IRELAND

Evening Star, Issue 17329, 17 April 1920, Page 6

IRELAND

HSJMGER-STRBIKERS 5 RELEASE. DANGER OF DEATH. Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, April 14. There is some doubt at present as to tho extent of the concession granted to the Sinn Feiners. The authority for the Exchange Telegraph Agency’s announcement was a speech to tho crowd outside the prison by a man who gave the Lord Mayor's word lor it. The Lord Mayor had been previously summoned to the Vico-regal Lodge. Another version has it that Lord French pronounced that he was leaving the matterin the hands of the prison doctors. Consequently, many hunger-strikers will be released forthwith, as they are either in a state of collapse or bordering thereon. One collapsd prisoner was released this afternoon. The situation in the prison was gravest in the afternoon, deaths being expected at any moment. Four persons were unlikely to live, and the. remainder were in the hist stages of exhaustion. It is significant, that simultaneously with Lord French s summons to the Lord Mayor the military were withdrawn from the precincts of the prison. A priest appeared- at 4 o’clock and requested the crowd to allow a passage between the prison and the hospital, also not to make any demonstration, as the men were in a. very weak condition. The pi is on authorities summoned the Ambulance Corps. The prison gates were thrown wide open and the people were allowed freely to enter. The Irish Volunteers kept order, the police and troops being invisible. In the absence, of an official statement, t.ie position at Mount joy Prison even at a- late hour to-night remains obscure, but the prisoners who have already been moved need urge'ht medical attention. T-icy had been placed on parole for .a specified period in order to enter an oi dinar j hospital, but most of thorn were taken to private nursing homes. A NEW POLICY. LONDON, April 15. _lhe ‘ Daily Mail’ states that the release of ihe hunger-strikers marks the beginning of an entire change of policy, the first signs of which were tho appointmentof Sir Hamar Greenwood and Sir Nevil Macready. The Prime Minister gave Sir Nevil Macreedy a free hand to initiate a conciliatory regime. The resignation of Lord French as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is now expected. The ‘Daily Mail’ states that Sir Nevil Macready told Lord French on his arrival that he must be given a clear field in his new position as chief, and at the same time a free hand in army administration. The newspapers are more hopeful that the Government will find a wav out of tho Mountjoy trouble. The new scheme is apparently based on the treating of untried prisoners as political prisoners. ' IRISH PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, April 15. The ‘ Belfast Newsletter,’ commenting on the release, says that by this surrender Sinn Fein has gained in'authority what the Government have lost. By their failure to assert the law they have abandoned a law-abiding people to' the horrors of the Irish rebels. _ The ‘ Northern Whig’ declares that outside Unionist Ulster the Government of Ireland lies in the hands of Sinn Fein. The last surrender is the most calamitous of all the mistakes and blunders marking Irish history. The ‘lrish News’ characterises it as the greatest climb down in the century. AMERICAN DIPLOMACY. LONDON, April 14. Tho American Ambassador declines to move in connection with tho hungerstrikers, as the matter is outside of his duties. VARIOUS ITEMS. LONDON, April 14. It us rumored that the Government will suggest that the Irish military authorities should try the untried Sinn Foin prisoners by court martial. The Pnnchestnwn races have been finally abandoned, involving tbs loss of thousand's of pounds. -Several shipping lines have ceased their services between Ireland and Great Britain owing to the stoppage of transport in Ireland MORE “INCIDENTS.” LONDON, April 14. Detective Kells was fatallv shot by a youth at Dublin. April 15. Sergeant Lavra was found, shot dead in Dublin. The Polite Depot and Customs Offices in Dundalk were burned down. The incendiaries used petrol. A strike picket boarded a passenger train arriving at Caslleblayncy and ordered the driver and stoker to leave the engine. Ihe picket then drew the fires. -Strikers at Carrickmacross prevented the postmen from delivering the mails. An exerting incident occurred at Galway, where the strikers held up the butchers’ carts conveying the military rations. •Three lorries and a tank were quickly on the scene and the strikers dispersed before tho levelled rifles of the troops. COLD-BLO-ODED MURDBRNO -SYMPATHY IN DUBLIN. LONDON, April 15. It is .significant that while the political prisoners are treated as heroes, Dublin had scarcely a word of sympathy for ths u u for tuna to policeman Kells, who, after 22 years of service, was murdered in «. cold-blooded manner as he was going to hi a work. He was in plain clothes. His assasrins were evidently familiar with his movements. They hid in a quiet spot Constable Kells was passing, and shot* at tho unsuspecting man. Then three mon were soon to walk quietly away. Constable Henson was shot at Balbri'ggan during a procession of demonstrators in connection with the release of prisoners. Ho v.as admitted to the hospital in ft dying condition. A BIG ROUND-UP. MANY" ARRESTS IN DUBLIN. _. . LONDON, April 15. The round-up' in Dublin was the big-, gest vet organised. It began at 1 o’clock in the morning and lasted for several hours, and 100 arrests were made. The raided area included 15 streets, some of the poorest in the city; and also tho Jewish quarter. It was the largest force of troops yet employed in a raid. Thirty lorries were filled with soldiers, ii '-u 0 was P ro gtess in one house, ami all the males present were arrested. Particular attention was paid to Camsten street, where _ Constable Kells was, mmdered. Certain business premises were searched, while the raiders, working in armored cars, _ patrolled the staeet outside with guns trained on the crowds.