The Secretary for War announced last week that six of
the eight regular Irish regiments would be disbanded. Their territorial names may seem to justify the decision, but their long and distinguished history shows that they have nothing to do with the Union. The Royal Irish Regiment was transferred from the Irish to the English establishment in 1689 and fought at the Boyne. The Royal Irish Fusiliers and the Connaught Rangers were raised in 1793 and served in. the Peninsula. The other three regiments were raised in India or for service there. The Royal Munster Fusiliers, dating from 1756, were the Bengal Fusiliers whom Clive led ; the Royal Dublin Fusiliers represent the Madras and the. Bombay Fusiliers of the same period. The Leinster Regiment was originally embodied in Canada for service in repressing the Indian Mutiny. It is a pity that these fine old regiments should be broken up because of their territorial designations. In the future, perhaps, -when-Southern Ireland is again enjoying peace and order, it may be possible to revive the regiments in which many loyal Irishmen have served.
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