IRISH PROPAGANDISTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 664, 24 March 1923, Page 5

IRISH PROPAGANDISTS.

DELEGATION TO AUSTRALIA. MR COSGRAVE'S CONDEMNATION. LONDON, March 23. When interviewed by an Australian Press Association, Mr Cosgrave, Premier of the Irish Free State, said the Irregular propagandists had failed to obtain support in America, where the truth of their deeds enabled the people to take a true measure of their fine words. The rebels were now turning to Australia, which, being more distant, afforded them an opportunity of keeping ahead of exposure. Australians would hear from Father O'Flannighan and Father O'Kelly most eloquent speeches about liberty and nationality. Whilo De Valera, the nominal rebel leader, declared that if England's threat of war wore removed he would not oppose the decision of the people, Mary MacSwiney openly denied tho_ right of the people to make any decision displeasing to her, declaring that if they were so bold they would have to submit to duress. That duress had been applied in the most ferocious manner possible. Trains had been wrecked regardless of passengers, houses burned and blown up and wrecked. Civilians, as in Ballyclondl, had been murdered, or, like an Athlone and Youghal had their water supply cut- off. Publio buildings had been destroyed and an attempt made to blow up a cinema when it was half full of people Cold-blooded murders had been committed, whereof the latest were those of a boy of 16 and an unarmed doctor. "What the Irregulars mean by liberty is anarchy, or to quote their words, the 'Rule of the Torch,'''' said Mr Cosgrave. "What they mean by nationality is incomprehensible by a»y sane being. It should be born in mind that the sufferers from theso outrages are plain people who see their homes destroyed, their lives daily imperilled, and the prosperity of the country wrecked, and who eventually have to nay lor all the damage. Australians who have been used to freedom »nd democracy for generations will know now the value of the words of the men who speak for the perpetrators of these awful deeds, and they will all sympathise with the Irish people who in face of such deeds stood firm and declared that their will must prevail."—A. and N.Z. cable. CYCLING COLUMN ATTACKED. LONDON, March 22. A Free State cycling column was fired upon near Dalkey. One was killed. Troops rushed the house whence the attack was made, capturing four Irregulars. Revolvers, guns and ammunition were discovered. One Irregular was killed by the return fire.—A. and N.Z. cable.