FOR A TRUCE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 62, 14 March 1921, Page 7

FOR A TRUCE

TURMOIL IN IRELAND

NEGOTIATIONS REPORTED TO BE

REOPENED

FIGHTING CONTINUES,

(UHITZ9 PBB6S ASSOCIATION.—COPTMGBI.)

(ABITRALIAN - NBW ZIALAND CABL« AI80CIAII0N.)

LONDON, 12th March.

The Sunday Express states that negotiations for a truce in Ireland have been reopened between the Government and Sinn Fein, the former abandoning its demand for surrender of arms.

A lorry containing thirty men of the Bedfordshire Regiment was ambushed by an entrenched party between Carrick on the Shannon, and Ballinamore, bombs and rifles being used. There wag fierce fighting for a considerable time, and in the end the ambuahers bolted. Thsy left seveji dead in' the trench, all wearing the I.R.A. uniform, also a number of rifles. There were no military casualties.

While police and military forces were surrounding a house near CaJJan, thirty armed men rushed out. Constable Reilly was killed, and Captain Baynham was wounded. • .

Constables M'lntosh, Crooks, and Cooper were standing outside a Belfast music-hall to-night talking to three girls, when five men fired revolvers at them. Crooks was killed, and M'lntosh and Cooper were seriously wounded. A civilian standing nearby was also.wounded. The assailants escaped in the confusion. ' . '

Constables Knight and Johnson, who were convicted by court-martial of thefts at Roscommon, were each sentenced to three yearS' penal servitude.

In the House of Commons, Sir Hamaf Greenwood (Chief Secretary for Ireland), replying to a question, said that there were 2193 resignations and 226 dismissals -from the Royal Irish Constabulary during the preceding twelve months. There were 131 resignations and 33 dismissals from the Auxiliary Police.