DRASTIC ACTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 228, 21 June 1920, Page 5

DRASTIC ACTION

CRIME IN IRELAND

GOVERNMENT'S WARNING TO

RAILWAYMEN

TROOPS AND MUNITIONS TO

GO FORWARD

Br TelearaDS—Preaa Association— OooyilgW (Reo. June 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 18. As arranged, a deputation from the Irish delegates to. the National Union of Eailwaymen met the Premier and Ministers: The general secretary of the union, Mr. Thomas, subsequently stated that the railwayman proposed, that the Government should not . send further troops and munitions to Ireland. If the Government agreed to this the railwaymen would appeal to all sections of the Irish- people to suppress crime and violonce, and the British and ■ Irish Trade Union Congresses would ■use the period of truce to seek a solution of various problems.. They- would also discuss with the Government means of producing a better atmosphere m Ireland ini the hope of settling the Irish problem, The Government replied refusing to discontinue the dispatch of troops and munitions, but said it would do its utmost to prevent provocation. It was willing to meet representatives of ' all Irish sections, including tbe Sinn Fein, but could go np further than

that.'' .. Mr. Thomas added that the question of the dock strikers in .Dublin remained unsettled. He desired, in order to pre- ' vent misunderstanding, to state that the Government intended to close. the Irish Tailwavs in the event of transport workers further refusing to carry troros and munitions. He feared that this would lead to'Mncalcul&ble conaraiiences. The English and Irish ratlwaymen would continue to consider the position in the light of the Government's announcement. „■ •,«. -i Tiie Government informed the wiwAyjuen's deputation., that it will t&ke drastio action in. tho event of further refusals to convey troops and munitions. Strikers will be summarily dismissed and ifl a general railway strike occurs the Government will, run the trains it requires with military and shut down the remfunder. _ The Irish delegates frankly told Ministers that m that case certain sections of Irishjnen would deliberately destroy the tracks, and wreck trains, ndding that_ the inevitable paralysis of Irish industries would resailt in oivi} war.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable 'Assn. RIOTS ATtONDONDERRY CONFLICT BETWEEN UNIONISTS AND SINN FE.INJ/BS, (Bee. June'2o, 5.6 p.m.) London, June 18. • Serious rioting, lasting all night, occurred in where Unionist ex-soldiers engaged in a battle with stones with Sinn. Joiners. _ Many women participated on both sides. There was indiscriminate rifle nad revolver shooting and several, casualties occurred. The police were powerless to interfere. . , , ~, The situation unproved nt midnight J on the arrival of . troops. Unionists guarded tl\e Carlisle bridge, thus preventing' numbers of Sinn Feiners from returning to their homes. Sinn Miners attempting to cross the riyer in boats were driven back by rifle bullets and compelled to billet themselves with friends. Troops, are nor diligently searching pedestrians for arms, —Ans.N.Z. Cable Assn. YOUNG WST ATTACKED : ; A.SINN FEnToUTRAGE. : ■ (Rec. June 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 19. • Sixteen Sinn Feiners attacked: two young ladies at Castletown, in County Cork, and cut off their hair, because thßy entertained two military officers.' The party afterwards attacked the officers, burned their car, and flung the gills' hair into the flames,—Reuter. MAIL TRAWHELD UP (Rec. Juno 20, 11.5 p.m.) London, June 19. A large armed party disguised as Sinn Feiners held up the Dublin-Cork mail train at Charleville, and .at the • point of the _ revolver . removed two bags of official mails. The passengers were frightened, but not mo-lested—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.