EXPLOSION IN IRELAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1939, Page 7

EXPLOSION IN IRELAND

DAMAGE AT HOTEL CHAMBERLAIN’S SON A GUESTj [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Received January 20, 8 a.m.) LONDON, January 19. A severe explosion occurred at 3 a.m., in the rear of Hawney’s private hotel, Tralee, Ireland, wherein Mr Frank Chamberlain, the Prime Minister’s son, was holidaying. He was asleep and uninjured. The hotel was. seriously damaged. The concussion broke hundreds of windows. Tt is believed it was due to a bomb hidden in the rear of the back gate of the hotel. A most intensive police search has started in County Kerry and neighbouring districts, in which there is widespread public indignation at the latest outrage.

Mr. Frank Chamberlain is aged 24. After leaving Cambridge University, he joined Kynoch’s ammunition factory in Birmingham. He is also a non-cotnmissioned officer in a Territorial- anti-aircraft battery. He arrived at Tralee on January 16 for a shooting holiday, and had been continually guarded by three ’ detectives, who also followed him in a motor car when he -went out on his expeditions. Mr. Chamberlain was not perturbed by the explosion, and departed on a shooting excursion at six a.m. The authorities are working on the assumption that the outrage was the work of the Irish Republican Army. The Civil Guard say they found remains of a crude home-made time bomb, similar to those recently discovered in England, and they believe the attempt was seriously intended. One resident described the report as terrific. It rocked all the houses in the neighbourhood, and dislodged ceilings, throwing some sleepers out of their beds. OFFICIAL STATEMENT RUGBY, January 19. According to an official statement issued in Dublin, following an inquiry by Civic Guards, a small quantity of explosive material was inserted in a pound tobacco tin, and placed in a hole in the wall, about 12 yards from the hotel.

The explosion was scarcely heard in the hotel itself. The damaged caused the limited dislodgment of a small portion of the wall, breaking windows in the immediate vicinity. The hotel itself was not damaged.

ULSTER’S PRECAUTIONS.

(Recd. January 20; 2.45 p.m.) LONDON, January 19.

Hundreds of detectives throughout London are seeking the hiding-place, where quantities of explosives may still be stored. The country police are also active. Addtional to 3000 regular police, the' Ulster Government has called up 6000 of the 12,000 special constables, and has issued rifles and: revolvers. It has ordered them to prevent bomb outrages, and to patrol nightly, cordoning public buildings, gasworks, AvaterAVorks, and power-stations. It is understood that Ministers will shortly visit London, on February 2, to consult Cabinet regarding the prevention of outrages. Police cars and detectives escorted Mr Malcolm MacDonald in the course of his visit to Dingwall (Lancashire). The police are investigating an unexploded' bomb near a pylon at Windle. Mr de Valera, through the medium of Mr Dulanty, has apologised to Mr Chamberlain, for the Tralee explosion. CLYDE SUSPECTS. (Received January 20, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 19.

Tavo intruders in a Clyde shipyard, acting suspiciously in the vicinity of Clyde Valley power station, raised fears of bombing in Glasgow. The men escaped after engine l drivers had given the alarm. The police threw; a cordon round the shipyards. A strong police guard was stationed at Boav Street Court, when a labourer, Michael Cullen, appeared on a charge of being in possession of pistol and ammunition Avith intent, to endanger life. . Ho declared that he got the pistol from a friend who had gone to Ireland. He was remanded for a week, bail being refused.