THE GERMAN PLOT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 115, 21 May 1918, Page 5

THE GERMAN PLOT

HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS.

REASSURING STATEMENT BY CHIEF SECRETARY.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON*, May 19. Count Piunkett was arrested at Dublin, where the streets were crowded.. The night passed, quietly, groups discussing the arrests. Somo account* place the total arrests ha Ireland as high as 500. The newspapers are asking what Mr Dillon will do. A Nationalist meeting has been summoned for Monday to discuss the situation . ■. . . . Mr W- 'O'Brien, M.P., says that the most effective answer Ireland can give to the Government would be the unanimous election of Griffith for East Cavaru ' „,, . ~ - The Irish Times says: "This Geman plot is not only a conspiracy against the Allied cause, but against Ireland's honour.' If it should succeed with the help of even a handful of traitors aiid fanatics it would involve the country m deathless shame, wiping out the splendid record of the Irish soldiers in this and other wars." . The Observer says the reality of the seriousness of the German plot has been known for some time. In view of the present urgency of the whole war position this repeated treason must be put down with an unflinching hand. The Observer strongly criticises the Nationalists' manifesto to America and their failure to repudiate the Sinn Fein. Further arrests include Mr J. McGuinness, M.P., and Professor Monaghah.

Masked Sinn Feiners in motor cars on Saturday raided «the Duke of Abercorn's residence at liaronscourt, Newtown Stewart. They cut the telephone wiro and placed the gatekeepers under guard. They searched the castle for arms unavailingly. Mr Shortt, Chief Secretary, states that the number of Irishmen and Irishwomen in active 00-operation with the Germans is very small, but others may become involved. The Government believe that they can rely upon Irish support irrespective of creed or politics in the measures taken. The Freeman's Journal says that possibly a few foolish men in Ireland) may have entered into a conspiracy, invoking German aid, but the Irish have never been pro-German. .The proclamation means that conscription will be launched under cover of revelations of an. al- | leged German plot. ARRESTS A SURPRISE. I INFORMATION FROM A FRIENDLY COUNTRY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. iMav 21, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 20. The Daily Chronicle's Dublin correspondent says the. secret was well kept and the arrests came as a surprise to the affected persons and also to everyone outside Dublin Castle. The printer of the proclamation was entrusted only with the__ headings. The formal parts were afterwards typewritten and copies of the effective parte pasted in the blank spaces. Dublin residents' first intimation of anytmng unusual was the . continuous Barking of dogs for several hours after midnight while motor 'lorries with pris oners were driving -through the street? to Kingston, . ; s ;*!a Early risers found a large number of soldiers guarding the jetty and learned that Sinn Feiners were aboard a warship. The arrests have nothing.to do with the anti-conscription campaign or the Sinn Fein as an organisation, or seditious speeches. Some of the prisoners axe not Sinn Feiners. Every arrest was solely based upon suspicion of treacherous communication with the enemy. It is rumoured that incriminating •djocuineilta were found on a man captured in a, collapsible boat; also on another captured at Kerry. The 'correspondent says: "I jbeTleve something more definite found its way to fhi6' British '"Government fTom friendly country which exposed earlier plots against the, Allies, always in the nick of time. I •firmly the prisoners will not he', court-martialled or brought to public trial. The Government will scrupulously abstain from giving any excuse for disorders among the Irish public. The Irish newspapers unitedly deny any pro-Germanism in Ireland, therefore the Government must recognise the necessity for justifying the arrests by the productio n of satisfactory evidence. The arrests are war measures and do not imply the revival of clauses of the 'Coercion Act. Butwar measures must be well grounded and th« Government must not lose time in proving to Ireland and the whole world that the plot is genuine It is unfortunate that the belated Afttt grudging withdrawal of conscription, which the proclamation announces, i* annulled for the moment by the sensa- [ tional arrests and the discovery of » plot." TURBULENT MEETING AT NEW YORK. NEW YORK May 19. A turbulent meeting of sympathise-" of the Sinn Fein carried a resolution urging the President and Congress to vigorously aid Ireland in the fight for Home Rule, and also resolutions declaring that President Wilson's declaration in favour of self rule and selfdetermination should 'apply to Ireland, which was now .held by England's military force alone. England's rule m Ireland had been a complete failure. The Irish question was internal, and unless settled it would be ;.a permanent danger to the world's peace. The speakers included Mr James Larkhi. . At a second meeting the speakers declared that England's policy would result in a masacre of Irish men, women, and children. All sympathisers were pledged to petition the United States Government ■ asking for aid for Home Rule and against conscription.

GERMANY'S HOPES. (Rec. May ?,1, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, May 20. The Daily Mail understands that the Government has conclusive evidence in regard to the Irish conspiracy that tho Germans clearly hoped lor a great insurrection to synchronise wiffi 'fine supreme moment of a gigantic Western offensive.