WAR TO THE DEATH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 303, 11 December 1922, Page 5

WAR TO THE DEATH

The Struggle in Ireland REPRISALS FOR REBEL CRIMES. SUMMARY EXECUTIONS PRO CLAIMED. IBy Cable.—Press Association. -Copyright.] (Received 11, 8.50 a.m.) Londpn, Dec. 9. Mr Mulcahy, on behalf of the Army Council, has issued a proclamation as follows: — As the conspiracy which exists to assassinate members of Parliament has already claimed two victims, it is necessary to take the sternest measures to safeguard the lives of the people’s representatives; therefore, every person arrested with explosives or lethal weapons of any sort will be liable to bo brought before a commit- . ten of officers of the National Army and, if the charge is proved, they will suffer death or other punishment as may be thought fit. The verdicts will he carried out summarily. The proclamation follows on the issue of thcr Republican manifesto, describing Tim Healy as a lifelong enemy of the nation and an infamous political intriguer. The manifesto declares that the fight will go on so long as there ia a man in Ireland. It is war to the death. There will be no peace but peace of freedom. The “Daily Mail’s” Dublin correspondent says public opinion is amazed at the swift action of the Government, in the present temper of the Republicans it is felt that reprisal will follow reprisal. It is officially admitted that there are at least 100 desperate men having no cere for their lives in Dublin who will follow the behest of the leaders and try to attempt to bring about the death of the members of the Government ami Dail Eireann. There are still a number of Republican leaders in custody, the circumstances of whose capture brings them within the scope of the new order relating to possession of arms including Tom Hales (captured a fortnight ago), a brother of .Sean Hales, who was assassinated. All will assuredly be brought to trial.—(United Service.) O’CONNOR AND MELLOWS SHOT. PROTESTS IN PARLIAMENT. London, Dec. 8. Rory O’Connor and Mellows, who were captured at the Four Courts, Dublin, in July, were court-znartialled during the night on a charge of unlawful possession of arms, and the sentences were carried out at Mountjoy Prison this morning. O’Connor was one of the most prominent leaders of the I.R.A. and was responsible for the seizure of the Four Courts. Mellows was an ex-member of the Dail. He participated in the 1916 rising, after which he escaped to America, where he was one of the most bitter opponents of the treaty. An official announcement states that the execution was a reprisal for the assassination of Mr Hales, and a solemn warning *o those engaged in the conspiracy of assassination against representatives of the Irish people and the Free State Army. On the motion to adjourn the Free State Parliament, Mr Johnson, the Labour leader, said the assassination of Mr Hales was a dastardly thing, but the executions were most foul, bloody and unnatural. The Government announced, •apparently with pride, that they had taken four prisoners and murdered them ns a reprisal for the assasination. Personally he believed the Government had killed the new State at its birth. Mr Mulcahy, in reply, said the executions were ordered because there were forces more vicious and insidious than those Britain ever employed working against representative government in Ireland. The army executive had expressed to the Government the need for exceptionally drastic action. Mr Gavau Duffy, his voice choking •with emotion, asked when this Corsican vendetta was going to end. Mr O’Higgins, Homo Secretary, said: We acted coldly and deliberately after looking the whole situation in the eye. You cannot meet this situation with a measuring tape. A certain number of Irishmen are garroting this country. As for vindictiveness, great heavens, one of these men was a friend of mine! Mr O’Shannon, Labourite, in conclud mg a violent speech, exclaimed: “Ah, if Britain would only come back! ” ’ Mr Cosgrave wound up a three hours’ debate when the Government'j action was approved by 39 to 14.—(A. and

blazing train set going, dastardly outrage at DUBLIN. several passengers injured ■>ll London. Dec. V. Rebels committed a dastardly train outrugo at Dublin. As a mght tram steamed into Lilty Junction, twenty jonths. armed with revolvers,'compel ed ttio passengers in the trout earnages to get to the rear of the train ana then ordered the driver and tireman from the engine. .The rebels then sprinkled the empty carriages with petrol arid set them on lire will: out uncoupling the rear compartments. they then started the engine llio carnages were now ablaze. lhe terror-stnken passengers, including tour women, believed thev would be burnt alive, and. though the tram was fully under way, jumped lor their lives, several being badly hurt.

The uncontrolled train fortunately found the points against it and was diverted into a goods yard, where it was brought to a standstill. It was an astonishing spectacle as the train shot into the night, gathering speed every moment. A number of women and other passengers, who had been unable to jump in time, shrieked with fear from the windows, believing a horrible death was imminent, either from hre or collision, but unknown to the passengers on the train or those on the platform the driver had escaped Irom the rebels and rushed along the line to warn the railway officials. When lie san the tram tn motion he rushed back and jumped on to the footplate. He later turned the engine into a siding and was able^to puTi the train up.

.Masquerading as medical students, an armed party visited Mercer's Hospital. Dublin, and made a desperate attempt to rescue a patient under arrest. An armed senfry questioned the men, and would not allow the socalled students to enter the ward. A fight was begun in which the sentry was wounded, but the prisoner was not rescued. The raiders made good their escape The proprietor, assistant editor and leader writer of “The Freeman’s Journal,” and also the editor of the “Irish Independent,” have received letters from tEe officer commanding the Irregulars in Dublin threatening them with death unless they leave by noon on December 8.

There were remarkable scenes at the Belfast Oval when eight lorrjes of policemen drove up during a football match and searched every one of the 6000 spectators for arms, as revolver firing had been a feature m a recent sports meeting in Ulster. The Irish Free State Senate has been completed with the Dail s 30 nominees. Thev include six merchants, six farmers, four Labourites, two doctors two 4‘Ugineers. one schoolmaster, and two women. Out of the Y re . sl j dent’s 30 nominees 15 were selected bv lot. Thev will sit for twelve years and the remainder for six years.—(A. and N.Z.)