An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir March 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 10 | T he war had not ended by Christmas 1914 as many had expected. Millions of men were locked in mortal combat across Europe. On what was to become known as the Western Front, the 'race to the sea' had eliminated the age-old tactics of outflanking or out-ma- noeuvring an opponent. Early contact between the opposing forces had revealed the terrifying, lethal power of modern weapons. The ac- curacy of rifles, the weight of heavy artillery fire and the volume of fire produced by machine guns meant that troops could no longer operate in the open without suffer- ing heavy casualties. Consequently, both sides dug in and from the North Sea coast of Belgium, an elaborate trench system snaked south- ward through France to the border with Switzerland. The Dardanelles Campaign of 1915, which was supposed to result in a quick victory over the Turks, had, within a few months, degenerated into a protracted bloodbath and a humiliating defeat. The last Allied troops were evacuated from the Gallipoli peninsula in January 1916, bringing an end to the campaign. In December 1915, General Sir Douglas Haig succeeded Field Marshal Sir John French as Commander-in-Chief of the British armies in France. In the same month Allied leaders proposed a simultaneous attack in maximum force. Despite British military commanders' hesitancy, due to the logistical problems of organising such a force and their inadequate supply of manpower, equipment, guns and ammunition, the offensive was agreed and in April 1916 the army began preparations for the Somme offensive. When war was declared in 1914, Ireland had been on the brink of civil war. Unionists and nationalists armed them- selves, one side wanting to remain united with Britain, the other seeking Home Rule. The Curragh Mutiny of March 1914 was an embarrassment for the British army when several senior officers threatened to resign if ordered to act against loyalists. Their action further incensed nationalists, some of whom were already planning an insurrection. The outbreak of war caused a split in the largest national- ist organisation, the Irish Volunteers. The majority left with John Redmond to form the National Volunteers, lending their support to the war effort in order to obtain Home Rule, while those who remained in the Irish Volunteers pressed for independence. by PAUL O'BRIEN to Rebellion Members of the Irish Citizen Army practising on top of Liberty Hall, Dublin in 1914. Photo: Central Press/Getty

• Cover