I.R.A. AND NAZIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 180, 31 July 1940, Page 8

I.R.A. AND NAZIS.

SCHEME TO ASSIST. Widespread Movement Reported. SWEEPING ALLEGATIONS. LONDON, July 27. Police have unearthed a widespread movement in Eire to assist Nazi sea and air invaders, states "Cavalcade." The Premier, Mr. de Valera, has conferred for more than a week with political friends and enemies about Eire's defence. German parachute troops captured in Holland revealed, under interrogation, that 2000 picked members of their corps had been given lessons in Erse for months.

In Freiburg a special school for Irish studies wae established. Among the teachers are five members of the Irish Republican Army who fled to Germany from Britain a few days before the war began, to avoid arrest for bomb outrages.

Thev give lessons in Erse and assist the Nazi General Staff with their knowledge of various districts in Eire and groups of malcontents likely to assist parachute troope.

Sean Russell, former head of the 1.R.A., is living in Germany. He has formed his own staff, which includes an Irish novelist and a Dublin engineer.

Many I.R.A. leaders in Eire do not quite cotton on to Russell's idea of celling the country to the Nazis. Nor do they fancy themselves in the role of Irish Quislings. So there is a split in the party.

Russell's Fifth Columnists in Eire are working hard against a defence agreement between Eire and Northern Ireland. They are even threatening to murder Irish statesmen who support the plan.