ULSTER BORDER IN WAR TRIM

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 November 1924, Page 13

ULSTER BORDER IN WAR TRIM

DETACHMENTS GUARD POINTS. ENNISKILLEN’S PERIL. ENNISKILLEN (Ireland), Sept. 22. An inspection of the Ulster border in its meanderings from Newry to Enniskillen, through the picturesque Clogher Valley, which is fed by a nar-row-gauge railway with antiquated rolL ing stocii cannot help but convince an observer that Premier Craig, in his messages just before sailing on a short vacation on bis doctor’s orders, knew what he was talking about when he said:

“I leave, quite confident that everything is in train to oope with whatever situation might arise.” It is this part of the border, where it runs northward to Peak, on the boundary of County Monaghan, that Ulsterites believe would be the centre of attack if the southerners attempted to acquire the territory by force, and it is there that they are taking pre- v caution.

Arrangements have been completed for quartering men at strategic points, and already some of them are on the job. There has also been set up a system of wireless communication with Belfast that is believed to be efficient. Communication in this section always has been difficult, owing to bad facilities, and in previous troubles, because of the ease with which wires could be cut in remote places without detection. The Ulsterites already seem to be placing their men along the border, principally to counteract Free State activities just on the other side.

Coming out of Newry, I picked up the border again at Newton Hamilton, and found the police barracks closed because the men were taking the afternoon. ofF, while just across the border residents said no members of the small Free State contingent stationed fo-r miles un the road had been actually on the border line for weeks. But it is murh different at Emyvale, where +hore is a Free State training camp. The i, o the boundary is guarded *tantlv. under full military discipline, hr troops and constabulary housed in the barracks/ Much the same situation could be observed at other points through Clogher Valley and into Enniskillen Just bevond here, however, at Petti"oe, which has been the scene of many murders and property destruction, a

new situation, arises. The boundary goes right along the main street, and to get from south to north in Ulster it is necessary to traverse about 300 yards of Free State territory. There is a tacit understanding at Pettigoe, however, that Free Staters will not insist on their duty for automobiles passing directly through, but no stops are allowed.

It is true that virtually the same situation exists on Continental borders, where customs are collected; but it seems different in Ireland, where the two sides are of the same race and speak the same language with not more difference of accent than between a Philadelphian and a Bostonian. The inhabitants of Enniskillen are beginning to get uneasy, and their situation is much the same as in other towns in Fermanagh and Tyrone, aside from geographical considerations. The town itself is about equally divided between two religions which, previous experience during periods of violence has taught, makes fertile ground for tragedy. What Ulsterites mostly fear, however, is invasion from either the Leitrim border, only nine miles away, or from Donegal, about equidistant. More than that, the terrain, particularly from the Leitrim side, would’be all in favour of an attacking force. Fniskillen is considered a very important point for either side to hold if there is a big attempt to take or hold territory by large forces, or if not the surrounding country lends itself’well to guerilla warfare. Reports from Dublin and Belfast are to the effect that any number of people a 'o. trving to find a wav out of the difficulty, but any optimism that may result from such news is dispelled by 'vhof, one hears and sees in this part of Ireland. On all sides a. possible return to shootings and burnings is deplored, b«t at the same time there is a very definite d’splav of fighting spirit that has kept South and North apart so long.