In to-day's "Irish Independent" the principal news item is one headed "Changes in the Army." I should say before I enter on a general statement that some days ago— within the last fortnight—the Executive Council demobilised some fourteen officers. Six officers were from the medical service and five from the legal branch. That completes any demobilisation which is in contemplation or has been in contemplation for the last two or three months. The heading in to-day's "Independent" covers what purports to be the general scope of a scheme of Army reorganisation, and it states that between 200 and 300 officers at present serving are marked out for demobilisation and further, that a large number of the recently demobilised and retired officers have been approached within the past few weeks, with a view to their returning to the Army.
It is very well known, I think, that what contributed very largely to what has been generally described as the Army crisis was due to the large demobilisation of officers which took place on the 7th March last. Therefore, this article which appeared this morning in the "Irish Independent" would naturally shake public confidence and disturb the stability which I think will be admitted has gradually and daily become more emphasised since the 7th March last. A statement to the effect that such a large number of officers was about to be demobilised should have a very bad effect upon the officer establishment in the Army and generally upon opinion throughout the country. It would, in consequence, affect our credit, damp to a very large measure any business enthusiasm that there might be in the country and cause very great feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction and injure discipline itself within the Army. If we were to term this particular journalistic experiment as an indiscretion it would be, I think, a very mild method of affixing a name to it, and it is aggravated by the fact that the statement is wholly and absolutely untrue, without a scintilla of foundation and must have appeared as such to any responsible management, if there be such, in connection with that particular journal. There are to be no further demobilisations from the Army and every officer now serving is or will be placed in a command corps or service. The statement that the demobilised or retired officers have been approached with a view to their returning is also untrue and in itself, I think, every member of the Dáil will agree, it is a disturbing element in this connection. It puts, as it were, into contrast the claims of men—I make no statement upon the claims—who were demobilised and the claims of men at present serving in the Army. I think a journal such as this, the "Irish Independent," should realise its responsibility and position in the State and should publish any statement that it does about the Army with very particular reference to what are the actual facts of the case.
The Army is young and it does not admit of any such experiment being made of it by journalistic experimenters. It will also be admitted, I think, by every member of the Dáil that trifling such as that is just as serious, if not more serious than the recent irregular experiment that we have had for the last two years in this country. Despite this particular journalistic experiment on the part of the "Independent" the discipline of the Army is quite sound. The G.O.C. Commanding the Forces was in touch with me this morning and he indicates that the publication of such a statement as this is dangerous, but that the discipline of the Army is so sound that even such a publication will not undermine that discipline. He reports that discipline is maintained at a high standard but scare headlines in the Press such as this must ultimately react upon the best interests of the State. I think, and he agrees with me, that it would affect the discipline of an Army with a tradition of centuries behind it. These particular scare headlines and scare articles of scaremongers are most unfair to officers who have rendered such good service—officers in important positions in the Army—and they are most unfair to the entire Army of the State. The G.O.C. assures me that the State can be informed that the Army is sound and that any crisis can only occur from outside sources in regard to the Army. The reorganisation scheme will be placed before the Dáil, as I have stated, and I can only say in conclusion that it is some satisfaction to us to know that there is only one journal in this country which would stoop to such demoralising practices as the "Independent" has stooped to this morning.
