IRISH AFFAIRS.

Grey River Argus, 8 June 1922, Page 5

IRISH AFFAIRS.

THE IRISH ELECTIONS. VARIETY OF CANDIDATES. [A. and N.Z. Cablp Association.] LONDON, June 1. In connection with the Irish elections for a Free Slate Parliament, the I nominations for Dublin City, besides ■ the Coalition panel candidates, include seven Independents, representing Laj bour, business, and professional inter- ! ests, but contrary to expectations, Janies Larkin (ex-Labour leader) was not proposed. Eight were nominated lor the seven Ou! way seats, four Pro-Treaty, two Ai I is, and two Labour. It is alleged Collins and De Valera are evidently surprised at the growing number of candidates in nominal opposition to their nominees, by the Farmers’ Union, Labour Party, and other organisations. Over 40 such candidates have now been selected, necessitating contests in 20 of the 27 constituencies. Mr Collins and Mr De Valera in

deprecating electoral contests at present, point out that they are bound to engender bitterness and discord, at a time when the unity, which the Collinsde Valera pact was intended to promote, is essential. MORE BELFAST DISORDERS. LONDON, June 6. There was a heavy outburst of firing in Belfast during the morning, Bullets smashed the windows of a maternity hospital and the patients were compelled to lie on the floor. Many became hysterical, but none was injured. A large warehouse was set on fire by an incendiary bomb, and extensively damaged. BRITISH AGREEMENT IN NORTH. LONDON. June 6. Mr Michael Collins, Irish Premier, takes a most serious view of the aggression of British troops, demanding a full -enquiry, and is not going to I.on don unless specially asked. BRITISH ARMY ENTER FREE STATE. 40 I.R.A. SHELLED 1 TO DEATH. LONDON, June G. The British forces of military now hold Free State territory to a depth of a mile north of Pettigo. It is, ascertained that upwards cf 40 Republicans wore killed by shell fire during Sunday’s battle. SINN FETNERS ON BORDER. (Received June 7, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June G. Enniskillen reports that many thousands of Sinn Feincrs with armoured ears, are massing on the border to reinforce the garrison at Belle-ok. BATTLE AT BELLECK. BRITISH FORCE’S EXPERT OPPOSITION. LONDON. June 7. Following on the shelling of the Republicans at Pettigo, on the Ulster border, the Irish Irregulars have tried to entrench themselves in a stronghold on the Belleck salient, where the task of the British troops may be more formidable, as the position is more extensive, and easier to defend than Pettigo was. The base of the salient extends eight miles on the northern 1 shore of Fough Erne, and embraces an ancient fort situated in Donegal. Tho old fort is garrisoned by some Irrogu- ■

lars, who are flying a green flag, and are commanding the town of Belleck. A stout resistance is expected, as the defenders are feverishly constructing some sandbag defences. ULSTER EMBARGO ON DERRY. REMOVED AFTER LOCAL PROTESTS. LONDON, June 7. Consequent on Ulster’s prohibtion of shipping and transport, the Dofiegal merchants chartered steam launches to bring their goods from Glasgow. The Irish Provisional Government has guaranteed theyi the conveyance of supplies from Donegal ports to their destinations in motors protected by armX ed Free State Guards. A later message states the prohibition was withdrawn, as a result of the protest by the Londonderry wholesale houses, which resolutioned strongly condemning the order, which is totally opposed to the views of the Derry traders. ' THE CORK ELECTIONS. OPPOSITION TO GOVERNMENT. LONDON, June 7. Eighty candidates other than the panel have been nominated for the City of Cork and the County of Cork, thereby causing something of a sensation. Cork City is entitled to a representation of four, and such opposition to the panel four, including Mr Walsh (Postmaster-General) and Miss Mac- : Swincy, was not expected, but the commercial community have submitted Mr Beamish, a prominent brewer, and Mr Daly, chairman of the Cork Harbour Commissioners, whose return is regarded as certain. County Cork returns 11 members, but the opposition is less formidable. The

outgoing mmebers number only four pro-Treaty ones, but a majority of the people favour tho treaty. The Farmers’ Union have nominated three, and Labour two candidates in the country. At tho request of the panel representatives, one of the Farmers’ nominees, who is a Sinn Feiner and a pro-Treaty man, has withdrawn. The others declined to withdraw. A feature of tho Irish nominations lias been the number of llth-hour withdrawals, leaving Coalition panel candidates unchallenged. Contests are taking place in both Mr Griffith’s end Mr Collins’s constituencies, but the Independent, the Labour and two Farmers’ Union candidates have withdrawn in Mr De Valera’s constituency at Clare. Thus the former panel candidates are elected for Clare.

DE VALERA NOT OPPOSED. ALL OTHER LEADERS GO TO POLI (Received April 7, 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 6. The nominations fpr the Irish elections now show that with tho excep tion of Mr De Valera and three others, every Dail Eirean leader, whether for or against the Treaty has to go to the poll. There has been a withdrawal of four Independents in County Clare. Therefore Mr De Valera has secured a walk-over in County Clare. Thirty of the members of the present Dail Eireann have been re-elected unopposed in six uncontested constituencies. J WOMAN LEADER FOR ULSTER. MRS LAVERSTON’S EXPLOITS. (Received June 7, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, June 6. The London newspapers are now giving much prominence to Mrs La verton, the -so-called Woman of Lough Erne, who is aboard her yacht Pandora on the lake. She has commandeered a fleet of small boats for the transport of British soldiers, who are thus made : ble to take the Sinn Feiners in the re a r. Some of the boats which she has commandeered were in Sinn Fein waters, and the Sinn Fe’umrs arc greatly chagrined, never believing that the woman would venture on bullet-swept waters. It is reported that Mrs Laverton wore a dainty pistol in her belt, and that on one occasion she stalled off a Sinn Fein raid by mounting a big telescope in the bow of the boat, and pre tending it was a machine gun.