IRELAND

Evening Star, Issue 17225, 15 December 1919, Page 9

IRELAND

FORLORN HOPE BILL. Press Association—By Telegraph—CopyrigWs. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, December 13. The introduction of Home Rule has been postponed. The ' Morning Post' soys there was a sharp division of opinion in the Cabinet upon the scheme for a Parliament with a Senate containing an equal number of representatives for each as a connecting link. The chief difference of opinion is one regarding finance and the control of the Customs and excess duties by Parliament at Westminster. The ' Daily News' states that the Catholic hierarchy have received the substance of the Home Rule Bill, and that they have overwhelmingly condemned the partition proposals. The Nationalists and Unionists of South-west Ireland also oppose them, and all parties ecout the idea of an Irish Council. POLICE RAIDS. 'The Times.' DUBLIN, December 11. There were extensive raids on prominent Sinn Feiners' houses to-dav in many parts of the country. Several members of Parliament were detained in their residences and searched, and documents removed. A number of Sinn Feiners were placed aboard an armed steamer, which has departed for England. The military authorities' discoveries are unknown. LONDON, December 12. A Dublin message states that 100 policemen and 500 soldiers wearing steel helmets took part in a raid on the Mansion House. The soldiers arrived in lorries, had their bayonets fixed, and even carried Lewis guns. The soldiers formed a cordon round tho Mansion House, while the police searched the rooms. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. The Dublin police raided the houses of all leading Sinn Feiners, including Count Plunket, Mr Arthur Griffiths, Mr Tom Ivelly, M.P., and Mrs Thomas Clarke, whose husband was executed in 1916; but the Sinn Feiners were not at home. They evidently had had a hint to expect the police, so what arrests were made were unimportant. An armed vessel arrived at Kingston, and embarked a number of Sinn Fein prisoners. Strong military precautions were taken. Troops in full marching order guarded the docks. The prisoners arrived in motor lorries, guarded by tanks and armored motor cars. The vessel soon afterwards departed, it is understood, for England. The prisoners came from other parts of Ireland than Dublin, where the round-up occurred. SINN FEINERS AMBUSH SPORTSMSN. COWARDS FOUGHT OFF. LONDON, December 13. A remarkable outrage is reported from County Clare. Lord Inchiquin's brother, Edward O'Brien, Lady Beatrice O'Brien, and three friends were out shooting woodcock in Lord Inchiquin's grounds when suddenly 20 Sinn Feiners behind a wall opened fire on the party with revolvers and sporting guns. A desperate fight followed. O'Brien's party retreated to their motor care, firing continually until the 20 attackers were put to flight. Lady Beatrice O'Brien had three gunshot wounds in the head and neck, and all the other sportsmen were more or less seriously wounded. The ,Sinn Feiners carried off their own wounded, whose number is unknown.

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