IRISH TUMULT

Evening Star, Issue 17926, 23 March 1922, Page 6

IRISH TUMULT

TYRONE FARMS. » _ CAMPAIGN OS’ DESTRUCTION. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 21. The destruction of loyalists’ homes in Tyrone is widespread. The sky is lurid with the glare of burning _ homesteads. Some of tho largest farms in tho country have been fired. Au aged man was shot while defending his home against incendiaries, who later burned tho farm.— A. and N.Z. Cable. The ‘Daily Telegraph’s’ Belfast correspondent states that the new campaign of flying columns of the Republican army against, loyalists in Tyrone has aroused mtenso excitement in the North, and terrible consequences may follow. The people are asking whether Great Britain has forgotten that Ulstermen arc still subjects of the King. The farmers in Tyrone arc men of substance. Their well-kept farms are now a melancholy spectacle of ruin and desolation. The incendiarism is so widespread that the constabulary are quite incapable of coping witn the situation. It is pointed out that tho British Government thus far has lent no aid or protection to tho border, which has been loft entirely to Ulster specials. Protestant families in tho clanger zone arc vacating their homes, coking shelter farther north, or arc only visiting their homes in Jha daytime to*tend their stock.—A. and N.Z. Gable.

ULSTER BOUNDARY. LACK OF CO-OPERATION. LONDON, March 21. Mr Churchill, replying to a question in the House of Commons, said that the general condition of the Ulster boundary was ono of most serious tension, ihc liaison officers on both sides were not functioning as they should. Overwhelming forces would bo made available to the Northern Government if they were wanted for defence or tho maintenance of law ami order. Tho conditions in Belfast were most lamentable. Ho had telegraphed to the Five State that there was no danger of a raid -from Ulster—A. and N.Z. Cable. R EPUBLICAN B EPORT. POSITION MF.NAGING. LONDON, March 21, A Republican communique states : ‘‘Me inflicted twenty casualties on the Ulster Constabulary who attempted 1 to blow up ! Burns Bridge, They were forced to retreat, the Republicans capturing a machine gun and other weapons.” Ihc communique adds that the situation on border is very menacing—A. and N.Z. Cable. MR MEGAW’S CHARGES. SPIRIT OF TRUCE BROKEN. LONDON, -March 21. Tho Northern Parliament passed tho second reading of the Bill for the suppression of crime. -Mr Megaw (Minister of Home Affairs), in moving the second reading, said that captured* documents proved that the Republican army was inactive in Ulster until it was possible to operate in security. Under the protection of tho truce one battalion was raised and equipped in one district between September and December. The truce was used as an instrument to organise a hostile array and a conspiracy to overthrow the Northern Government. H the other side would not accept peace, let there bo war; hut Ulster would never be terrorised or driven by a, Sian Fein Parliament. —A, and N.Z. Cable. FREE STATE BILL BEFORE HOUSE OF LORDS. LONDON. March 21. Ju the House of Lords, on a motion to consider tho Free Slate Bill in committee, Lord Salisbury appealed to the Government to allow amendments removing ambiguities and improving the Bill within the principles of the treaty. Viscount Peel pointed out that if modifications to tho treaty were introduced the other party to the pact could claim tho same right. If members desired to wreck the Government it was open to them to do so. He would not accept any amendment affecting the treaty. Lord Carsons said he could have given notice of thousands of amendments, for ho never read a more muddled and- unreadable Bill. Nevertheless, they proposed to coniine themselves to an amendment improving the Bill, not altering the treaty.— A. and N.Z. Cable. THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION, LONDON, -March 21. In the House of Lords Lord Carson moved to give Ulsicr the right of appeal to the Privy Council if she is dissatisfied with the decision of the Boundary Commission. Lord Birkenhead replied that no one suggested! that there was any ambiguity about the clause until Mr Collins (a layman) put forward his claim. In Lord Birkenhead’s judgment the Commission dealing with boundaries was ono thing and the Commission dealing with tho transfer of territory was quite another thing, lie did not doubt that a competent chairman would be appointed who would reach the same conclusion. Lord Carson’s amendment would destroy the whole treaty. The debate was adjourned.—A. and N.Z. Cable. BELFAST CARTELS RETURN. LONDON, March 21. _ The Belfast carters have abandoned their strike, further protection being assured,— A. and N.Z. Cable.