IRISH REVOLT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLII, Issue 89, 16 May 1916, Page 3

IRISH REVOLT.

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. 1706 REBELS DEPORTED. A CRIMINAL INSURRECTION.

UNSUSPECTING CASEMENT. Then LONDON, May 10. me Cologne newspaper Volks Zeituno declares that Sir Roger Casement's arrest again proves the excellence of Britain's political secret service. It says that, though Casement's previous consular experience had fully acquainted him with the organisation of Britain's secret service, he never suspected that he was constantly watched and that hi* footsteps were dogged everywhere till he was seized the moment he landed in Ireland. ANOTHER LEADER EXECUTED. LONDON, May 11. Thomas Kent was court-martialled and shot at Fermoy on Tuesday morning. . JOURNALISTS EXECUTED. CONDUCTORS OF REBEL NEWSPAPERS. LONDON, Mav 11. Henry Dixon and J. Maelntyre wore shot similarly to Major Skeffiugton. They were journalists who conducted obscure newspapers which from time to time were suppressed by the Dublin Catholic authorities. THE WHOLE QUESTION. NEGOTIATIONS FOR SETTLEMENT. LONDON, May 11. There is much excitement in the House of Commons. The Nationalists and Ulstermen were in full force, particularly as there were reports that negotiations were afoot, Sir E. Carson and Mr Redmond participating, to settle the whole Irish question. The rumour may be premature, but many think that the temper of Moderate members of the House is suitable to a settlement for the first time in a century. DEBATE IN THE LORDS. GOVERNMENT CENSURED. LONDON, May 11. Lord Lansdowne announced in the House of Lords that members of the Sinn Fein in the Government employ had been discharged. It was not intended to allow arms in Ireland without a license. Martial law would continue until perfect security had been attained. Lord Lansdowne said the rebellion was one of the most discreditable and most humiliating episodes in the recent history of Ireland. It was a stab in the back, instigated by foreign intrigue and to some extent paid by the money of our enemies. Had not the rebellion miscarried at the outset, he was convinced that the rebels would have flocked to the standard. Regarding blame, it was unfair to say that- the Government was making a scapegoat of Mr Birrell. MR DILLON'S ATTITUDE. I'KOUD OF THE REBELS. LONDON, May 11. In the House of Commons Mr Dillon moved that the Government should make a full statement of its intentions concerning the continuance of executions and of martial law. Referring to Major Skeffington 's execution, lie asked how could the populace be blamed for believing that dozens of men had been secretly shot in the barracks. The stories of the executions were embittering the country, and the action of the military in the matter of. searches and arrests was transferring a loyal into a disloyal people, and letting loose a river of blood between races when they had almost been brought together. Ireland was largely in the clubs of Dublin, and these were influenced by the military authorities. In the clubs they talked of the rebellion as the best thing that had ever happened, bringing in martial law, ending for ever the rotten Nationalist party, if this programme was to be enforced it would require a hundred thousand troops to garrison the country. (Irish cheers.) The rebels had been foolish, but he was proud of them. A member here cried: "Now you have shown your hand." Mr Dillon, proceeding, said the rebels were the victims of misdirected enthusiasm. They had fought cleanly and superbly. Further interruption occurred at these worVls. Mr Dillon: "It would be a good thing if your soldiers were able to fight similarly—WOO against 20,000 and artillery." He appealed to the Government to abolish martial law aad the executions. 200 CORPSES. FOUND IN DIFFERENT PLA€ES. LONDON, May 11. Two hundred corpses were found in, the ruins of rooms, on the roofs, against chimneys and the yards and lanes, of Dublin,

TRIALS FOR LOOTING. GETTING KID OF PLUNDER. LONDON, May 11. - -Many prisoners are being tried in Dublin lor looting. So anxious were the looters to get rid of tlieir plunder that they surreptitiously deposited hundreds of pounds' worth of it in the Catholic churches. NEW LORD LIEUTENANT. LONDON, May li. 'Lord Derby is mentioned as Lord Wimborne's successor as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. DEBATE IN THE COMMONS^ MR DILLON'S IMPASSIONED ADDRESS. MB ASQUITH'S ASSURANCES. LONDON, May 11. In the House of Commons Mr Samuel and Mr Asquith were sharply questioned regarding the executions, and particularly that of Major Skeflington, whom a section of the newspapers are magnifying into a hero working desperately to stop the fighting. Mr Tennant said that 170G rebels had been deported, ami there had been 14 executions. Mr. l>illon immediately accused the Government of not keeping j ts p ro , llist , that there should be no further cxecnlions ponding the debate. Mr Asquith later explained that there had been only I,'i executions. A telling parage in Mr Dillon's impassioned speech was where he narrated that a number of rebels were asked to give evidence against their comrades, and a boy aged ]j years refused. An ofiicer said: "You will be shot." The boy replied: "Shoot away." (Nationalist cheers.) The boy was blindfolded and placed against a wall and made to hear the click of revolvers. Finally ho was asked to answer. He replied: ''No; slioot." The troops, relieved, the bandage. Mr Dillon added: "This damnable House ought to bo ashamed." He further said: "My sou of 17 asked | permission to enlist in the army, and 1 i consented. I would never do so'now." | Mr Asquith's dramatic announcement that h-:> was going to Ireland took the sting out of the attack upon the Government. The incident recalled his sensational decision to take over the War Office at the time of the Ulster trouble. 'Mr Asquith said: "A great body of insurgents fought bravely, and 'conducted themselves with humanity, contrasting most favourably with our 'civilised' enemies in the Held. The position in Ireland is more satisfactory. We have the greatest confidence in General Maxwell's discretion to conduct his delicate and difficult jurisdiction. Ireland i'Otild not remain under martial law." Mr Asquith sain he came to the contusion that it was his duly to go to .Ireland without delay—not to*supersede the Executive, but to consult with the civil ami military authorities in order to arrive at arrangements for the future which would commend themselves to the general sense of the Irish and other parties in the House. 'Mr Dillon's motion was negatived without, a division. : Mr Healy congratulate,! Mr Asquith upon his decision. He said that those governing Ireland had been grossly misled, and by some of his own countrymen. Others besides the Sinn Feiners might be called to account. The rising had i been grossly exaggerated, and it was suppressed without military skill or judgment and with a wholesale colossal loss of life and property, Lord Loreburn's motion censuring the Government for its pre-war policy was agreed to without a division* Lord 'Halsbury wished to know -what information the Government acted upon, and whether it allowed officials to do that which caused the calamity. Lord Cromer said that, while he thought the best chance of winning the war was to support the Government, yet before he could accept Mr Bin-ell's "regrets he feJt inclined to say: "Give us back the priceless lives of the officers and men sacrificed by your neglect, want of foresight and culpable optimism." CARSON'S LUCKY ESCAPE. LONDON, May 12. The Daily Telegraph '» Parliamentary ■orrespomlent states that evidence exists that the Sinn Feiners plotted to kidnap Sir E. Carson from Mr Ronald McNeill's resilience at Cushendall on Easter Monday, but the plan miscarried owing to Sir E. Carson's inability to visit Ireland because of the brevity of the Parliamentary Easter recess. MR ASQUITH IN DUBLIN. LONDON, May 12. Hon. H, H. Asquith (Prime Minister) arrived at Kingstown early this morning and drove to the Vice-Regal Lodge via many of the principal areas of disturbance. He saw Sackville Street and * the Four. Courts. t

DEATH SENTENCES.

NTATKMKNT BY MK AS^L'ITII. NO DIFFL'MXTIATION. LOS DOS, May 11. Jll the House of Commons Mr Asquith emphasised the Govern mom's desire to allay the bitterness in Ireland. He appealed for a greater approximation ami a greater feeling of .-.ympfilJiy between all parties, luliuite mischief could be done by a word calculated to obstruct or impair the chance of a happy and desirable consummation. It was quite true nine out of 10 Irishmen were on tho side oi the law, When they remembered that the casualties among tu '- 1303, including 301 killed, their sympathies ought to be entirely monopolised by the unfortunate and misguided victims of the unhappy criminal insurrection, Mr Asquith explained the circumstances of the principal death sentences. [He said that five out of the seven who (were shot had signed the proclamation. Seven others had commanded the rebels. The third class consisted of murderers, of whom only one suffered. The death sentences of two other signatories to the proclamation had been confirmed. Of these, one took a most active part in the rebellion. Jt was unfair to accord these men preferential treatment, as their five comrades had been properly executed; therefore he did not see why he should I interfere with General Maxwell's decision. As far as he knew there was no reason to resort to tho extreme penalty | in other cases, unless those of murder, | when there would be a trial in open court. THE SKEFFINGTON CASE. LONDON, May 12. Mrs Skeffington states that on the day following her husband's execution the military surrounded her house, fired through the front windows and then burst in. They placed herself, hor son (aged seven years) and her maid under arrest, ransacked the house and removed all books and papers.

THE COURT MARTIALS.

GCNKKAL MANWKU/.s Kh'I'ORT, LONDON, Mav 11, General Maxwell reports that the Dubiin court martial* oi' the active participants in (he rebellion have finished, and :he provincial court martial- are proceeding. In view of the gravity of the rebellion, the l'a■-1 of German support, ihe loss of life and property, it has been imperative to inflict the severest sentences upon the organisers and active fighters in the detestable rising. He hoped this would deter intriguer-, and show them that tho murder of the King's subjects, would not be tolerated..