BELFAST DISORDER

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1935, Page 5

BELFAST DISORDER

WILD RIOTING ARMOURED CARS SUMMONED. (United Press Association— By ElectricTelegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, July 13. Hardly had Lord Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, told Orangemen at Gilford that the prospects for Northern Ireland were bright and hopeful, when a fierce riot broke out in Belfast, necessitating the proclamation of martial law. Lord Craigavon said that the recent conversations with the Dominion Premiers had -made h'ffi realise the importance of Ulster as a iactor in Imperial affairs, in which Orangemen were destined to play an important part. The Belfast- disturbance was precipated in the dockland quarter, where stones were thrown. Shots Fired at Band. Revolvers were fired from upper windows at a Scottish 'band, which was returning from; a procession in celebration of the Battle of the Boyne, hut the pipers and drummers scornfully continued to march to the music. . Police reinforcements were rushed to the scene and an armoured ta- fired over the heads of the mob, thousands of whom stampeded for refuge in the nearest buildings.

Mrs Margate Rodgers was killed and Miss Margaret Lang was shot in the stomach. She is not expected to recov-

Many Wounded in Firing. A constable, a- detective and nearly 40 others were ..wounded by revolver shots. The firing was believed to be more widely spread tban was actually the case, owing to the volley-like sound ot the Lambeg dritms which are deafeningly beaten ivith the hands as part of the ceremonies, until the blood streams from the performers’ hands, discolouring the drumheads.

Parades in seventeen other centres passed off quietly.

Ellen O’Connor, a septuagenarian, was found dying in a street, with wounds in the head. A' volley was fired into a publichouse which injured a number of customers.

Occasional 'shots were fired in the daytime to-day, which wounded a watchman and a hoy.

Armoured cars are now patrolling in the Belfast dockland area. The curfew has been introduced.

SABOTAGE BY FRENZIED CROWD

THE MILITARY CALLED OUT. (Received this day at 10.10 a.m.) BELFAST, July 14. The fighting continued until after midnight. ' A frenzied crowd wrecked and burned a number of houses . in the York Street area. The police used batons, rifles, and armoured cars, and (the military were called out. Members of the Border Regiment have arrived at Corries. The casualties are four killed and. 20 injured, including a policeman who> was shot in the shoulder. Between thirty and' fourty were treated for minor injuries.

The police state the trouble began with a rush from the marked area at the Orange procession.