1916 Diary – March 16th

Irish Times editorial – "Many magnificent deeds that have won the Distinguished Service Order, the Military Cross and the Distinguished Conduct Medal. It would be invidious to pick and choose, but typical deeds are those of Captain Grenfell, of the Royal Flying Corps, who 'attacked, singlehanded, and brought down three Fokker aeroplanes'; of Second Lieutenant Stout, of the 20th Hussars, who, with the help of a corporal and a machine-gun, disposed of 14 Germans; of Private R Wilson, of the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, who, when four prisoners revolted and threw a bomb at him, 'thereupon bayonetted one, shot two, and made the fourth a prisoner again'.

“The Irish regiments make a good figure in the list . . . it is impossible to ignore the fine achievement of the Royal Irish Rifles. In this single list the Rifles are represented by two Military Crosses and by four of the eight Distinguished Conduct Medals which have been awarded in the Irish regiments . . . ”

In the House of Commons, Sir John Lonsdale was informed by Mr Birrell that his attention had been called to a speech made by Countess Markievicz (inset) in Cork. Countess Markievicz is, by virtue of her marriage, a Russian subject. It is not in the public interest to state what, if any, restrictions will be imposed on her, he said.

At a meeting of the Council of the Royal Dublin Society yesterday, it was decided, owing to the occupation of the Ballsbridge premises by the military . . . to abandon the idea of holding a Horse Show in 1916. Editorial – "It was certain that the example of East Herts would be followed. As soon as the discovery was made that a constituency could be won by an independent member against the combined forces and organisations of the two historic parties other independent candidates were bound to emerge . . . "

Editorial – "It is officially announced from Berlin that Grand Admiral von Tirpitz (inset) has resigned. The event is of importance in that it removes from the supreme direction at the Admiralstab the originator of Germany's aggressive naval policy . . . it would be unwise, however, to assume that it implies any radical change in the naval policy of Germany especially after the sinking yesterday morning of the great Dutch liner Tubantin."

Captain William Redmond brought a message to the Commons from the men in the trenches asking the Government and the country to send them more reinforcements and supplies, and, having done this, to trust them to conduct the war to victory.