Gen Douglas Haig tells Commons of British army’s ‘splendid purpose’

March 15th, 1916

Irish Times editorial – "The British army in France is 'in good health and good heart, and confident of victory'."

This is Gen Douglas Haig’s message to the House of Commons, and his optimism is explained in part by Mr Tennant’s statement on the Army Estimates.

“The new British army is not merely a huge host of brave men, animated with a splendid purpose; it is a miracle of organisation and forethought. It is the best fed and the best clothed army in the world. Its health is tended with a minuteness and success which would have seemed incredible twenty years ago . . .”

London – Judging by the extensive preparations in progress St Patrick’s Day will be celebrated next Friday on a scale even more enthusiastic than usual.

Not only are miniature Irish flags to be sold in the streets for the provision of further comforts for the Irishmen on active service, but the boom in shamrock, which has already set in, shows that the patriotic sentiment is almost as pronounced in London as it is in Ireland.

“We are just as busy as we can well be,” said Lady Limerick to a representative of the press who visited the depot for the sale of shamrock which she has opened at London Bridge.

The lighting of bicycles – at the Athy Petty Sessions on Tuesday the police had several persons fined for rolling bicycles along the roads to which lighted lamps were not attached.

In a Dublin court John Shaw was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and Thomas Reilly to three months on charges in connection with the purchase of four military rifles for £2 .10s each from a private in the 5th Lancers during February.

Shaw was charged with having made the purchases, and Reilly with having aided him in the purchase of one of them. In the House of Commons Mr Tennant informed Mr John Redmond that 782 members of the Royal Irish Constabulary were serving with the navy and army. In introducing the Army Estimates he reminded the House that the estimates provided for an army of 4,000,000 men, and that the cost of the army and navy and munition department was about £3,000,000 per day.

2016

Proclamation Day – a day designated by the Department of Education and Skills when every school in the country is invited to share the results of their Proclamation for a New Generation, and all of their other creative projects relating to 1916.