ULSTER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 27 March 1922, Page 5

ULSTER

(By Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON, Mar»'h 25. The Ulster Government is offering a reward of £IOOO for information, which will lead to iho conviction of Macmalion’s murderer. LONDON, March 24. '.l’he tension between the Protestants and Catholics in Ulster is increasing hourly. It is understood that Mr Collins is coming to London immediately, but there are indications that Sir J. Craig may be unwilling to confer witn Mr Collins again in view of the results of the Jast interview. Circumstances are drifting towards military occupation of affected areas which are not confined to border districts.

Mr Macßeady regards the situation as the most serious boobing and hooting in the East End of Belfast is continuous.

Mr MacGuflin, home secretary of the Northern Parliament, said he deplored the occurrences of Thursday and Friday. Every step was being taken to bnng the murderers to justice, no matter to' what class, or creed they belonged.’ The Omagh Constabulary, searching Lough Maerory, found in a trench fifty two hand-made bombs and a box of stolen police bombs.' Terrorism at Trillick, where three Catholics were shot on Friday, is so great that neither Protestants nor Catholics go to bed at night. Families sit beside the fire all nigh long. If they hear footsteps outside, they dash from their homes. All clothing is packed in boxes hidden in the fields, money is secreted in hollow trees where the police occasionally discover it. Since Monday Sinn Fein armed men seized twenty 'Ulster motor cars and lorries, especially those belonging to commercial travellers carrying samples. An armed gang attacked a constabulary barracks at Strathbane. There was fierce gunfire for twenty minutes when the very lights sent up by the police brought, the soldiers of the rifle brigade 1o the scene. The attackers then fled.

Twelve armed Sinn Feinors stopped a train from Belfast, raided the mail van and stole registered letters. This is the third robbery on the same train in a fortnight. A bill for the payment of Sinn Fein outrages has just been presented to the British taxpayer. It amounts to £1,997,500. Compensation paid to victims, apart from; £750,000 paid to the Northern Government as compensation for ditlnugo to life and property in Ulster and a million payable, to the Northern Government as a contribution to the abnormal expenses in the presentabnormal circumstances.

LONDON, March 25,

Scotland Yard is investigating a mysterious raid of the Irish Office Intelligence Department at Westminster. when alt the documents and files were searched, and important confidential documents were removed recently from another department. LONDON, March 24.

Owing to the gravity of recent events in Ireland, the British Government tele, graphed requesting Sir J. Craig to come to London with any colleagues they wish, in order that the Government examine with them every aspect of the situation.

IN TYRONE LONDON, March 25. There were throe murders in Tyrone to-day, the victims all being Catholics. Presumably they are reprisals for the murder of Royalists. A police patrol .of fifty was ambushed near Pomeroy. Fighting lasted for eix hours, and several members of tho

llbeumo rapidly relieves Bhoumar tism by removing tho cause. 2/6 and 4/6- _______

patrol were wounded and ono was cap tured.

William Campbell, city corporation inspector of Belfast, was .shot dead in the street at Funchal.

BELFAST

LONDON, March 25,

There was much firing in Belfast on Friday night. Five were wounded, including a child of three years. LONDON. March 26.

The Presbyterian School House, Raphael St. Belfast, was blown up, while a large produce merchant's premises were destroyed by lire. Two bridges at Carrickmore were blown up. Scott, a Loyalist, while feeding cattlo on Caledon Augluiacloy sector ol the frontier, was killed by snipers.

LONDON, March 26. Irish events have thrust- the political crisis into the background. The Northern Cabinet, has been summoned to discuss the invitation to London on Monday. Meanwhile Sir JCraig telegraphed Mr Churchill his assurance (it earnest consideration of Downing Street s hopes (nr the .successful outcome of a new conference, based on the Government’s (inn determination to avert the terrible shadow of civil war, together with the Premier's opportune recovery and return.

Home well-informed quarters uro hinting that. Mr Lloyd George is speeding back to London because he m keenly desirous of attempting the role of mediator between North and South. Unfortunately these optimistic assumptions must lead to conjecture. Ihe Irish situation is precarious, where events .seem to ho hastening from had to worseCorrcspondents are describing the situation as full of peril, which only prompt action can avert. The Observers’ correspondent, touring the danger /.one, telegraphs that, animosities'were never so kern and unless something is done a sanguinary outbreak' is inevitable. Active military preparations are going on along Hie northern frontier. Bridges have been blown up, and roads blocked. Troops are drilling through the belief (which the correspondent thinks is not justified) that the Southern Irish Republican Army \is secretly massing troops some distance from the border for another extensive raid. The Observer's Belfast correspondent thinks the Northern Cabinet is certain to accept the London invitation, being sincerely anxious to restore peace. LONDON, March 26.

T.fl.W. convention assembled in the Mansion House in defiance of Cabinet’s prohibition. Two hundred delegates from commands in revolt attended. The utmost secrecy was preserved regarding the proceedings. Forty men, identified as workmen, expelled from Belfast, seized_ the Orange Headquarters, a largo building in Parnell Square, Dublin and ejected the occupants. Further shooting occurred in Belfast this morning. Margaret Savage was killed by a bullet entering a window of her residence. An ex-soldier was found murdered in the street. LONDON, March 25. The estimates for unclassified services in 1922-23 show a decrease of £88,000,000, compared with the previous year, hut an increase of £3,441,000 regarding Ireland, including a grant of a million to the Northern Irish Exchequer, towards the abnormal expenses of the Northern Irish Government, arising out of the present exceptional circumstances, also £75,000 _ to the Northern Irish Government, being half the amount to be paid in_ settlement of all Northern Irish claims on the Imperial Government for compensation in respect to loss of life and «ropertv owing to the. disturbances in Ireland. The" amount also includes nearly £2.000,000 compensation for- criminal injuries to drown employees and supporters. The Sinn Fein convention confirmed ils allegiance to the Republic and decided to boycott Belfast drastically.