LITTLE TROUBLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 190, 14 August 1933, Page 7

LITTLE TROUBLE

SUNDAY IN DUBLIN.

BAN ON BLUE SHIRTS.

Crowds Attack Six Members and

Police Intervene.

ONLY "INCIDENT" REPORTED. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11 a.m.) DUBLIN":, August 13. Shortly after noon uniformed Blue Shirts made their first appearance in the streets, in spite of the ban against them, when six emerged from their headquarters. They -were immediately attacked by large crowds. Tho Blue Shirts were unarmed but fou"ht fiercely. Civic Guards rushed to their Assistance and, drawing their batons, fought back the crowds and encircled tho Blue Shirts, who were badly cu t on their faces and bodies, escorting them back to the headquarters. By noon all was quiet. An armoured ca r with the turrets closed and soldiers by tho machine-guns, was patrolling in tho vicinity of the Cenotaph. The Blue Shirts' parade was superseded by a parade of police and Civic Guards.

Apart from the noon incident, Dublin, facih" an imposing display of force, spent the day practically in complete calm. The citizens were evidently astonished at the completeness of the Government's precautions, which were evidently as much against the Communists as the Blue Shirts.

As citizens -were leaving Mass, the police flung cordons across all approaches to tho Cenotaph, and questioned all pedestrians seeking to pass. The police formed long lines in the principal streets at 11 o'clock, concentrating in O'Connell Street, Leinster Lawn and Stephen Green, where the Blue Shirts planned to assemble.

The opening of cinemas and public houses helped to lessen tho crowds in tho streets, and in the afternoon no Blue Shirts wero visible. General O'Duffy, the leader, left his home for an unknown destination. Rain damped the hopes of sightseers and tho police guard at the Cenotaph -was dispersed at four o'clock. No Wreaths on Cenotaph. It had been surrounded by expectant journalists and photographers, but the relatives of Messrs. Griffith and Collins, despite their possession of permits, absented themselves. Small groups prayed at graves in the Glasnevin cemetery, but for the first time since Mr. Arthur Collins' death no bugles were sounded, nor were wreaths laid on the • Cenotaph. Men leaving National Guard headquarters at night were beaten before the police were able to intervene. Some were taken to hospital with serious injuries. General O'Duffy is of opinion that the former wero chiefly responsible for the Government's action, as they have been assembling in Dublin for the past few days with the object of causing mischief. He described the banning of the parade as a mere incident which would not affect the progress of the National Guard along constitutional lines. Asked whether the present developments would bo awkward for tho Guard, General O'Duffy replied: "They will also be awkward for the Government. If today's Dublin parade ia illegal, will the . projected Blue Shirt gatherings throughout the Free State next Sunday legal?" General O'Duffy added: "If the National Guard is banned, every member must be arrested without discrimination, and must be tried under martial law. Huge internment camps, capable of holding tens of thousands, must be erected. All who deplore coercion will rally to our movement. "We Shall Be Masters." '.• ' "Tho Government's mobilisation of the Army, and the recruitment of a new squad in order to protect Ministers, reveal its unpopularity. I challenge the Ministers to produce a scrap of secret or other information reflecting on the National Guard's integrity." "Wo shall be masters In Ireland in three years," declared General O'Duffy to a representative of the Paris "Soir." "We do not want politics or politicians but a disciplined well-governed country, when we hope to persuade Northern Ireland to join us. This evolution is inevitable." The Irish Free State Cabinet ban on the parade of the Blue Shirts took the form of a proclamation, signed by Mr. P. Fuittlcdge, ' Minister of Justice, stating that, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 24, Article 2A, he had prohibited the holding of a meeting within one clay before or three days after the day and time fixed. General O'Duffy was interviewed yesterday in his house, which was heavily • guarded by police. He said: "In the interests of peace and order I have decided to call off the parade. On the solemn occasion when we are continent-' orating the death of three of Ireland's greatest sons I will not risk the danger of disorder owing to the Government's action. Parade Next Sunday. "The National Guard, instead of parad-1 hig, will hold church parades.and solemn memorial services in each district on j August 20. The National Guard cannot be suppressed by any party or Government. Our determination is to raise the whole Irish nation out .of the ignominy of party politics." Mr. de Valcra issued the following statement:—"The Government is of the opinion that the organisation which calls itself the National Guard clearly is opposed to the liberty of the citizens of the Free State and plainly its leaders are prepared, in favourable circumstances, to resort to violent means to attain its ends. "Advantage has been taken of the Government's leniency. The fact is that considerable quantities of arms are held by this and other organisations "i the Free State. In such circumstances clashes might lead to conditions bordering on anarchy, as they have done in other countries. The Government is determined not to allow such a situation to develop. It appeals for and expects tho co-operation of every good Irishman." Mr. de Valera's new force has been issued 300 rifles, eight Thompson guns, a Lewis gun, and three Whippet armoured cars.