“CLOSER TO WAR.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 89, 26 January 1942, Page 4

“CLOSER TO WAR.”

BELIEF GROWING IN EIRE. NEW YORK, Jan. 24. The Dublin correspondent of the “New York Times” reveals that Mr de Valera’s Government, while systematically rounding up leaders of the Irish Ropublicah Army with a view to preventing the establishment of an anti-Allied fifth column, arrested a German parachutist, Hermann Gcrtz, who for 18 months had worked in the Irish Republican Army, gaining a leading position, hut ho generally found the Irish Republican Army unready to work for Germany. It is not- known whether other German parachutists are still secretly working in Eire.

In spite of Mr do Valera’s assurances, the belief is growing that Eire is getting closer to war, hilt simultaneously the fear is growing that Gorman bombers would mercilessly wreck the defenceless Irish cities. Therefore, the public demands modern aerodromes, guns, fighter aeroplanes, and also trained crews and pilots before considering American overtures for bases in Eire.

Speaking in Dublin in an appeal for greater food production, Mr I* Derrig (Minister of Lands) said: “We are confronted with, a serious national crisis. Eire might soon bo cut off from practically all. outside sources of supply. Efforts may be made to entice or intimidate us into war against our will, but 1 have no doubt that such efforts will fail.”