IN IRELAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1920, Page 5

IN IRELAND

FIERCE FIGHTING

RAID ON A CONVENT

PREMIER'S STATEMENT

fAustralian and N.Z. Cable Association."]

(Received this day at 10.30 a.m.) LONDON July 24.

During the Coroner s enquiry into the de.ath of. two youths at Micheistown the evidence showed that'the youths were joking w.th a party of girls, when a military lorry with fifteen soldiers drove up and fired, kid

ing "two

A sergeant commanding the party said that someone in the crowd fired at the lorry, whereupon the soldiers f.red 119 rounds at the youths. LONDON, July 24. In the House of Commons, replying to the motion to reduce his salary as a mark of condemnation of his military policy in Ireland. * Sir Hamar Greenwood (Chief Secre- . tary for Ireland) said that 57 arrests had been made in Belfast. He said more would be necessary. He would shortly ask the llcusj to pass certain legislation, as soon as {possible. -The Government had introduced its Criminal Injuries Bill, which would enable them to intercept every franc from the Exchequer to any person in authority in Ireland who was acting illegally. The action of every Council and ether public authority wks being examined,' and drastic action would be taken to uphold the authoiity of the Crown. Another Bill, he said, would establish a new tribunal for the superseding of the Law Courts. The Courts, he asserted, failed in their functions. At the recent Assizes there was an absence of jurors. These were intimidated "by a reign of the Irish revolution. The Government would also submit another Bill to enable the Lord Lieu tenant (General French) to establish a military tribunal to deal quickly with every criminal offence committed in Ireland. He referred to there being widespread terrorism, which had prevented people giving evidence in cases and there were difficulties in the way of laying charges. Eut under the legislation wrrch was now proposed it would be possible to mete out punish ment in any proven cases, adequate to

the crime. In the meantime, he declared, any decision of the Sinn Fein Courts, or any transfer of title thereunder, would be illegal, and would be upset as soon as possible. He denied any coercion in Ireland. He said there was no soldier there, except to preserve life and order. The people of Ireland were terrorised, but only by a few. It was the Government's duty to break that terror. They would give the Irish people a chance to voice their real views. Sir Haraar Greenwood continued : "The situation is bad. It may grow worse simply because the military forces of the Crown are asserting this Government's authority. "I regret to say to this HoTVse that the United Kingdom must brace itself up to face a bitter period in Irish history. There will be a determined and organised attempt to. establish an Irish Republic. It will be by means of r-mrrUr aTlc l intimidption. That attempt will not be abandoned without a struggle." He asserted that the Republican aspirations rouLl be defeated by the united determination of all parties and {■reeds to condemn and resolutely oppose such savage methods. He 'extended an invitation for representation from every quarter, as regards the best way of settling the question". He said this would be savins; Ireland from ruin. He concluded his speech with an appeal to the House for united sup port. The Nationalist motion to reduce the Chief Secretary's salary was rejected 181 votes to 42, LONDON, July 24. Though the worst disorders have ended in Belfast, occasional outbreaks continue.

It is estimate! that fourteen persons were killed and three hundred wounded ; but the Sinn Feiners are believed to have taken away a number of dean, so that they are not included in tf.e casualty list. Some of the Sinn Feiners' snipers, the accuracy of whose aim, showed that they were ex-soldiers, fired upon the troops from the house tops, until volleys from machine-guns dislodged them.

Acting under Sir Edward Carson's orders, patrols belonging to the Unioaist Clubs and Orange Lodges are now assisting the military authorities to preserve order. A number of girls in Belfast held an indignation meeting against the Sinn Fein outrages. The girls sang loyalist songs and passed a resolution that they would not work with Sinn Feiners. Returning from the funeral of Constable Carey, who was murdered in Tuam, masked men took the hearse from the undertakers and burnt it. (Received this day at 8.40 a.m. LONDON, July 24. Belfast shipyard workers threw a Sinn Feiner into the river. He was rescued and sent to hospital. Eight Unionist Clubs decided" that members should assist in patrolling the streets to preserve ordei*. (Received this dav a.m.) LONDON, July 23.

A dozen armed and disguised men dragged a Roscommon farmer from his bed and forced him to his knees in the roadway. They compelled him at the revolver's point to promise to induce his son to retire from the police within a fortnight.

Received this dav at 10.40 a.m LONDON, July 23.

Mr Lloyd George presided at an important conference at Downing Street yesterday regarding the Irish question. A The conference lasted eight hours,' when it was adjourned till Monday. Mr Greenwood says that issues were decided involving tlie welfare of millions and the prestige of the nation.

Belfast is a meter to-day, after a comparatively quiet night! Although trouble continued in some ouarters there .were few r er casual-: ties...; The most serious incident attack on a convent, in the heighffhourhbbd of wHich there

had been rioting and looting, necessitating the nuns leaving. Yesterday the crowd at ten o'clock at night became definitely hostile, and made an organised effort to destroy the convent by fire. They drenched the hedge with paraffin and petrol, smashed a gate, rushed and ultimately burst open a door and entered. They ignited the floors and lower rooms. The' police made a baton eharg-e, and with the military* cleared the streets. An armoured car fired on the rioters. The Fire Brigade succeeded in confining the fire to tlifl lower rooms.

Large numbers of refugees from "Belfast are arriving in County Tyrone. Rioting occurred yesterday in Dromore, where a Catholic Club and parochial ball wei-e wrecked. Last night the nolice fired on one rioter and killed him. Further drafts from Ahi °rshot are proceeding to Ireland. Otbers, including the First Cavalry Brigade, are held in re n'l mess.

To a deputation Mr Lloyd George said that unless Britain wishes to imperil her existence it would be impossible to establish an independent authority in Ireland. He was prepared to discuss plans for settlement with any responsible leaders of Irish opinion, but they, must have self-determi-nation in the north-east.

Mr Lloyd George said that the other day he saw the German plan. of the submarine sinkings, and it was surprising how many were just outside Ireland, despite the fact that we controlled the harbours. If the control had been in the hands of a hostile authority the position would have been impossible. Therefore, unless we n-jsh to make ourselves "defenceless we cannot move. The Premier said later: "I. am very sure Ihings are going to happen in Ireland and they are going to become very much worse." ■ Mr Bonar Law said: "From the very beginning we only moved troops there because of the murders. Stop the murders and we will remove the troops." NO CHANGE IN TOLICY. [Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received this day at 11.?5 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. Mr. Greenwood states that there hai been no change in the Government's policy. The Sinn Fein leaders, have not*approached the Government. Although the Sinn Fein movement was not.sectarian every fight in the North of Ireland ultimately becomes a conflict between Catholics and Protestants. The fighting in Belfast originated in the murder of Colonel Smyth, who was an Ulsterman. Sergeant Mulhern was phot dead whilst entering Bandon Church at this morning's and received four revolver bullets in the head. LONDON, July 24. Belfast is ouiet. There have been three deaths in the hospital.