THE FLIGHT OF CATHOLICS IN BELFAST.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 189, 11 August 1922, Page 8

THE FLIGHT OF CATHOLICS IN BELFAST.

•To the Editor.) Sir,—ln the "Star" of August 2, under striking headings, there appeared 'an account of the shocking murders' of several Protestants in the North of Ireland. Xo condemnation .would be eufli.dently strojigj'for of jinhumanity, and the perpetrators merit the severest penalities here and hereafter. But' there is another tragic and sad side to this story. Murder begets murder, 1 and when the murderings, incendiaries and clearances in Belfast are but partly told the judgments formed by your readers after reading the account', in Wednesday , * may be somewhat mollified. ' Belfast's 'population at the last census was 395,000, of which 97,000 were Catholics. After the 'war the population was 415,000, of which Catholics numbered 103,000. To-day there are but 70,000 Catholics in Belfast, and this number is daily decreasing. ! The refugee Catholics from Belfast are billeted in several towns throughout Ireland, 510. families in Dublin. To Glasgow numbers of the poor also fled, and the Glasgow "Evening News" wrote: "There are 1000 refugees in the city. They are housed in St. Mary's Hall and the. U.I.L. Hall, Govan. They are mostly people whose houses have been burnt. In most cases they have scarcely any clothing." Can one wonder at the sight of these unfortunate people that antagonisms are aroused and excesses committed? The Dail Eirann Publicity Department issued a statement regarding the pogrom in Belfast. "Catholic families evicted in May last, 464; in the first seven days in June, 430. This work was done by "B," and "C" Specials. Killed in May last 75, wounded 102. *'Rom May -31 to June 5 killed 28, wounded 130. The Catholics driven from their employment numbered 8586. The number driven from their homes 22,560. This latter was brought about by bombers, incendiaries and gunmen in broad daylight, between June 1 and 14 last. From May 31 to June 11 there were killed 28 Catholics and 91 wounded; Protestants killed 8, wounded 24." The Catholic minority is but 25 per cent of the population, and one may judge from one month's casualties what the proportion would be over a longer period. Under the "special". system the whole, or the greater part of the Whole of the population is armed. It is a penal offence for the minority to. possess arms, and the cables a. few days ago told us that long terms of imprisonment had been imposed, and in nine cases flogging was to be given for possessing arms. The minority is therefore at the mercy of the "specials," and the mobs who follow in their wake. Most of the murders and burnings are perpetrated in curfew hours, when the minions of "law and order" have free play in. the streets, and on the houses of the unfortunate minority. One of the worst cases out of many was the attack on the Mater Hospital, between 10.15 p.m. and 10.45 p.m. in tfie first week of last June. Kifle and_ machine gun fire were employed. The patients, those who were able to do so, threw themselves from their beds on to the floor to escape the 'bullets. Some patients were strapped to the beds and the nurses and doctors, at great risk to their lives, released them and laid them on the floor to escape the firing. In no city in the world would such a diabolical crime be committed. In the House of Commons Mr. Churchill, in scathing:terms, denounced this outrage' oir. suffering'humanity. The Interna-; tional Bed Cross Executive in Geneva was stirred to action by this deed. A pressman'stated that the exodus he saw from Belfast recalled the exodus of the Belgians from Belgium during the German occupation., Is it any wonder that some who witness these happenings' daily become infuriated and vent, most unfortunately, their anger upon helpless, innocentf people, as narrated- in the. "Star"ir-I am, et<v „,,.*_.