PROBABILITY OF MARTIAL LAW.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 169, 19 July 1920, Page 5

PROBABILITY OF MARTIAL LAW.

MAIL TRAINS HELD UP.

LONDON, July 17. It is understood that Cabinet during the coming week will discuss the proclaiming of martial, law in the disaffected districts vof Ireland, where each day brings fresh crops of disorders. It is reported that Sir H-amar Greenwood opposes martial law. He believes that there is growing disgu«t at the Sinn Fein extremists. The police are receiving - secret offers of assistance in several districts.

The Sinn Feiners continue to warn drivers that they will be shot if their trains carry troops. Consequently, the train services suffer dislocation. One hundred armed men stopped the midnight mail train between Belfast and Londonderry. They covered the driver and fireman and guard with revolvers, seized the official correspondence, and decamped. Another gang stopped a. passenger train vt a re-move ptn.tion on tt'*-Dnndalk-Enniskillen l'"ne. They kidnapped the driver and fireman, leavin«- tho train stranded.

Dublin Castle authorises tht ro'tiee to invoke military aid in the suppression of disorder^. The Irish Volunteers are assembling in order to undertake self-assumed police functions. Constable Masters, when motoring homewards, was shot dead near Limerick.

Forty special jurymen attended a meeting, called anonymously at Cork, and decided to boycott the- Assizes.

Recent encounters with Sinn Feiners resulted in the police killing 50 and arresting 30. Many successful raids have been affected.