IRISH ANXIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18180, 28 August 1922, Page 7

IRISH ANXIETY.

REBELS EMBOLDENED. FRESH BLOW PREPARING. DE VALERA IN THE NORTH. REAPPEARANCE IN LOUTH. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright A. and N.Z. LONDON. Aug. 25. Belfast reports state that the Irish rebela, stimulated by the death of Mr. Arthur Griffith and the murder of Mr. Collins, are preparing to strike a fresh blow in the north. De Valera has dramatically reappeared in Louth, where several bands of rebels are lurking in the neighbourhood of the Carlingford mountains under Commandant Aiken, who is regarded as the ablest of the rebel leaders. Commandant Mulcahy, backed by the Provisional Government of the Free State, proposes to adopt stronger tactics in dealing with tho rebels' guerilla warfare, which the Dail will bo invited to approve when it meets,on September 9. It is considered certain that Mr. W. P. Cosgrove, acting head of the Free State, will come to London shortly to confer with British Ministers. Many telegraph and telephone wires in tho county of Dublin have been cut, and Errigal House, a handsome mansion, has been destroyed by fire. Free State troops carried out an extensive sweep of Limerick County, and drove tho rebels from Glenstal Castle, inflicting casualties and taking many prisoners. HOMAGE TO DEAD CHIEF. PATHETIC SCENES IN DUBLIN. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 4.5 p.m.) LONDON. Aug. 25The Provisional Government of the' Free State has declared Monday a day of general mourning for the funeral of Mr. Michael Collins. Pathetic scenes were witnessed at the lying in state of Mr. Collins' body at the City Hall.- Enormous crowds gathered outside the building, and for hours a steady stream moved past the open coffin. Many made the sign of the cross and kissed the face of the dead leader as they walked past. Others prayed audibly, while some gave way to tears. At noon the publio were excluded while the intimate friends and relatives viewed tho body, including the dead man's brother, John, who was deeply moved, and bent down and embraced the body, knelt and prayed, rose and grasped his dead brother's hand, and then loft the hall. it is now believed that Mr. Collins' death was no mere accident, but was carefully planned, find that when the rebels failed to kill him by means of direct onslaught they lay low until he began to move about. He was then picked off by a sniper. A number of the Cork rebels,, horror-struck at Mr. Collins' end, have thrown down their arms, but the majority are still in an ugly mood. Soma still gloat over his i death.