THE FREE IRELAND

Gisborne Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9635, 6 March 1923, Page 5

THE FREE IRELAND

“BACK TO SAVAGEDOM.’’

SERIOUS CONDITION IN CORK

.STREETS AND SHOPS DESERTED.

United Press Association— Copyright.) (Received March 0, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 5. The Morning Post says it is of the opinion, as the result of a reliable observer touring Cork County, that Cork is slipping back to savagedom. The city is completely cut off from railway and steamship communication with the outer world. What was a most prosperous part of Southern Ireland is now in a state of siege, with brigandage as the chief industry. The people’s respect of the Catholic faith is dwindling. Bishops and older priests are Free Staters, and other’ priests are Republicans, so that the Church holds a candle to both sides. Business men lament the good old times when the hated English kept some kind of order, hut few dare to express their thought. Even brother does not dare to talk to brother, fearing he may belong to the other side. This deathly, sullen silence is a most curious phenomenon. It recalls the atmosphere of a gaol exercise yard. Buildings are as gloomy as the people. Many are tumbling into ruins. No one will spend money or time in repairing or re-painting. The streets are almost deserted of vehicles or people. The country roads are so cut up 'by trenches and land mines and the destructon of bridges, that travel is impossible without long detours. Many shops in Cork are empty. The shopkeepers’ chief preoccupation is to avoid handing over goods to robbers under a plea of requisition. Shopkeepers selling food and other necessities dare not refuse credit as the shops would he blown up if they did. Nevertheless, there is no unemployment. There is room for every loafer in the rival armies.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

ANOTHER CASTLE BURNED a DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £30,000. LONDON, March 4

Knockaby Castle at Louth was destroyed by fire. The damage is estimated at thirty thousand pounds. Incendiaries were surprised in. the building by Free Staters, who took two prisoners. One man was burnea to death.—A. and N.Z.C.A.