IRISH TENSION MAY LEAD TO CIVIL WAR.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 August 1933, Page 3

IRISH TENSION MAY LEAD TO CIVIL WAR.

Clash Feared Between I.R.A. and Blue Shirts. Demonstration Next Sunday. Received Monday, 12.45 a.m. DUBLIN, Aug. 6. Tension prevails which is so serious that it is feared in some quarters it may lead to civil war. Mr. de Valera’s new armed police is already 300 strong and it is believed there may be a violent clash with General o’Duffy’s National Guard, now described by Republica,ns, as the Fascist Blue Shirts. Twenty thousand of these are expected to parade On August 13 to commemorate the death of Collins, Griffiths and 0 ’Higgins, in the grounds of Leinster House. Republicans even suggest that General O’Duffy is planning a coup d’etat to seize the reins of Government, and it is possible that Mr. de Valera may prohibit the parade. General o’Duffy describes the coup idea as fantastic and insists that his force is non-military, but numerically they greatly outnumber the Republicans'. It is alleged that the Blue Shirts have obtained 800 American rifles, 200,000 rounds of ammunition and a number of machine-guns. Meantime armed members of the Republican Army are i reported to be drilling nightly in the mountains outside the city. The Dail buildings have become an armed camp. The . Government is not satisfied that the fire at Leinster House on August 3 was accidental.' Fifty Civic Guards are now quartered in the buildings, with bedding and cooking apparatus, and everybody is challenged. General O’Duffy told the National Guard at Clonmell that the new special police force was tantamount to an Irish Ogpu. The Government, acting on false information, was making itself ridiculous in the eyes of the Irish at home and abroad. It was apparently preparing a campaign of suppression, which would become operative immediately the Dail adjourned. The National Guard was not subsidised by Britain; it was penniless, but was appealing to the country for funds.

Ending the Anglo-Irish Economic War REVIVAL OF HOPES Received Monday, 12.45 a.m. , DUBLIN, Aug. 6. Hopes have been revived for a mov< to end the Anglo-Irish economic war Air Do Valera and his Cabinet on Sat urday had luncheon with the Soutl African Minister, Air Havonga, who b holidaying in Ireland; A rumour per sists that the subsequent discussions were in the nature of unofficial ncgO' tiations in the direction of a financia settlement.

Guarding Government Buildings POLICE CALLED ON TO SUPPLY MEN Received Sunday, 7 p.m, DUBLIN, Aug. 3. Police headquarters this afternoon despatched instructions to outlying e stations to have men available at the r. shortest notice and guards from more t- than 30 stations were ordered to reh port at Government Buildings, is A later message states that 300 men r- have already been selected as the firs* is members of an armed force to guard )- Government Buildings. Most of them il have been members of the Irish Republican Army.