IRELAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 10 April 1922, Page 5

IRELAND

RAID OH BONDED STORES DESTRUCTION OE WHISKY

(By Electric telegraph—Copyright.) (Australian k N.Z. Cabla Association

LONDON, April 8. Mr de Valera, speaking ai Dunloagiiire, said the Irish people would always oppose the Treaty, and if wise they would remove it by the routs. The Provisional Govenuiynt would not lit: obeyed, and would not function. Three members of Hie secessionist section of the Republican army forced a registrar at the revolver point to send a telegram to County Court Judge Fleming as follows: “Don’t come, to Mullingar sessions to-morrow. You do so .it ; ■;)!' peril. Repubh :=n;s w.’h ar-, rest you." Judge Fleming adjourned the Moate sessions on the previous Jay an the result of intervention by three men, whom the regular Irish Republicans since arrested.

A large number of rebels armed with rifles, revolvers, and machine gnus invaded .Middleton, in County Cork, in motor ears. They entered the principal simps and ordered the employees into the streets.

During last night three, hundred men entered bonded stores at Dublin Customs House, and knocked in the heads of casks of whisky and wine belonging to Belfast firms. 'The wine and spirits flowed in all directions. The estimated, damage is at least £IOO,OOO. At the beginning of the raid armed men seized the police on duty itp the vicinity ot the Customs House. Hum, some carrying heavy sledgehammers, they broke into the building and destroyed six thousand casks containing half a million gallons of whisky, mostly belonging to the Dunvillc Company, of which Sir J. Craig is chairmap. 1 The loss in revenue represents several millions sterling. The outrage is part of tho rebel boy* colt of Belfast goons. The vaults were lighted by gas, but owing to the danger of explosion, the raiders worked with flashlights, and continued their work of destruction for five hours when the spirits formed great pools, in which the raiders waded kuoe-deep. They toe tip the floor at many points in o'dcr that the lique. might sink tatc the ground Nevertheless, this mora ,Tl g the whiskv still formed miniature lakes in places.' Workmen were employed all lay carrying it in buckets and pouring it down'the sewers. The Irish republican army notified the Irish newspapers forbidding publication of items regarding Hto Irish republican army unless sanctioned by the armv's publicity department. Tins means that the republican section of the Irish republican army forbids the publication of notices issued from the Free State army’s headquarters. STATEMENT BY MR CHURCHILL Ix)NDON, April 8. , Mr Churchill, speaking at Dundee, said the keynote of the British foreign policy was to produce a good understanding between France and Germany, at the same time assuring the former that she would not be left unaided in the event of unprovoked German aggression. The situation in Ireland was the gravest, ami possibly would become worse before improving. Possibly some classes of Irishmen would kill each other over the Treaty.” H Irishmen choose i to cut off their own noses to spite i their faces we cannot prevent them and will not try. They are responsible—not we. Nothing in the nature of a republic in Ireland will bo_ accepted in Britain. I believe the Irish nation is now in a. position where it ought to look forward and not brood over the past.” BANKS RAIDED LONDON, April 8. Armed men raided the Northern Bank at Lanesborough and escaped in motor cars after stealing £7OO and shooting dead Captain Cox, of the -Fics State guard, who was protecting the Others raided tile Ulster Bank at Castlerca and stole £2OO. A CHURCH MANIFESTO LONDON, April 8. Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Ireland issued a manifesto expressing horror and apprehension in face of the Irish crimes attributed to religious antagonism. They urge all Irish people to practice forbearance.

CONSPIRACY TO KILL MR COLLINS

LONDON, April 9

The republicans continue their unrelenting murder campaign against Free Staters. The latest exploit is a- conspiracy to kill Mr Collins, who is Ravelling to Wexford. Rebels removed the rails where the line crosses the Avoca river bridge. The driver s timely discovery averted a disaster. Railway men who were attempting to repair the line were driven off. llic tiain proceeded later. . Other gangs of armed men seized _ a driver at Enniscortchy and carried him off in a car. Another train was held up at Churchill. Armed men seized a consignment of bread, saying that the troops must, he fed. Four trains were held up elsewhere and merchandise and newspapers were burnt. , , m A policeman was murdered at iemplcmore, and others were fired at and warned to leave the country on pain hv assassination. “The Dailv Express's Bellast correspondent paints a startling picture of the. conditions southwards of the hornier. lie examined specimens of Bolshevik propaganda with which the republicans are busy, the most popular text book being the Communist Internationa!. Communications have ended except between rebels and refugees. He declares the. Government has ceased, justice does not function, and life is not valued. The energy of the countryside is absorbed in "the creation of armies and the manufacture of «rar material. Workers have deserted and arc deserting <ih ees, shops, and farms and joining the rebels. Lew than half the laud will he cropped during 1922. He Valeras following is daily strengthening. ADDRESS BY MR COLLINS DANGER oFCIVIL WAR LONDON, April 9. A .special train from Dublin in Wexford for Mr Collins’s pro-treaty meeting at Wexford was held up at Wooden Bridge, in County Wicklow. Special correspondents from Dublin, who were on the train, motored to Wexford, tin; U.lcgiaph lines from which hud been cut. The railway fine beyond Wooden

Bridge was lorn up. Air Collins foiled bis opponents in an attempt to wr.eck the train in which he was expected to travel, by journeying to Wexford overnight. lie' addressed a meeting _ of several thousand and was not interfered with. He said Ireland was threatened with another long agony. Unless Here was an immediate change b, ihe G.-ie. and tactics of de Valera ,v a miracle could avert civil war. He' appealed to de Valera to consider where he was leading the nation. Catholic clergy at Masses on Sunday cxlmried the people, lo refrain from aeis likeiv to cause disturbance.

DE VALERA’S FOLLOWING

MB HALL SKELTON'S OPINION

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, April 7

That 90 ner cent of the people, in Ireland are'in favour of an Irish Tree Stale as outlined in the Treaty is the conviction of Air Hall Skelton, who tcturnod hv the Niagara, after a visit to Europe as one of the Now Zealand delegates to the Pan-Trish Congress in Pans. ° Mr Skelton says that Air de Valera lias nothing of a‘ following to speak of, and docs not represent the Irish sentiment. Concerning the new state of things which has been created at- Home, the great body of Irish opinion is quite opposed to tile idea of a republic. Mr Skelton slated that he was under the necessity of making it eery plain to Mr dc Valera that- the Irish in the colonies were not to bo dragged into anything that w'ould disintegrate the Empire. Even in the North of Ireland, Air Skelton said be found the idea of a united Ireland very firm, and lie was strongly of opinion that when the extremist's of both sides had passed out of the picture Ireland would settle down into a prosperous and united Free State. This, lie believed would result- within twelve months. Air Skelton challenged Air do A r alera to put the matter to a vote of (he Irish people, but de Valera knew too well what ’would be the result of such a plebiscite. Asked what would be the fate of Air de Valera, Mr Skelton said that tiio policy of the people who represented the true Irish feeling was to Set- him have as much rope as lie wanted, and when the American money was done ho would cease to he a factor in the controversy.