April 10, 1918 - Headlines

Today is another quiet day for Mary, her day off and time to do chores around the house.  Newspapers described the weather as rainy, which put into context Mary's cynicism about it being such "a pleasant day out doors" that  she "felt more like going back to bed."

Newspaper headlines continued to tout the enthusiasm for the Third Liberty Loan campaign.

Another headline in The Philadelphia Inquirer: "Plan for Irish Conscription Announced by Lloyd George Causes Uproar in Parliament".  The British had ruled Irish, or parts thereof, since the 12th century.  By the late 19th century increasing efforts were made by Irish separatists for independence of Ireland from Britain.  The Easter Rising in April 1916, while lasting only and resulting in the execution of many of the Irish republican leaders, gave strength to the growing independence movement.

Conscription in England began in 1916.  While 200,000 to 300,000 Irish voluntarily served with the British army in World War I, conscription had not been applied to Ireland.  The Home Rule Bill proposed by Prime Minister Lloyd George in April 1918 passed despite Irish opposition, but was never implemented.  Nevertheless it stimulated greater resistance to British rule over Ireland and preceded the Anglo-Irish war of 1919 and eventual establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922.