BELFAST RIOTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 281, 25 November 1921, Page 5

BELFAST RIOTS.

ATTACKS BY GUNMEN

16 KILLED AND 83 WOUNDED.

"A SINN FEIN "WAR." (By Cable.—Press .Association.— Copyright.) (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 23. The casualties in Belfast to-day totalled five dead and 13 wounded, including two publicans killed during raids by mobs upon licensed premises.

Gunmen attacked trumeara in York Street ill the afternoon. Two cars were riddled with bullets. The military engaged the attackers. One woman was killed, and four men were wounded.

The total of casualties to date is 10 killed and S3 wounded.

The Belfast correspondent of the "Daily News" states that it is certain that the man wlio bombed the trumcar in Corporation Street was a Roman Catholic Nationalist or a Sinn Fein sympathiser. The Press and Ulstcrmen are generally disposed to aesuino that rioting was the opening of ivar by Sinn Fein on Belfast. The bombing of the tramcar is considered here as bearing the hall-mark of Sinn Fein action, if the Ulster Cabinet be pressed to deal with the situation as an ineidious attack by the Irish Republicans oil Belfast there is an immediate prospect of lighting even more deadly than factionist disorder.

The '"Irish Bulletin," the organ of Sinn Fein, publishes an open letter, addressed by Mr. John MacNcill to Mr. Dc Valera, in which Mr. MacNeill charges the British Government with preparing a sectarian army for war in Ireland.

The "Irish Bulletin" comments that the establishment of a sectaxiun army in that part of Ireland, where alone sectarianism lives, is the natural development of British policy.— (A. »nd N.Z.)

STAMPING OUT TERRORISM. (Received I.UO p.m.) LONDON, November 24. Following the Ulster Cabinet's Conference with the Lord Mayor of Belfast, and the police, Mr. Dnwson Bates said: "We are determined to stamp out this terrorism, and intend to use our powers inflexibly."—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)