city. After a cursory examination, the documents were taken to Washington for a further examination by secretaries Lansing and McAdoo. The more incriminating ones were handed over to the New York World for publication. Although most were ‘duds’ which the World could not explode, the impression created in the American public mind that Germany was plotting against American interests”
Tansill. ‘America and the Fight for Irish Freedom 1866-1922’. Devin-Adair. New York 1957. p195-196
Heinrich Friedrich Albert, a German lawyer, was serving as Commercial Attaché and financial advisor to the German Ambassador to the United States, Count Johann von Bernstorff. He was also the paymaster for the German sabotage operations in the United States. Albert was n unknown individual to American counterintelligence. He was six-feet tall, heavy-set, and had crosscut sabre scars on his right cheek, a dimpled chin and a stubby dark moustache. Every day, Albert rode the elevated train between his office at 45 Broadway and his Ritz-Carlton hotel room. He always carried his briefcase, which was stuffed with Berlin telegrams, communications from German agents, financial records and subordinate reports.
Knowing he could not retrieve his briefcase, Albert proceeded to the German Club on Central Park West, where he held an impromptu meeting with German Embassy military attaché, Captain Franz von Papen, and naval aide, Captain Carl von Boy-Ed. Based on what Albert told them, they decided that a common thief had taken the briefcase and, after searching through the papers, would find nothing of value. The best way to get the papers back, they reasoned, was to place an ad in the newspapers offering a reward.
When Burke opened the briefcase and saw the papers, he notified Flynn. Flynn, in turn, contacted Secretary of the Treasury, William G. McAdoo, at his summerhouse in North Haven, Maine. Flynn took the briefcase to McAdoo, who with his aids decided that the contents proved beyond doubt that the German Embassy in the United States was violating the neutrality laws. McAdoo then took the papers to President Wilson.
The President asked McAdoo to consult with Col. Edward House, the president's closest advisor, and Secretary of State Robert Lansing. The United States government was in a bind because any use of the papers by the government would show that a government agency had stolen the papers of a fully accredited diplomat. Colonel House suggested that the contents of the papers be given to one of the newspapers to publish. The New York World was chosen and selected papers were given to the editor, Frank I. Cobb, who agreed to publish them without attribution in return for exclusive use of the documents on August 15th.
27
On 27 July 1915, with no trace of the missing bag and documents, an ad appeared in the New York Evening Telegram. "Lost on Saturday. On 3:30 Harlem Elevated Train, at 50th St. Station, Brown Leather Bag, Containing Documents. Deliver to G.H. Hoffman, 5 E. 47th St., Against $20. Reward." The ad was seeking to recover the lost briefcase of Heinrich Friedrich Albert, a German lawyer, who was serving as Commercial Attaché and financial advisor to the German Ambassador to the United States, Count Johann von Bernstorff. He was also the paymaster for the German sabotage operations in the United States.
Denis in a letter to his sister, Mary:
Jones Rd Distillery, Dublin.
My Dear Mary.
I understand you are under the impression that I said to you ‘that none of the brothers would keep you in their homes’ or some such similar expression. Well, if it helps to relieve the upset of the past few weeks you may have it from myself that I said no such thing what so ever or even suggested it, not did the idea ever enter my mind. If I did say it, I would indeed be very sorry for it. If there is anything more than that I hope this letter will relieve the strained feeling at once rather than allow such petty differences continue perhaps for a life-time. By doing so we can more faithfully follow the lessons we were taught at the same table and live up to the example shown us.
Alice has done all in her power ( without any necessity ) to meet you and the rest now lies with yourself. We have no desire to keep up the differences and would like to live in unity with one another as Mother wished us all to do.
Denis.
Lynch Family Archives – Folder 2 – 1915-1916
28
O’Donovan Rossa’s body arrived in Ireland accompanied by his wife and daughter. They were met in Liverpool by Kathleen Clarke and Sean McGarry and escorted home, landing at Cobh where the body was received by a committee of the IRB and taken to Dublin. The cortege was taken to the Pro-Cathedral on the approval of Archbishop Walsh and laid before the High Altar with a guard of honour of Irish Volunteers for the night.
29
After a High Mass, the O’Donovan Rossa cortege was moved from the Pro-Cathedral to City Hall for lying in state before the funeral on Sunday, August 1st.
Pearse published a tribute to O’Donovan Rossa:
“ O'Donovan Rossa was not the greatest man of the Fenian generation, but he was its most typical man. He was the man that to the masses of his countrymen then and since stood most starkly and plainly for the Fenian idea. More lovable and understandable than the cold and enigmatic Stephens, better known than the shy and sensitive Kickham, more human than the scholarly and chivalrous O'Leary, more picturesque than the able and urbane Luby, older and more prominent than the man who, when the time comes to write his biography, will be recognised as the greatest of the Fenians---John Devoy--- Rossa held a unique place in the hearts of Irish men and Irish women. They made songs about him, his very name passed into a proverb. To avow oneself a friend of O'Donovan Rossa meant in the days of our fathers to avow oneself a friend of Ireland;
it meant more: it meant to avow oneself a `mere' Irishman, an `Irish enemy', an `Irish savage', if you will, naked and unashamed. Rossa was not only `extreme', but he represented the left wing of the `extremists'. Not only would he have Ireland free, but he would have Ireland Gaelic.
And here we have the secret of Rossa's magic, of Rossa's power: he came out of the Gaelic tradition. He was of the Gael; he thought in a Gaelic way; he spoke in Gaelic accents. He was the spiritual and intellectual descendant of Colm Cille and of Seán an Díomais. With Colm Cille he might have said, `If I die it shall be from the love I bear the Gael'; with Shane O'Neill he held it debasing to `twist his mouth with English'. To him the Gael and the Gaelic ways were splendid and holy, worthy of all homage and all service; for the English he had a hatred that was tinctured with contempt. He looked upon them as an inferior race, morally and intellectually; he despised their civilisation; he mocked at their institutions and made them look ridiculous.
And this again explains why the English hated him above all the Fenians. They hated him as they hated Shane O'Neill, and as they hated Parnell; but more. For the same `crime' against English law as his associates he was sentenced to a more terrible penalty; and they pursued him into his prison and tried to break his spirit by mean and petty cruelty. He stood up to them and fought them: he made their whole penal system odious and despicable in the eyes of Europe and America. So the English found Rossa in prison a more terrible foe than Rossa at large; and they were glad at last when they had to let him go. Without any literary pretensions, his story of his prison life remains one of the sombre epics of the earthly inferno.
O'Donovan Rossa was not intellectually broad, but he had great intellectual intensity. His mind was like a hot flame. It seared and burned what was base and mean; it bored its way through falsehoods and conventions; it shot upwards, unerringly, to truth and principle. And this man had one of the toughest and most stubborn souls that have ever been. No man, no government, could either break or bend him. Literally he was incapable of compromise. He could not even parley with compromisers. Nay, he could not act, even for the furtherance of objects held in common, with those who did not hold and avow all his objects. It was characteristic of him that he refused to associate himself with the `new departure' by which John Devoy threw the support of the Fenians into the land struggle behind Parnell and Davitt; even though the Fenians compromised nothing and even though their support were to mean (and did mean) the winning of the land war. Parnell and Davitt he distrusted; Home Rulers he always regarded as either foolish or dishonest. He knew only one way; and suspected all those who thought there might be two.
And while Rossa was thus unbending, unbending to the point of impracticability, there was no acerbity in his nature. He was full of a kindly Gaelic glee. The olden life of Munster, in which the seanchaidhe told tales in the firelight and songs were made at the autumn harvesting and at the winter spinning, was very dear to him. He saw that life crushed out, or nearly crushed out, in squalor and famine during '47 and '48; but it always lived in his heart. In English prisons and in American cities he remembered the humour and the lore of Carbery. He jested when he was before his judges; he jested when he was tortured by his jailors; sometimes he startled the silence of the prison corridors by laughing aloud and by singing Irish songs in his cell: they thought he was going mad, but he was only trying to keep himself sane.
I have heard from John Devoy the story of his first meeting with Rossa in prison. Rossa was being marched into the governor's office as Devoy was being marched out. In the gaunt man that passed him Devoy did not recognise at first the splendid Rossa he had known. Rossa stopped and said, `John'. `Who are you'? said Devoy: `I don't know you'. `I'm Rossa'. Then the warders came between them. Devoy has described another meeting with Rossa, and this time it was Rossa who did not know Devoy. One of the last issues of The Gaelic American that the British Government allowed to enter Ireland contained Devoy's account of a recent visit to Rossa in a hospital in Staten Island. It took a little time to make him realise who it was that stood beside his bed. `And are you John Devoy'? he said at last. During his long illness he constantly imagined that he was still in an English prison; and there was difficulty in preventing him from trying to make his escape through the window. I have not yet seen any account of his last hours; cabling of such things would imperil the Defence of the Realm.
Enough to know that the valiant soldier of Ireland is dead; that the unconquered spirit is free.”
July 30th 1915.
By the summer of 1915, Diarmuid recalled ‘the stage was being secretly set for insurrection against Britain [and] the time had come in my opinion when the ‘Left Wing’ should control the Coiste Gnotha – not to use it for the propagation of Republicanism but to obviate the possibility of tactics contrary thereto. I discussed this with my IRB colleagues on the Coiste…well in advance of the Ard Fheis date I communicated with prominent Gaelic Leaguers throughout the country – who were also IRB men – urging that delegates favourable to our political views should without fail be selected to attend at Dundalk. Colleagues on the Coiste next suggested that we endeavour to elect men then in prison; Sean MacDiarmada, Earnan de Blaghd [ Ernest Blyth ] and A. McCabe. It was felt that their election would convey a salutary lesson to all concerned.’
Shortly before the Ard Fheis, the delegates in Dundalk ( who were not all IRB men ) held a caucus meeting where the decision to run the prisoners for nomination was unanimous with one exception. Wording for the key resolution was finalised and the stage was set for a bloodless coup of the Gaelic League.
When the delegates had gathered in Dundalk, the key resolution was proposed, that:
“The Gaelic League shall devote itself to realising the ideal of a Gaelic speaking and independent Irish nation, free from all subjection to foreign influence”.
While Dr Hyde was reported to be greatly alarmed at the content of the resolution, it passed with a comfortable majority. Diarmuid Lynch wrote later that Hyde might have accepted as inevitable, a combination of both cultural and political nationalism, had it not been for the result of the elections for the new Coiste Gnotha. When the names of the pre-selected men were read out, Sean MacDiarmada appeared high on the list, followed by Ernest Blyth. At that, and recognising both men as political prisoners and that the Gaelic League was now in the hands of the ‘Left Wing’, Hyde threw down his papers and left the Convention Hall.
A delegation was sent to Hyde to plead with him to change his mind, but by this time, cultural nationalism was already firmly married to political nationalism and physical force. Hyde resigned his presidency in protest and Eoin MacNeill was elected in his place. Hyde’s lead was followed by many of the more moderate members. Sean MacDiarmada, Ernest Blyth and A. McCabe were elected to the Coiste Gnotha.
Dr. Hyde explained shortly afterwards: ‘we were doing the only business that really counted; we were keeping Ireland Irish, and in a way that the Government and Unionists, though they hated it, were powerless to oppose. So long as we remained non-political, there was no end to what we could do.’
Connor O’Clery ‘Ireland in Quotes’ The O’Brien Press Dublin 1999 p.38
However, the majority believed otherwise, the coup was complete and another step taken towards the Easter Rising in 1916.
31
The British Administration in Ireland was by the end of July, generally described as light and even-handed.. in command of the entire country remained Augustine Birrell, “ the Liberal of all Liberals...a convinced Home Ruler...” normally resident in London. Birrel’s Irish administration had been improved by the forced retirement of the Lord-Lieutenant, the Earl of Aberdeen. This Vice-Regal position had not endeared him to many, not only because of the ‘..dinginess and frugality of their vice-regal court...although the Earl was harmless enough, his large philanthropic countess was something of a political chimera, a cross between Mrs. Proudie and Lady Godiva ( in mufti ) who upset the Unionists by dabbling in democracy, and the administration by interfering with their departments.
His replacement in the Phoenix Park was to be the 42 year old Liberal Peer, Lord Ivor Churchill Guest, Baron Wimborne (1873-1939).
”Like Lord Aberdeen, Lord Wimborne...was little more than a figurehead, a position he accepted with a very bad grace ....and whose chief asset was thought to be a charming wife.”
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.150-151
In comparison with the previous Viceroy, Lord Wimborne and his wife ( nicknamed ‘Queen Alice’ and reputed to have a large framed portrait of her Spanish lover next to her bed ) entertained on a lavish scale. The Lord himself was known to the ladies as ‘His Ex’ and he had become... ‘after thirteen boring years of marriage, a fairly frank brandy-swilling bounder. He was stagy, with a tendency to express himself with wide gestures.’
Peter de Rossa. Rebels, The Irish Rising of 1916. Bantam Press, London. 1989. p64.
Lord Wimborne’s secretary was Lord Basil Blackwood, with a reputation for being a womaniser in his own right (‘If Basil ever gets to heaven, they had better lock up the Virgin Mary’ as one guest is reputed to have commented) and he was constantly requesting permission to join the Grenadier Guards in France which was routinely refused.
The busy social life ensured that Wimborne was kept from Irish affairs.
Both Birrell and Nathan were now able to run their administration with minimal interference.
“They hoped that the new Under-Secretary could bring Dublin Castle more in touch with the current of national life, and Sir Matthew Nathan made himself accessible to everyone who wished to see him. The trouble was that the current of national life was now liberally sprinkled with characters who did not wish to see Sir Matthew Nathan”
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.151
And so the British Administration relied more and more on the processed intelligence that was received from Police Inspectors and Informers throughout the country.
August 1915
Meanwhile, newly elected I.R.B. executive, Tom Clarke as Treasurer and Sean MacDiarmada as secretary of the I.R.B pushed ahead with plans for the rising and retaking control of the breakaway Volunteers by ordering 2,000 or so I.R.B. members to join the force.
At a meeting of the Executive of the Supreme Council I.R.B, Diarmuid Lynch moved for the co-option of Pearse to membership, along with Tom Clarke, Sean MacDermott and Dr. Patrick MacCartan.
Lectures were given on military strategy, house to house fighting, street warfare etc. In deciding the actual moment for the rising, it was hope that Britain would provide the occasion by either introducing conscription or proscribing the Volunteers.
In Cork, Terence MacSwiney was appointed County Organiser for the Irish Volunteers.
1:
Following the lying in state in City Hall, O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral became a national event. Many thousands filled the streets, with both British forces and police in barracks. Packed trains brought mourners from all parts of Ireland. The largest presence was from the Redmond’s National Volunteers but the armed Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army controlled traffic and security with the I.R.B. organising the huge committee which handled the event. Thomas MacDonagh organised the marching contingents.
The hearse was drawn by two plumed black horses, preceded by a group of priests, secular, Dominicans, Benedectines and Capuchins. They were followed by kilted Flanna scouts, Gaelic Leaguers, Transport Union workers with banners, mayors and corporation members from all over Ireland, pipe bands and an armed escort of the Irish Volunteers and Citizen Army marched alongside the hearse. The heavy rain of the morning had given way to blue skies * The procession stopped in silence outside Mountjoy Prison on the route to Glasnevin Cemetery as a mark of respect to the man who had been jailed there fifty years before.
* Marching near the head of the procession was none other than Brogan, the Irish-American who had gone to Germany in February to assist Casement and whom Devoy had grave doubts about his motives and loyalties. Devoy later met a person who had spoken to Brogan on the day ‘I learned that his dress made him conspicuous among those around him, and I was also informed that he drew particular attention to himself by ‘paying his respects’ to Rossa's widow and daughter at their carriage.’ Brogan was unheard of for a few months before resurfacing in London, late 1915 when he interviewed a prominent member of the IRB who advised Dublin. Sean MacDermott immediately travelled to London , where he put Brogan ‘through his paces and emphatically told him to keep his hands off. That was the last the Irish leaders heard of Brogan’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P447-448
On arrival at Glasnevin and end of the funeral rite in Irish, Patrick Pearse, who had been instructed by Tom Clarke to ‘throw discretion to the winds’ gave the funeral oration:
A Ghaedheala
Do hiarradh orm-sa labhairt indiu ar son a bhfuil cruinnighthe ar an láthair so agus ar son a bhfuil beo de Chlannaibh Gaedheal, ag moladh an leomhain do leagamar i gcré annso agus ag gríosadh meanman na gcarad atá go brónach ina dhiaidh.
A cháirde, ná bíodh brón ar éinne atá ina sheasamh ag an uaigh so, acht bíodh buidheachas againn inar gcroidhthibh do Dhia na ngrás do chruthuigh anam uasal áluinn Dhiarmuda Uí Dhonnabháin Rosa agus thug sé fhada dhó ar an saoghal so. Ba chalma an fear thu, a Dhiarmuid. Is thréan d'fhearais cath ar son cirt do chine, is ní beag ar fhuilingis; agus ní dhéanfaidh Gaedhil dearmad ort go bráth na breithe.
Acht, a cháirde, ná bíodh brón orainn, acht bíodh misneach inar gcroidhthibh agus bíodh neart inar gcuirleannaibh, óir cuimhnighimís nach mbíonn aon bhás ann nach mbíonn aiséirghe ina dhiaidh, agus gurab as an uaigh so agus as na huaghannaibh atá inar dtimcheall éireochas saoirse Gheadheal.
It has seemed right, before we turn away from this place in which we have laid the mortal remains of O'Donovan Rossa, that one among us should, in the name of all, speak the praise of that valiant man, and endeavour to formulate the thought and the hope that are in us as we stand around his grave. And if there is anything that makes it fitting that I, rather than some other, I rather than one of the grey-haired men who were young with him and shared in his labour and in his suffering, should speak here, it is perhaps that I may be taken as speaking on behalf of a new generation that has been re-baptised in the Fenian faith, and that has accepted responsibility of carrying out the Fenian programme. I propose to you then that, here by the grave of this unrepentant Fenian, we renew our baptismal vows; that here by the grave of this unconquered and unconquerable man, we ask of God, each one for himself, such unshakable purpose, such high and gallant courage, such unbreakable strength of soul as belonged to O'Donovan Rossa ....life springs from death; and from the graves of patriot men and women spring living nations, The Defenders of this realm have worked well in secret and in the open. They think they have pacified Ireland. They think that they have purchased half of us and intimidated the other half. They think that they have foreseen everything, think that they have provided against everything, but the fools, the fools, the fools! They have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree, shall never be at peace..”
Following this oration, the crowd cheered and applauded. The Irish Volunteer & Citizen Army Guard of Honour fired a volley over the grave and the Last Post was played by Bugler Willie Oman of the Irish Citizen Army. Less than a year later, most of the leaders at the graveside would be dead.
While designed to provoke the authorities, no official reaction took place on the day. The Chief Secretary, Augustine Birrell, on reading the newspapers the following day said: “..I do not suppose anybody in the whole concourse cared anything for the old fellow, who never cared for anything at any time” Even James Connolly had been moved ( by the graveside oration ), although Connolly had been heard to say before the funeral that he wished people would stop blethering about dead Fenians ‘..and get us a few live ones for a change’
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.147
2:
Tom Clarke visited his former Fenian prison mate, John Daly in Limerick. There it was decided that Robert Monteith should travel to Germany to assist Casement to finalise plans for the Rising. Clarkes reasoning is commented on by his wife ‘ he considered Casement was not sufficiently conversant with the actual situation in Ireland, that he did not know what the Supreme Council of the I.R.B wanted in their relations with Germany, and certainly did not know the extent of their control…he told Monteith he wanted him to go to the USA and from there to Germany to join Casement. He gave him credentials to John Devoy to help him…he told him to tell Casement that they did not want men, they wanted arms only…’
Kathleen Clarke ‘Revoloutionary Woman’ O’Brien Press, Dublin 1991. P52
Among the credentials, Clarke included a letter for John Devoy outlining the advantages of Fenit as a landing point for arms and included sections of an ordnance survey map of the area.
Monteith now began a series of letters to his wife in Dublin (knowing they would be intercepted by Dublin Castle detectives) with the object to smoothing the way to getting an exit permit from Ireland to emigrate to the US.
5:
Warsaw captured by Germans.
6:
The Gallipoli Peninsula campaign enters a second stage with the debarkation of a new force of British, Australian and New Zealand troops in Suvla Bay, on the west of the peninsula.
8:
Russians defeat German fleet of 9 battleships and 12 cruisers at entrance of Gulf of Riga.
9:
Eastern Front: German and Austrians propose peace terms with Russia. Tsar Nicholas rejects.
13:
On Michael’s return to Granig, he began to use information gathered during the Irish Volunteers training camp to make ammunition. The first attempts were unsuccessful as the moulds were made of plaster of Paris and unable to withstand the heat of molten metal. ‘ with the aid of a local blacksmith, Paddy Egan, I made an iron mould of a tongs type which would make six or eight slugs at a time. It was made in Egan’s forge. We made the depressions for the slugs in it with steel ball bearings while the iron was red hot. It did not have a groove into which the molten lead could be poured, so that it was necessary to have hot tallow in which the mould was immersed before putting it in the molten lead.’
Meanwhile in Dublin, plaster of Paris continued to be used, that is until The O’Rahilly heard of the mechanisation of slug making in Tracton and asked Michael to bring his development to Dublin for him to examine...’ he used it as a pattern from which to make others. I left it to him for a week, and they turned out a brass one in Dublin. Later brass moulds were also made in Haulbowline by some of our men working in the dockyard there. With my own mould I made thousands of slugs for the Cork Brigade [ Irish Volunteers ], several hundredweights of lead were collected by the Brigade and sent down to Tracton to me. I also filled some hundreds of cartridges with slugs myself ( about four slugs were put in a cartridge ).’
Statement by Michael Lynch. Bureau of Military History Archives. S351. Lynch Family Archives.
‘The munitions thus made I distributed to the men of my Battalion, and also sent supplied to the Cork City Batt.(Prior attempts in Dublin to make a successful mould of this type failed and the O’Rahilly borrowed my mould as a model ) This work of making ‘slugs’ and refilling shotgun cartridges with them, also the manufacture of ‘pikes’ (all at my personal expense ), I continued up to Saturday afternoon, April 22, 1916..’
Statement by Michael Lynch – part of application for Military Service Pension Certificate, December 1935. Lynch Archives.
Allies struggle to hold Gallipoli.
14:
UK: Nine die and 21 hurt when the Irish mail train from Euston derailed.
Sean Hegarty at the Cork Post Office came under increased scrutiny from the military authorities. His older brother had in 1914 been transferred from his post in Queenstown to Britain owing to his involvement with the German embassy. Sean was offered the opportunity to be transferred which was refused and he was dismissed.
15
The Albert Briefcase documents were finally published by the World Newspaper, New York. The paper reported that Albert was the master German spy, who, along with van Papen, devised the Bridgeport Projectile Company operation and obtained approval for it from the German military general staff. According to the newspaper, it was their idea to divert legitimate orders from the British and French away from honest American munitions firms to their cover company with the intention of simply storing the gunpowder and shell casings. In fact, they hired an American industrialist, George Hoardley, to build and operate the plant so as to appear it was a genuine business.
The New York World also reported that the German government was financing Viereck's newspaper, The Fatherland. Other newspapers picked up the story and were constantly hounding Albert for information. Albert, to try to calm the waters, gave the New York World a 2,500-word statement to print in its entirety. In his statement, he claimed that the press misinterpreted his papers. No one believed him and he was often mocked by being referred to as "the minister without portfolio."
Although Secretary of the Treasury, McAdoo wanted Albert recalled by the German government, no official U.S. action was taken against him.
16:
Washington: Wilson and Lansing instigate an enquiry into German espionage activities in the US, involvement of senior officials is suspected.
The New York Times carried a ‘remarkable’ news that Germany was attempting to form an Irish Brigade from some 2,000 Irish Prisoners of War in Limburg, Germany.
19:
U-Boat sinks the White Star liner “Arabic” off the Fastnet. 26 Americans among 44 dead.
21:
Italy declares war on Turkey. Total UK casualties to date: 381,983
Monteith received permission from Headquarters Irish Command in Parkgate Street to travel to Dublin and connect with the SS St Louis departing Liverpool on 28th August, 1915.
22:
Joseph Plunkett arrived in New York to report to Devoy and Clan na Gael on his mission to Germany. Diarmuid Lynch disputed a claim made by Devoy that Plunkett arrived in New York ‘en-route to Berlin on a special mission on behalf of the Revolutionary Council..’ John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P460
In his personal copy of Devoy’s book, he attached a memo on this subject:
“ On June 13, 1946, I wrote James McGurrin, New York , to have enquiry made at Ellis Island respecting the date of Joseph Plunkett’s arrival at New York…under date, August 2 1946, Rose McDermott received the following from T.F.Mullholland ( former Commissioner at Ellis Island):
Dear Ms MacDermott:
Joseph Mary Plunkett, who was at the time twenty seven years old, born in Dublin, arrived at New York on August 22, 1915 on SS. Philadelphia. He was detained on medical hold as there was a possibility of his having tuberculosis. He was, however, admitted for permanent residence on September 11, 1915 to the United States.
(signed) T.F.Mulholland.”
Lynch family archives.
However, on his arrival on August 22nd, he was detained by the Health Authorities on suspicion of having tuberculosis. Plunkett sent a request for Devoy to come to see him on Ellis Island.
23:
Devoy visited Plunkett on Ellis Island and wrote to McGarrity ‘The law forbids the landing of tuberculosis cases and his of the most pronounce type. It was folly to send him’.
Devoy however later appealed to US Senator for New York, James A. O’Gorman ‘and he succeeded in procuring permission for him to land, under a thousand dollars cash bond and remain in New York to do ‘literary work’. I provided the thousand dollars and during his stay ashore introduced him to all the men whom it was necessary for him to see.
Plunkett spent the time with poet Joyce Kilmer and other American writers. As events would unfold over the following months, Plunkett was the last of the Rebellion’s emerging leaders to come to America and he was the last Devoy would meet in person.
24
Monteith arrived in Dublin from Limerick and immediately visited Clarke accompanied by some members of the police who continued to shadow his movements. Clarke ‘appeared much surprised at my visit, stating he had written me that my going had been cancelled.’ But irrespective, Monteith was leaving for the US and all he required was for the organisation to look after his wife and family while away. Clarke said he would consult with the Irish Volunteer Committee (and also the underground IRB ) and would advise him of their decision the following day.
25:
When Monteith returned to Clarke’s Tobacconist shop the next day, Diarmuid Lynch was also there with Clarke. Monteith was advised that the ‘Committee’ had withdrawn opposition to his travel to the US providing he took his family with him as when or if it became known he was in Germany, life could become quite unpleasant for his family.
Diarmuid Lynch wrote in the margins of Monteith’s Book that ‘ Tom Clarke and I decided to give Monteith money ( from the IRB funds ) for his expenses. In my presence in Tom's shop, (Treasurer ) handed Monteith the sum of ( I think ) £100/0/0. D. Lynch. Feb.1945’ Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives. P48 and also noted in ‘The IRB and the 1916 Rising’ by Diarmuid Lynch . Mercier Press, Cork. 1957. P28
Western Front; British and French offensives in Artois & Champagne have reached stalemate.
Brest-Litovsk, Russian fortress, captured by Austro-Germans.
The Irish Lord Chancellor in discussion with Sir John R. O’Connell, solicitor and trustee for the Hermitage Estate in Rathfarnham and owner of St. Enda’s, said that Pearse was ‘in a very dangerous position’ politically. This prompted O’Connell to seek the advice of an associate, J.C.Meredith, one of Redmond’s nominees to the Provisional Committee. The resulting advice was to request full payment £300 representing 12 months' rent for St.Enda’s. Pearse normally paid £150 every six months and was now in danger of losing his school and being declared a bankrupt. Payment due date was September 6th.
27:
The SS St Louis was damaged while in the Liverpool docks and so Monteith had to get an extension to his stay in Dublin from the Irish Command HQ. This was granted to the date of sailing, September 1st aboard the SS New York.
The Daily Chronicle carried the story of events in a Prisoner of War camp in Germany as told by Corporal B. Thompson. Repatriated to Britain through an invalid POW exchange, he carried the story of events surrounding attempts to recruit an Irish POW into an Irish Brigade by Sir Roger Casement.
29: Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman born ( d. 29.8.82 )
30:
Eastern Front: Brest-Litvosk falls to the Germans.
British submarine attacks Constantinople and damages the Galata Bridge.
With Monteith’s departure from Dublin, a triangular organisation was soon at work: Clarke and MacDiarmada in Dublin, Plunkett and Devoy in America and Casement and Monteith in Germany.
Connolly’s “Workers Republic” jingles:
“ Full steam ahead, John Redmond said
that “Everything was well” chum,
Home Rule will come, when we are dead,
and buried out in Belgium”
One year into the war, actual recruitment in Ireland was actually decreasing in comparison with other parts of the UK. ‘ It would seem that enthusiasm for the war was never as widespread in nationalist Ireland as the media, dominated by pro-war elements, suggested. It wanted to virtual vanishing point from the autumn of 1915. The evidence goes some way to confirm the claim of Maurice Headlam *, a jaundiced but presumably well informed Dublin Castle official, that “ we in Ireland knew, that the bulk of the population seized any pretext to avoid fighting in France”
Prof JJ Lee. ‘Ireland 1912-1985 Politics and Society’ Cambridge University Press 1990. P24
* Maurice Headlam was the Treasury Remembrance and Deputy Paymaster of Ireland.
The reality was somewhat different. There was little publicity during 1915 of the role played by Irish Troops in the war. In the retreat from Mons, the 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers had fought a rear guard action and had been almost decimated waiting for orders that never arrived. Churchill’s Gallipoli landings devastated Colonial troops in addition to the Munster and Dublin Fusiliers. There were no pages of purple prose, no parades and no favourable notice.
September 1915
Diarmuid Lynch received special instructions from Pearse:
‘On instructions from Pearse, I paid a special visit to Tralee, Dingle and other coastal points in the South-West to ascertain the most suitable spot at which a ship load of arms from Germany could be landed and from which they could be most expeditiously distributed. I reported in favour of Fenit.’
Diarmuid Lynch ‘The Countermanding Orders of Holy Week 1916’ written for ‘An Cosantoir’ but not published on objection from Bulmer Hobson. Later published in ‘The IRB and the 1916 Rising’ 1957.
Diarmuid was characteristically brief here as to why Fenit was favoured but made the decision after discussions with the IRB officers in Tralee, Dingle and Listowel. The reasons however were strategic as the area included a deep water quay, a narrow gauge railway running from the quay to Tralee, a strong force of Irish Volunteers in the area and regular rail connections to Cork in one direction and Limerick in the other. This would allow for swift dispersion of arms and ammunition to the West and South in a support movement to Dublin. Earlier Pearse appeared to have in mind Ventry Harbour on the southern side of the Dingle peninsula. Diarmuid mentioned this in discussions but they pointed out the danger inherent in transporting the arms through the bottleneck of the peninsula between Ventry and Tralee.
[ additional sources: Florence O’Donoghue. ‘Thomas MacCurtain – Soldier & Patriot’ Anvil Books, Tralee, Co. Kerry. 1971. p.72 ]
I.R.B. Military Council had agreed a landing of German arms and possibly soldiers could be made at Fenit, in Tralee Bay following Diarmuid Lynch’s favourable report on the area.
1:
Monteith sailed from Liverpool in steerage aboard the SS New York taking some 9 days to cross the Atlantic. ‘Most of the passengers were seasick or half scared to death that the vessel would be torpedoed or sunk by a floating mine. The American colours were painted fore and aft on either side of the ship, illuminated at night by huge electric lights. All boats were swung out ready for launching. Passengers were instructed to keep their lifebelts handy on all occasions…’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives
2:
Pearse cabled McGarrity for funding to assist him save St. Endas College. Later that day, he wrote two letters of explanation, one by mail and one by hand should the mail be censored. ‘It’s their way of hitting at me. They will represent me as a bankrupt and discredited man who takes refuge in advanced politics and hides his failure to meet his creditors by preaching sedition…my fall no will – I speak without any exaggerated idea of my own importance – be bad for the whole cause, will discredit the whole cause. If I were free to do so, I would go out to America by the first ship and earn and collect the money. But to go to America now would be to desert the danger gap. Whatever the consequences, I must stand here as a rock.’
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’ Anvil Press 1972. P56
Tom Clarke supported Pearse’s request to McGarrity with a cable to a Clan na Gael member in Brooklyn, New York:
‘..if at all possible, Garrity should attend to Paddy’s communication regarding school – it is both urgent and vital. Ask Garrity to cable Paddy at once, even if he can't see his way.’
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’ Anvil Press 1972. P56
4:
The first overnight exercise for the Cork City Companies of the Irish Volunteers took place on the evening of Saturday 4th. They marched from the city to Tracton, ‘ and they bivouacked that night at Lynch’s Granig, and, after exercises next day marched back to the city.’
Thomas MacCurtain – Soldier and Patriot. Florence O’Donoghue. Anvil Press 1955. P.64
5:
Tsar Nicholas of Russia assumes command of Russian armies. Grand Duke Nicholas is transferred to the Caucasus to fight the sideshow war against Turkey.
The first meeting of the re-organised Supreme Council of the I.R.B took place. Elected members were:
President: Denis McCullough – Ulster
Secretary Sean MacDermott
Treasurer Tom Clarke
Leinster Sean Tobin
Munster Diarmuid Lynch
Connaught Alex McCabe
England-South Dick Connolly
England – North Joseph Gleeson
Scotland Patrick McCormick
Co-Opted Patrick Pearse and Dr. Patrick McCartan.
McGarrity sent the funds to a bank in Dublin and the school’s rent was paid.
6:
Albert Einstein proposed his Theory of Gravity, challenging the established Newton principles. He says gravity is a result of the curvature of space due to the presence of matter.
7:
UK: The Trades Union Congress votes to oppose conscription.
8:
The first Irish Volunteers Officers training camp was held in the Wicklow Mountains over 8 days. The camp was conducted by JJ O’Connell* and attending were both Diarmuid and Michael Lynch, along with Sean Nolan and Daithi Barry from Cork. This training camp covered such diverse aspects as urban warfare, target practice, military strategy and how to make arms and ammunition.
Statement by Michael Lynch – part of application for Military Service Pension Certificate, December 1935. Lynch Archives.
* JJ’Ginger’ O’Connell (1887-1944) later became the Free State Deputy Chief of Staff. His kidnapping by Ernie O’Malley on 26 June 1922 precipated the Civil War. Chief Lecturer at the Army School of Instruction, Intelligence Branch, Quartermaster General and Director of Military Archives.
9:
UK: Lloyd George tells the T.U.C ‘We can’t win without you’.
US: Wilson orders recall of Austrian ambassador, implicated in plot to prevent manufacture of munitions for the Allies.
Monteith landed in New York and as he was going aboard the ferry from Ellis Island, ‘I met the only Irishman I encountered during my short stay in the United States before going to Germany. He was landing on the Island. Larry de Lacey*, by name. He was one of the men, who left Ireland hurriedly on account of some little difference of opinion with the British Government on the matter of high explosives, seditious literature etc.’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives
* It’s not surprising Larry de Lacey was arriving in the United States. Things were particularly hot for him back in Co. Wexford where he was not only well known to the RIC for anti Government activities, but also to the IRB & Diarmuid Lynch.
In the RIC Dublin Castle Intelligence Reports for 1915, Larry features under the title:
‘Cases of unlawful possession and larceny of high explosives – Co. Wexford’:
‘Certain anti-recruiting notices having been posted up in different parts of County Wexford, which were believed to be in the handwriting of John Hegarty, a dismissed postal employee, a warrant for his arrest was issued by the General Officer Commanding in Ireland, which the police executed on the morning (2am ) of the 24th February 1915. When arrested Hegarty was in bed…in the house of Laurence De Lacey, 8 New Street, Enniscorthy. On searching Hegarty’s bedroom the police found, in addition to seditious notices and pamphlets, a paper parcel containing nineteen sticks of gelatine dynamite, each bearing on the wrapper ‘Kynoch’s, Ark low, Ltd., London’ and in another part of the room some fuse and .303 cartridges etc, all of which the police seized. In the bedroom of Laurence de Lacey…the police found two cartridges of gelatine dynamite, two of gelignite and a number of .303 cartridges etc which the police also seized. De Lacey denied ownership of the explosives…[ the following day ] .. the police…failed to effect the arrest of de Lacey, who had in the meantime absconded, and he has not since been made amenable.’
RIC Intelligence Reports 1915. State Paper Office 1966. P159.
Unknown to the RIC, they had caught a big IRB fish in their net. John Hegarty was none other than Sean O’Hegarty, Head of the IRB in Cork and in direct contact with the Munster Head of the IRB, Diarmuid Lynch and the Supreme Council. It appeared very likely that O’Hegarty would be quickly tried under the Court Martial provisions in the Defence of the Realm Act regulations and in all probability receive a lengthy prison sentence if not death.
However, at the time an amending Bill was before Parliament on the legality of the Court-Martials of civilians and to provide a charged defendant with the choice of a trial by jury or trial by courts martial. As a result, the case against O’Hegarty was deferred until the Bill was passed. In the subsequent trial by jury, defended by Tim Healy ( later to become Governor General of the Free State ) who showed that no evidence existed to show what Hegarty meant to do with the dynamite and was acquitted on the charge of having explosives on his possession in the vicinity of a railway contrary to provisions of Section 33 of the Defence of the Realm regulations. He was then re-arrested on the sediditious literature charge. When the second case came to court, on the charge of writing and publishing seditious statements contrary to the Defence of the Realm regulations, the jury was undecided and so the case was adjourned until the next hearing in June, at which O’Hegarty was once again acquitted. Following this, he was discharged from custody and placed under restrictions by the Military Authorities.
During the main and subsequent RIC searches of de Lacey’s house, a large print run of Sir Roger Casement’s ‘Freedom of the Seas’ pamphlet produced by the Enniscorthy Echo newspaper on orders from the Supreme Council earlier in the year was completely overlooked. So when the fuss had died down, the pamphlets were quickly moved ‘to a friendly farmer’s place ‘somewhere in Wexford’ where they remained for many months’ and led to Diarmuid Lynch’s involvement in what became known as the ‘Distribution of the Casement Pamphlets, 1915’.
The Casement Pamphlet
The pamphlet comprised a series of articles written anonymously by Roger Casement some years earlier and published by the Gaelic American in 1914 and run in Irish Freedom, Dublin. The IRB Supreme Council in November 1914 ordered a large edition to be printed by the Enniscorthy Echo ( the editor, sub-editor and most of the staff were IRB members ). When printed, these were stored in Larry de Lacey’s home and overlooked when the property was raided, capturing Sean O’Hegarty. Pamphlets were quickly moved to ‘a friendly farmer’s place’ where they remained for a number of months.
In the spring of 1915, the subject of these pamphlets distribution was raised at a Supreme Council IRB meeting but deemed not urgent and passed over. Diarmuid at a later meeting "proposed a plan for getting copies of the pamphlet to each County, Urban and Rural Councillor and to professional men throughout the country. The job was left in my hands'
Diarmuid had sets of envelopes printed by James Connolly in Liberty Hall, with the name and address of seed merchants from one of each of the six centres ( Dublin, Galway, Tralee, Cork, Waterford and Dundalk ) proposed for distribution. Those chosen were specifically staunch Unionists. Names and addresses of all councillors were gathered along with prominent businessmen. Addresses were typed and envelopes distributed to each centre for filling with the pamphlet. The next step was to source the pamphlets from Wexford.
10:
Monteith met with John Devoy and preparations began for his travel to Germany in addition to finding a home for his wife and family. Finding a ship that would take Monteith to neutral Holland or occupied Belgium would have been relatively easy if he had a passport. No ship would take a person without papers on board owing to the rigorous blockade policed by the Royal Navy. The Clann organised Casement’s assistant, Adler Christensen to smuggle Monteith aboard as a stowaway aboard a Norwegian freighter en-route to Christiania. Days later he successfully boarded the ship and sailed for Europe.
South Atlantic
The Endurance, icebound since January 1915, was finally destroyed by ice and sank. Shackelton, with his crew aboard two small craft salvaged from the Endurance, made their way to Elephant Island, where they spent the summer months waiting for rescue. With no sign of a rescue craft, on 24 April 1916, he set sail for South Georgia.
17:
Monteith and Clann na Ga
18:
Sean MacDiarmada released from Mountjoy Prison and was met by a number of friends including Tom & Kathleen Clarke. He was brought back to their home in Richmond Avenue for breakfast. Afterwards, events were discussed. ‘Sean disapproved of Arthur Griffith being appointed editor; he believed Griffith was so wedded to his own policy and ideas that he would, despite his promise, revert to his own policy…Sean said ‘I know Griffith better than you Tom, I worked with him’…
Kathleen Clarke ‘Revoloutionary Woman’ O’Brien Press, Dublin 1991. P52
Diarmuid Lynch recalled ‘Shortly after McDermott's release I was informed that he and Tom Clarke were co-operating as ex-officio members of that ‘Committee’ [ originally the Military Committee of Pearse, Plunkett and Ceannt ] which from that time forward may be termed ‘The Military Council’.’
Diarmuid Lynch Supplementary Statement – Bureau of Military History. Copy in National Library of Ireland. MS11.128
London: Government reveals the war is costing £3.5 million daily.
Berlin: Kaiser Wilhelm II gives assurance that no neutral or passenger shipping will be attacked.
22:
Balkans: Bulgaria mobilises its army
24:
Balkans: Bulgaria invades Serbia.
The fifty men who joined Casement’s Brigade in Germany, issued a statement countering widespread press allegations that they were mere mercenaries in receipt of ‘German gold’
Casement had the statement smuggled to Devoy in New York where he had hoped to have it circulated and printed. However, Devoy writes:
“but because of the attitude of the Press in this country…it never saw the light in any American daily. It was published in the Gaelic American and thus reached our own people’
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P440
Along with the statement, Casement provided a financial statement and acknowledged that he had received the sum of $7,740 to date from Clan na Gael.
25
Allies open offensive on Western front and occupy Lens.
26:
Western Front: The Autumn offensive began with 2 ‘massive blows against German lines, by the French in Champagne and the British in Flanders’ General Joffre’s view is that the offensive ‘could possibly end the war’ observers disagreed saying that the bombardment merely indicated an attack was imminent and prompt German Command to bring in reinforcements,
27:
Diarmuid Lynch in a letter to P. Lynch*, 52 Porter St, Somerville, Massachusetts:
‘Very glad to get your post card & to learn that self and family are well.
Mother died last June. She had been ailing some considerable time previously. Otherwise we are all OK here.
Conditions in Ireland are more or less normal – notwithstanding the war. There are exceptions of course!
Business in my line is slow, but still enough to pull along.
Nationally, things are hopeful.
The Gaelic League is to have a new Sec – for which I am glad. The old one muddled the matter of sending out the Gaelic Alliance membership cards, which leaves me in an awkward position with my American friends.
I believe the League in Boston is as good as dead. I’m not surprised. The collection of cranks is too large to allow the other to get very far.
With best regards,
Lynch Family Archives – Folder 2 – 1915-1916
* Believed to be P.J.Lynch, Editor of the Boston Post.
29
The Irish Volunteers HQ issued a directive that it was the duty of every Volunteer ‘in the final resort to lose his life rather than suffer himself to be disarmed.’
Florence O’Donoghue. ‘Thomas MacCurtain – Soldier & Patriot’ Anvil Books, Tralee, Co. Kerry. 1971. p.68
October 1915
1:
Connolly negotiated wage increases from Shipping Companies for Dublin Port workers on the North Wall. However the Burns-Laid Line withdrew its offer when it was not immediately accepted.
By October 1915, over 75,000 Irish men had enlisted, replacing the over 1,100 weekly casualties on the Western front.
Dublin workers were now strong enough to win a dispute with the Dublin Steam Packet Company. Murphy had once again called for a lock-out but this time his employer friends refused to follow him They had won two years earlier but at a great financial cost. They were in no hurry to spend such large amounts of money again.
3:
London: reported that recruiting authorities have cards with details of 150,000 men of military age in the capital.
Allied troops land in Salonika in north-eastern Greece to counter possible Central Powers moves in the area.
Sir Hugh Lane’s will was published, detailing that his collection of Impressionist Art was to be bequeathed to the National Gallery in London, unless, as stated on a codicil written before he sailed on the Lusitania, that a suitable building to house the
collection be provided in Dublin within 5 years of his death, the pictures would go to Dublin.
Monteith arrived in Copenhagen from Norway and continued onto Germany.
5:
Monteith arrived in Berlin and attempted to find Casement. After tracking his stay in numerous hotels, he was finally found to be staying near Munich and a telegram was sent. Casement replied with a request for Monteith to travel overnight to Munich.
Franco-British force lands at Salonika and Greek ministry resigns.
6
In the German Embassy in Washington, George von Skal, assistant to Captain Franz von Papen, sent word to the German Foreign Office that it was important to send ‘a number of rifles, together with ammunition’ to Fenit, located ‘seven miles from Tralee’. These rifles would be put to very good use by a group ‘organised in Ireland to resist recruiting’
Tansill. ‘America and the Fight for Irish Freedom 1866-1922’. Devin-Adair. New York 1957. p191.
Monteith met with Casement who advised of progress to date in the recruitment of Irish prisoners of war for the Irish Brigade.
‘The additions to the British and French fleets had put the possibility of a German naval victory out of the question and he had therefore stopped recruiting. This was most unpleasant news for me as I had orders to push recruiting for the Brigade.’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p66
Monteith stated his orders to push recruiting for the Brigade, to which Casement agreed subject to the War Office in Berlin giving approval. Both men returned to Berlin and obtained the necessary permission to attempt recruiting again.
85 men and women of the Citizen Army took part in night manoeuvres around Dublin Castle.
8:
Balkans: Russia declares war on Bulgaria.
9:
Belgrade again occupied by Austria-Hungary & German forces.
10:
Following the withdrawal of offer by the Burns-Laird Line, Connolly called for a withdrawal of labour, and supported by funds contributed by the city’s union members, remained on strike until months end when Burns Laird agreed to increase rates. Less well known is that he ordered the Citizen Army to ‘lend their rifles to the waterfront pickets..’
Connolly as Commandant of the Irish Citizen Army ordered the study and practice of ‘Insurrectionary Warfare involving ‘barricades in the streets, guerrilla warfare in the country’ Austen Morgan. ‘James Connolly – a political biography’. Manchester University Press. 1988. .p164
12:
Balkans: Britain breaks off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria.
Edith Cavell, English nurse, shot by Germans for aiding British prisoners to escape from Belgium.
Casement and Monteith met with the men that formed the Irish Brigade in Zossen. The uniform designed by Casement was in use, grey-green in colour with emerald green facings ornamented with harp and shamrock. In the Brigade were 14 non-commissioned officers: 1 Sergeant-Major, 1 Quartermaster-Sergeant, 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals and 4 Lance-Corporals.
Monteith reported: ‘I found that excellent discipline had been kept. The men fully appreciated their position as Irishmen and conducted themselves accordingly. The interpreters, attached to the Brigade, had started classes in German in order that all ranks might have a working knowledge of the language…Zossen was a huge training ground. At least a quarter of a million troops were in training there…’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p66-67
In the US, a strong move was developing in Irish-American circles to disassociate themselves from John Redmond and his program. In a letter to John Devoy, Richard McGinn of Patterson, New Jersey, suggested calling a convention that would go on record as to its position on the European war and opposition to Redmond. He felt that Irish-Americans all over the US looked to John Devoy as the leader of the nationalist cause in America. Devoy discussed the matter with Judge Cohalan, Richard Dalton and other members of Clan na Gael. The Convention was decided for March 4/5th 1916 in New York.
13:
During one of the common midnight manoeuvres of the Irish Citizen Army, Connolly, Countess Markievicz along with Michael Mallin, led a mock attack on Dublin Castle in thick fog while followed and observed by the RIC and Intelligence officers. After accepting the guard's surrender, they returned to Liberty Hall and celebrated. Connolly's justification for these military rehearsals was that while constitutional argument was fine in peacetime, Revoloutionary action was demanded in wartime. Not surprisingly, both his views and actions brought him into conflict with the I.R.B who were less concerned with his political rhetoric and more with keeping their own Revoloutionary plans and preparations secret.
London: £100 fine and/or six months in jail bans drinkers from buying rounds. The level of excessive drinking by shipyard and munitions workers has cut down production and refits.
London bombarded by Zeppelins; 55 persons killed; 114 injured.
14:
Bulgaria at war with Serbia.
15:
US: President Wilson approves plans to expand the US army.
Britain declares war on Bulgaria.
Pearse wrote to McGarrity thanking him for the financial support for St. Enda’s sent in early September:
‘Your action now and on former occasions has been so prompt and sop extraordinarily generous that it leaves me without any adequate words…to hold St. Enda’s for another year means so much. I am writing to John [Devoy] and the Judge too, for I know that it was they who co-operated with you..’
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’ Anvil Press 1972. P59
16:
Monteith now went to Limburg an der Lahn to recruit more Irish Brigade members from the prisoner of war camps.
‘Casement was altogether against admitting any more men to the Brigade and gave me instructions not to accept married men. For the trip to Limburg…I took with me a Sergeant Major and two Sergeants, also an interpreter…after breakfast, we went to the camp. There I found that in addition to the Irish prisoners of war, there were about four thousand Russian and French….I was provided with a pass to visit the camp at any time. An office was placed at my disposal and every facility given me to interview my fellow countrymen..’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p68
17:
Monteith began work interviewing the Irish POW’s. ‘I usually interviewed about fifty a day. No German officers were present at these talks. No pressure whatever was put upon the men. I had no bribe to offer in money or kind an opportunity to fight for Ireland in Ireland, was all I could put before them. At first I found it hard to convince some of them that I was not an English speaking German in disguise…during my stay in Limburg I made a thorough investigation of the reports current in Ireland that Casement had been booed, hissed and driven out of camp by the Irish. I questioned over five hundred men on this point. None of them had ever heard of such an incident…the statement that he had to be protected by the Prussian Guard is false…. My experience with the Irish troops showed me that the men were willing to hear everything I had to say, whether they agreed with me or not.
…The charge that the rations of prisoners were shortened, because some refused to join the Brigade is also false. If England starved the Germans into submission, as is her boast, she must shudder the responsibility of having starved her own men, prisoners of war, in Germany.’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p66
France at war with Bulgaria.
20:
London: Government announces that women can apply for licences to be bus & tram conductors.
21
Monteith and Christiansen travelled through Denmark, catching the boat from Copenhagen to Warnemunde in Germany. From there they were admitted and took the night train to Berlin to meet Casement.
22
Monteith found that Casement had already left Berlin for a visit to Munich. He collected his official identification papers and the next day took the express to Munich.
Diarmuid Lynch recalled: ‘In the autumn of 1915, those of the Provisional representatives elected ( or re-elected ) during the months preceding, who were available, met in Dublin to complete the personnel of the Supreme Council in accordance with the constitution i.e. to co-opt four members. On this occasion it was my privilege to move the co-option of a man not hitherto a member of the S.C., Padraic Pearse. He was no chosen. ( The other three were Tom Clarke, Sean MacDermott and Dr. McCartan’
Diarmuid Lynch Supplementary Statement – Bureau of Military History. Copy in National Library of Ireland. MS11.128
23
Monteith finally met up with Roger Casement, passed his instructions to him. That night they travelled back to Berlin.
24
140 Citizen Army volunteers took part in military exercises around Dublin Castle.
26:
The Irish Prisoners of War that had agreed to join the Irish Brigade had now been moved to Zossen, 17 miles south of Berlin. Casement and Monteith went there to meet the 50 or so prisoners.
27:
Dublin: Connolly and the Transport Union began a strike on the Dublin quays. 40 Casual labourers came out at the North Wall for an increase of daily pay from 5/8 to 6/2. The English and Scottish companies came to agreement shortly but the Dublin Steampacket Company under the Watson Family held out. This continued until settlement some six months later on 15 April 1916. Connolly began drilling the striking men.
28:
Robert Monteith was made a Lieutenant by the German War Office and returned back to Zossen to begin training the Irish Brigade recruits. Casement was invited to visit and assess their progress and performance. ( No mention of his promotion in his book? )
30:
Connolly’s ‘Workers Republic’ published an article ‘stating that the force [ Irish Citizen Army ] would ‘co-operate in a forward movement…[ but would ] advance by itself if needs be’. This was an clear and unambiguous policy statement from the Citizen Army that they were prepared to ‘go it alone’ and run their own uprising against the British Authorities if the Irish Volunteers were unable or unwilling.
"An armed organisation of the Irish working class is a phenomenon in Ireland. Hitherto the workers of Ireland have fought as parts of the armies led by their masters, never as a member of any army officered, trained and inspired by men of their own class. Now, with arms in their hands, they propose to steer their own course, to carve their own future."
James Connolly, Workers' Republic 30 October 1915
31:
The Irish Volunteers second convention was held in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.
Russia: 1.5 Million Jews are reported to have been deliberately starved.
P.H.Pearse said of Cumann na mBan
“ I would not like to think of women drilling and marching in the ordinary way, but there is no reason that they should not learn to shoot”
Quoted by George Dangerfield “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” Constable London. 1977. P135
See Eileen's book for details on shipment of arms to Cork Volunteers.
November 1915
The growing rift between Connolly and the Irish Volunteers came to print in the Workers’ Republic:
‘..revolutionists who shrink from giving blow for blow, until...they have every shoe string in its place and every man has got his gun, - and the enemy has kindly consented to postpone action so as not to ... disarrange their plans - such revolutionists only exist in two places - the comic opera stage and the stage of Irish national politics. We prefer the comic opera brand. It at least serves its purpose”
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.153
1:
London: Asquith says there are 1 million Britons on the Western Front.
3:
Paris: Premier Briand says France’s only war goal is the return of Alsace-Lorraine.
4:
Washington: President Wilson outlines US defence plans.
In an undated letter to McGarrity, Pearse commented on events at home:
‘the Defence of the Realm Act prevents the Irish people for expressing their views in public…conscription will be the next and Lord knows what its consequences will be…we expected at the time the Lusitania was torpedoes the Americans would declare war on Germany, owing to this danger to shipping. Flour and other provisions have got very dear and it will press hard on the poor. Those who have means will not suffer at all practically as they ar getting big prices for their stock. So you can see the rich men are making on the war while the very poor are on the verge of starvation. And yet they want the poor to work at home and fight abroad so that the so-called noblemen may sit at ease and comfort and congratulate each other on the glory and greatness of the British Empire . this was with all its misery may be the means of uplifting the poor workers to their proper place. Nations can never again afford to despise the worth of the poor worker and the workers themselves will realise much better the purpose for which many of their lives have been sacrificed.’
Sean Cronin. ‘The McGarrity Papers’ Anvil Press 1972. P60
5:
Nish, Serbian war capital, captured by Bulgarians.
The German Admiral Staff finally replied to the Imperial Military Staff that they believed Tralee Bay was not deep enough for submarines and that if they were attacked, they would be easily detected and sunk, therefore no submarine support would be possible in event of an Irish Rising. If arms were to be transported to that area, it would be necessary to use trawlers of English design, manned by Irish crews so that they would not have to make the hazardous trip back to Germany.
6:
London: The Globe newspaper was censored following allegations that Lord Kitchener was to be removed as secretary for war.
The Cunard Steamship company issued a notice stating that they would no longer accept bookings from British subjects that were ‘ fit and eligible for military service’. This resulted in over 400 would be emigrants from the West of Ireland being refused passage to the US.
8:
Mediterranean: Over 208 die when the Italian liner ‘Ancona’ torpedoed off Sardinia.
9:
British war casualties to date: 510,230.
10:
‘Women who volunteered to help the war effort by taking over men’s jobs, are proving immensely successful, according to latest reports. One survey estimates that factories are now two and a half times more productive. Foremen, who were reluctant originally, now praise the women’s energy punctuality and willingness. The average wage is around 32/ per week for day shifts and £3 a week for nights. A further 100,000 women will soon be needed’
British press release.
The German Admiralty staff passed on the communication from the Washington Embassy requesting rifles and ammunition to Fenit. They shortly received a reply that owing to the shallowness of Tralee Bay, it would be impossible for submarines to carry on any operations there. If arms were to be transported, they would have to be moved by trawlers of English design and manned by an Irish crew not required to make a hazardous trip back to Germany.
11:
New War Cabinet announced: Churchill resigned from the Government. The PM & First Lord of the Admiralty: Arthur Balfour. Secretary of State for War: Lord Kitchener, The Colonial Secretary: Bonar Law, Minister for Munitions, Lloyd George and Chancellor of the Exchequer, McKenna. The priority of the new cabinet is the military manpower shortage.
12:
The Irish Brigade was beginning to take some shape. Monteith described them as three distinct types:
‘The soldiers of fortune…men to whom empires were as nothing, men scornful of ease and order, contemptuous even of death. Then there were the men who realised the wrong they had done their Motherland in serving her enemy and who sought to make amends, and the indifferent ones, for whom life held little that was new.’
Sergeant Major – ‘a quiet dispositional man, of plump short physique, prone to follow the line of least resistance but with the knack of getting things done. He had at one time served in an American Cavalry regiment and at every available opportunity, would get off a story of ‘Custers Outfit’.
15
Casement commenting on the spectre of conscription in Ireland: ‘If conscription is applied to Ireland, it will be met, and instead of recruits for the British Army in Flanders, England will have to greatly increase her garrison in Ireland. Already we have kept 200,000 Irishmen out of the ranks of the British Army in this war…this act of mine is termed treason in England. In Ireland men call it by another name.’
Conor O’Clery ‘Ireland in Quotes’ The O’Brien Press Dublin 1999 p.38
Redmond warned Asquith that conscription in Ireland would be impossible to enforce.
19:
London: Government says married men will not be called up until unmarried men have been.
21:
Balkans: Austro-German troops reported to be in full control in Serbia.
In Minane Bridge, Diarmuid Lynch drilled 30 men of the Tracton Irish Volunteers under command of his brother, Michael. According to information supplied to Dublin Castle by either the R.I.C. or an informer, also present at this drilling was the local PP, Rev. O’Mahony of Tracton Parish. The Reverend Gentleman's attendance at an Irish Volunteers training caused sufficient concern in the Castle as the report appears under a list of “Clergymen coming under notice due to disloyal language and conduct” as part of the monthly RIC Intelligence Notes.
This Parish Priest was later in the year moved to another parish and replaced by a PP considered more appropriate and sympathetic to Dublin Castle , Canon O’Leary.
22:
India: Mohandas Ghandi returns from South Africa.
23:
Redmond on his return from visiting Irish Regiments on the Western Front ‘Ireland would forever be disgraced in the history of the world if, having sent these men to the front, she did not raise the necessary reserves to fill every gap that may arise in their ranks.’
Conor O’Clery ‘Ireland in Quotes’ The O’Brien Press Dublin 1999 p.38
28
The Manchester Martyrs Commeration in Cork city was a successful gathering of 1,200 Volunteers marching through the city streets after 9am mass in the Cathedral and afterwards, Sean MacDiarmada delivered an ovation at the National Monument in Grand Parade.
December 1915
Some of Pearse’s character seems to show through in his contrasts, not to mention the reactions of others to his romantic visions as in this comment:
“ Bloodshed is a cleansing and sanctifying thing, and the nation which regards it as the final horror has lost its manhood. There are many things more horrible than bloodshed; and slavery is one of them.”
The Irish Uprising 1916-1922. P.18
“(Pearse in the classroom was ) ..preaching violence and bloodshed but could hardly bring himself to handle a knife to cut a loaf, off the platform he was shy and gentle but we find him writing in ( December ) 1915:
“The last sixteen months have been the most glorious in the history of Europe..the old heart of the earth needed to be warmed by the red wine of the battlefields”.
This opinion was certainly not shared by James Connolly writing in the “Irish Worker”:
”No we do not think that the old heart of the earth needed to be warmed with the red wine of millions of lives. We think that anyone who does is a blithering idiot”.
T.P.Coogan - “Ireland since the Rising” Pall Mall Press. 1966. p11
What Coogan left out has perhaps more historic connotations than what he left in, the sentence was taken from ‘Peace and the Gael’ :
‘..the old heart of the earth needed to be warmed by the red wine of the battlefields. Such August homage was never before offered to God, the homage of millions of lives given gladly for love of country....what peace (Ireland) has known these latter days, has been the devil’s peace, peace with dishonour...the sin was the sin of submission to an alien and heretic rule: it could only be redeemed in blood”
Pearse. Political Writings and Speeches. Dublin 1966. p216.
3:
Washington: German attaches dismissed.
Monteith returned to Berlin as Casement was ill. ‘He was unable to attuned to the Brigade business and handed it over to me. Zossen was within easy reach of the capital, so I persuaded him to join us there and rest. The village was about half an hour’s walk from my quarters and I saw him almost daily. He always accompanied us on our route marches, much to the delight of the boys, whom he treated to light refreshments at the quiet little inns along some of our routes….Sir Roger remained with us until about December 22nd when he left to spend Christmas [ in Dresden and Munich ] with some friends’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p72
4:
Henry Ford, with large party of peace advocates, sails for Europe on chartered steamer Oscar II, with the object of ending the war.
The Citizen Army had its third and last night manoeuvre with the target being a raid on an army drill hall in Sutton, Co. Dublin. Only wooden rifles were found, for use by the local home defence force.
7:
US: Wilson asks for a standing army of 142,000 with reserves of 400,000.
10:
US: Ford makes its one millionth car.
13.
Serbia in hands of enemy, Allied forces abandoning last positions and retiring across Greek frontier.
14:
Reported that over 1 million Armenians have been killed by the Turks.
Casement received a letter from John Devoy, warning that Adler Christensen was in his opinion, little more than a double agent
15:
Western Front: after 16 months commanding British forces, Sir John French has been replaced by Sir Douglas Haig, First Army Commander in Flanders
Pearse writing in the pamphlet ‘Peace and the Gael’ commented that ‘Ireland has not known the exhilaration of war for over a hundred years. Yet who will say that she has known the blessings of peace? When war comes to Ireland, she must welcome it as she would welcome the Angel of God. And…we must not faint at the sight of blood. Winning through it, we ( or those of us who survive ) shall come unto great joy.’
18:
US: President Wilson married.
Writing in the Workers’ Republic, Connolly reminded his readers of the great strike of 1913
‘..when the misguided Irish people stood so callously by....out of that experience is growing the feeling of identity between the forces of real nationalism and labour which we have long worked for and hoped for in Ireland... we want and must have economic conscription in Ireland. Not the conscription of men by hunger to compel them to fight for the power that denies them the right to govern their own country, but the conscription by an Irish nation of all the resources of the nation - it’s land, its railways, its canals, its workshops, its docks, its mines, its mountains and rivers and streams, its factories and machinery, its horses, its cattle and its men and women, all cooperating together under one common direction that Ireland may live and bear upon her fruitful bosom the greatest number of the freest people she has ever known.’
19:
Chief Secretary Birrell wrote to Redmond that the real conditions in Ireland were alarming and mostly due to the conscription scare.
20:
Allies retreat from Gallipoli disaster - over 90,000 men, 4,500 animals, 1,700 vehicles and 200 guns were evacuated. The House of Commons was told that the ‘Dardanelles casualties were 25,000 dead, 76,000 wounded, 13,000 missing and 96,000 sick admitted to hospitals ‘ Actual casualties were 50,133 killed. Of these, 21,255 were British & Irish, 9,874 French, 8709 Australia, 7597 Indian and 2701 New Zealanders. In Australia, it is still commonly felt that the ‘British fought ‘till the last Australian’.
Francis Sheehy-Skeffington returned from a speaking tour of the US.
22:
Henry Ford leaves his peace party at Christiania and returns to the United States.
The Irish Parliamentary Party pledged a ‘vigorous resistance’ to the parliamentary move to enforce conscription in Ireland.
Pearse and Plunkett held a meeting at 41 Parnell Square, at which Thomas MacDonagh ‘had unexpectedly turned up…Pearse was proposing that he and Plunkett should launch a new weekly paper in which he was to write inflammatory articles, designed to rouse the country to fever pitch. The idea was reminiscent of what Mitchell had done, and for which he had been transported…MacDonagh took great exception to what Pearse was proposing and left the meeting very angry. He told Tom [Clarke] he believed the sole reason for the proposal was that Pearse and Plunkett resented the fact that Sean and Tom had more power than they had…Pearse had no money to start the new paper, so he and Plunkett had been obliged to await Tom’s return from Limerick [ where he was spending Christmas with his wife’s family ] to get his consent on the proposal’
Kathleen Clarke. ‘Revoloutionary Woman’. O’Brien Press, Dublin. 1991. P61
Monteith wrote that Casement went to spend Christmas with some friends, and that although he wanted to spend it with the Brigade, he was persuaded to go. ‘Christmas festivities require careful handling in an Irish Regiment, and I did not want to disillusion the chief. Before he left, he made ample provision to give the boys a good time. This was the first entertainment the men had in Germany…few delicacies were obtainable, but the boys searched the countryside to provide a substantial dinner. Invitations were sent out and we were honoured by the presence of a number of charming girls…during the evening it was clearly demonstrated that the language of love is universal – those who could not speak German got on as well with the girls as those who could…the sequel of our dance came within a few days. I had five applications for permission to marry…after a few days I spoke to these men individually, and urged them to use common sense. I pointed out that there were enough widows in Germany without adding to the list. All agreed with me but one. The lad ended up by asking for an advance of fifty marks on his pay to buy an engagement ring. He was a private and fifty marks would have mortgaged his pay for a period of almost six months’
Capt. Robert Monteith. ‘Casement’s Last Adventure’. Private Printing – 1st Edition. Chicago 1932. Lynch Family Archives p72-73
23
Alice Lynch in a letter to her Sister in Law, Mary in Granig:
Jones Rd Distillery.
My dear Mary.
I, or rather, we cannot let this holy season of peace and goodwill pass without sending you from Denis and myself, best wishes for a happy Xmas filled with untold consolations. I know it will not be as other Xmas’ but please God you will find at this time many joys and blessings.
You may be surprised to hear from us, but Mary [ our ] relationship is too sacred, and brotherly and sisterly love ought to be above such differences. Each of us have, and will have many sad trials to bear which will be God’s will for us, without making trials and sadness for ourselves.
I am at the moment overwhelmed by the news of Dear Uncle Richard’s death. Only, thank God that I have a dear, loving husband to console and cheer me, it would be more than I could bear. We are all broken hearted, for poor Uncle Richard with his big soft heart was more dear to each one of us. He shared all the joys and sorrows when he was amongst us, and since he went to Canada also. He lightened everyone’s problems often by increasing his own and now God has taken the good, big-hearted man to himself. Denis and I have had sorrows this year which has left us well nigh desolate * and so I say Mary, we will all have our share of sorrows, without making more for ourselves.
And now may our dear Lord console us all this Xmas, and replace our sorrows with joys and blessings.
Will you give our love and good wishes to Diarmuid, Tim, Dan and Michael and accept the same for yourself.
Yours affectionately, Alice
PS Our love and good wishes to Aunt Julia also.
Lynch Family Archives – Folder 2 – 1915-1916
25:
Eoin MacNeill wrote in the Irish Volunteer, directed to Connolly ‘No man has a right to seek relief of his own feelings at the expense of his country’.
27:
Following a discussion on the proposed Pearse paper, Clarke vetoed it on the grounds that the Rising was planned and publication would alert the authorities to the potential dangers in their own back yard.
30:
Mediterranean: 400 die when a U-Boat sinks the P&O Liner “Persia”.
Devoy’s views of the Casement mission to Germany were factual: Considering the mission to Germany had three main objectives:
- To secure German military help for Ireland when the opportunity arose.
- To educate German public opinion on the Irish situation so that the people would support their Government when it took action in Ireland.
- To organise if possible, Irish prisoners of war into a military unit to take part in a fight for Irish Freedom
Devoy commented: “Casement did his best in all these things, but did the first ineffectively, succeeded admirably in the second and failed badly in the third.’
Christensen was now engaged to transport another two former officers in the Irish Volunteers from New York to Germany. Devoy writes that he was to detail how Christensen ‘double-crossed us in our endeavour, but suffice to say he proved himself a trickster and a fraud, with the result we were compelled to abandon the project and to summarily dismiss him. Had Christensen acted honestly, we could have dispatched at least 50 dependable and partially trained men whose presence among the prisoners of war enrolled by Casement in Germany would have improved their morale, and would in all probability have been the means of inducing a far larger number of Irish soldiers of the British army – who were then prisoners of war – to join the ‘brigade’. As events transpired at Tralee Bay in 1916, it made no difference.
John Devoy ‘Recollections of an Irish Rebel’ C.P.Young. New York 1929. P441
Hits of the year: “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag” & “Back home in Tennessee”
Connolly’s views on an armed insurrection were such that:
‘..He was now convinced that nothing but an insurrection during the war would give Ireland her right to be heard at the peace table. Whether this insurrection was successful or not was beginning to be quite immaterial; indeed, he was ready to come out with his little Citizen Army if the Irish Volunteers did not make a move’
George Dangerfield. “The Damnable Question - a study in Anglo-Irish Relations” ( Constable, London. 1977) p.154
In late December, the Military Council agreed that the Rising should come on Easter Sunday, 23 April, 1916. Connolly was beginning to be viewed as a distinct menace and threat to the Rising plans, after all, could he not start a premature insurrection with the Citizen Army and ruin all plans?
Meanwhile, the British administration in Dublin Castle continued the policy of Birrell and Nathan:
‘ of minimum action and maximum inaction’. They had resisted those who requested strong measures such as proclaiming the Irish Volunteers or the Irish Citizen Army, deporting James Connolly back to Edinburgh or acting against the ITGWU, but the looming threat of compulsory military service in Ireland could cause immense problems within the administration. The question of conscription for unmarried men led to the threatened resignation of Birrell amongst others which was only resolved on December 31st, 1915 with the compromise that the proposed Conscription Bill for Bachelors would contain no mention of Irish bachelors.
War Overview: By December 1915, the stalemate in the West continued. Military thinking, particularly on the Allied side, still operated on the Napoleonic era, sending troops forward in hapless attempts to capture enemy lines through a hail of shell and machine gun fire, barbed wire, poison gas and land that was churned into a mire of mud. Advances had been miniscule and losses were mounting. 600,000 German and 1,500,000 British and French men were lost. The Eastern front saw widespread Russian defeats as German forces took Poland and Lithuania. However, the worst of the war was still to come.