FIRES AT LIVERPOOL

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1920, Page 3

FIRES AT LIVERPOOL

FURTHER REPORTS. (Received November 29 at 7 25 p.m LONDON, November 29. In all 18 fires broke out in Liverpool' and nine in Bootle. in an area extending OA r er several miles. Sinn Feinersi carried "out the plot with both skill j and daring. Each building lvas allot--ed tb four of five men\ Apparently/ they Avere strong, athletic youths, avlio bad been Avell coached in the task. One kept watch in each case, Avhile the others picked the .locks, and cut through the padlocks Avith bolt cutters, of which a number Avere found oi the burning premises. They thus also re- . moved iron bars from the warehouse doors. Motor cars were evidently used to convey the petrol, of which ' considerable quantities Avere used. In most cases the fires haa tt -_-:_*. «.i« in the buildings before vtic urigau„ arrived. The brigades had so many calls that Liverpool called m the ( Birkenhead, Warrington, St' Helens brigades to- assist. In some cases quart bottles of petrol Avere found in the burning building a number pf which Avere cotton Avarehouses full of valuable stuff. Even in cases Avhere buildings A\-ere snA*ed, great damage was done, due to gutting. The damage has not been yet ascertained, but it is estimated at hundreds of thousands sterling. The police are being overwhelmed Avith demands for special protection of offices and Avarehouses. Apart from a man arrested redhanded in Bootlo , four others., were detained One man Avas captured Avhen Ward Avas killed, and he refuses to disclose his identity, but he bas a strong Irish brogue. The police state they believe the plot Avas due to outsiders as the Liverpool Sum Feinors are Avell-knoAvn and afe considered to be unequal to this effort.