DISCUSSION IN COMMONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9393, 15 December 1920, Page 5

DISCUSSION IN COMMONS.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SOLDIERS

■■•'■'■. LONDON, December 13. Considerable looting took place in and outside the ' fire • zone. •• Burglars raided a j eweller' s • shop, ■ securing the fatys of the strong room at point of the wnsplver. 'The police .fired, killing a woman burglar. Sir Hamar Greenwood, in the House of Commons, protested vigorously against the suggestion that the fires in Cork were started by the forces of the Crown. There was evidence that incendiary bombs were used, of which the Crown forces possessed none, but the Sinn Feiners did. The House negatived Commander Kenworthy's motion for the adjournment. He said lie had; evidence that the outrages in Cork were due to officers and the Crown forces. Soldiers had been committing murders nightly in Cork City,' hundreds of shops had , been looted, and citizens had been publicly whipped. Sir Hamar Greenwood, in replying, said martial law meant the earnest discipline of the forces of the Crown. As a matter of' fact, soldiers saved Cork from absolute destruction, for when the fire brigade was exhausted^ soldiers and police took over the wont. There was no evidence that the police caused fires, except in a few instances where bombs were thrown into a lorry. (Received December 15, 12.10 p.m.) ' '(Reuter.) '- LONDON, December 14. ' In the House, of Commons, Sir* Hamar Greenwood, stated .that only'one' woman looter had lost -her life in the!; Cork fires/ He read a 'telegram from 1 the Lord Mayor of Cork and Sinn Fein members of v the House' of C6mmons alleging that during the week men and women in 4 Cork were held up in the streets and robbed, and ' unoffending citizens publicly' whipped and shot. It is believed some were burned alive in their houses. The telegram demanded Tlfo immediate withdrawal of the army oft occupation. Sir Hamar Greenwood said a lull inquiry was proceeding. The signatories ot the telegram had been asked to give evidence under safe conduct pledge. Dealing with the argument that we should endeavour to stand well in the eyes of the world, ,as regards Ireland,, lie declared that" only the part of the world which counted in this difficult period was the part which wished us well. He had jet to see any comment, official or unofficial, from any civilised country condemning the British Gov- . eminent. On the other; hand, "he saw many communications wishing us well iv one of the most difficult;,tasks ever faced by a Government. - He could not imagine anything... :jnore: •■ contemptible than to yield; at all- costs 'to the 1 gangs of assassins who: by murder and arson :were endeavouring to intimidate them into surrender. '.'. "W» are dealing, with this conspiracy feirly and fearlessly," he said. ■ It 'was unfair to attribute every burning incident in Ireland to the gallant . men who showed such, splendid restraint against the [ almost intolerable provocation. All burnings; and murderings; were the logical conse^ quences of the Sinn Fein extremist; conspiracy to smash the Empire. The way. to prevent 1 the consequences was to ■ uproot the cause. ;=