DE VALERA FREE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 168, 17 July 1924, Page 5

DE VALERA FREE.

FAMOUS REBEL LEADER. VIVID INCIDENT RECALIED. COMRADE FREED TOO. j (By Cable—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, July 16. Eamonn de Valera and Austin Stack, arrested in August, 1023 anrl imprisoned tor thpir advocacy of a republic in the Irish Free State, have been released.— (Reuter.) On August 15, 1923, Kamonn de \ alera, the noted rebel, was addressing an open air meeting at Ennis when srmeone shouted, "The soldiers are coming," and at once a large body of troops surrounded (he platform, 'hie troops firrd their rifles, and the crowd dispersed. The few who menaced the soldiers were driven off at the point of the bayonet. About 1000 people were present before the arrest. Many people, observing; that the troops did not contemplate injuring them, returned and -shook hands with de Valera. The news of his capture and removal to Clare created a gTeat sensation. De A'alera's small son made his appearance as a vocal emotionalist a little later. The Government's announcement of the arrest had this among other things, "He row tries to shelter behind a political campaign, but lie must take his place beside his political associates and dupes until all can be released with public safety." Republican headquarters nominated a large number of rebels for the Dail.