MR. DE VALERA'S WIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21160, 18 April 1932, Page 11

MR. DE VALERA'S WIN.

TWENTY PRISONERS FREE.

THE "REPUBLICAN ARMY."

CARGO OF RUSSIAN ARMS. [from our own correspondent.] LONDON, March 15. Amid scenes of wild enthusiasm, 20 Irish political prisoners, sentenced under Mr. Cosgrave's Government, were released in Dublin 24 hours after Mr. de Valera's party came into power. The release had been expected and motor-cars bearing flags and streamers inscribed "Welcome Home, Prisoners," entered Dublin City from various parts cf the Free State to take part in the welcome. Seventeen of the prisoners were released from Arbour Hill, two from Maryborough prison, and one from Mount joy. Thousands of people assembled outside Arbour Hill, many of them women and girls, carrying the green, white and yellow Tricolour, with the inscription 'T.R.A." The walls round the prison were plastered with posters, " Welcome to the Prisoners," and a big banner was carried inscribed "Republican . soldiers free. Ireland rejoices." Chorus of Cheering. When, in the afternoon, the 17 men marched out of the main gate, there was a great chorus of cheering and shouting of "Up, the rebels!" The released men were mobbed by their hilarious supporters, and the cheering lasted some minutes. Seventeen cars displaying the Tricolour then appeared, and after the men had entered these a triumphal procession was formed. It first visited Mountjoy gaol, where the released prisoner was picked up. The cars then went through the centre of the city to a hotel in North Frederick Street. When the destination of the prisoners became known there was a wild rush toward the hotel, ajid for a considerable time the crowds became so great that traffic was temporarily impeded. The prisoners were received in the hotel by friends and relatives and several Fianna Fail Deputies. Among the men released are the brothers Gilmore, who were sentenced to five years' and three years' imprisonment respectively for being concerned with an ammunition arsenal in the Dublin mountains, and Mr. Frank Ryan, editor of a Republican publication, who was sent to prison for three months for contempt of Court. Mr. de Valera's Army. "Meanwhile," writes the Morning Post correspondent, "the reorganising of the 'lrish Republican Army,' which began immediately the election results made it clear that Mr. Cosgrave's Government had been defeated, is proceeding apace. Seven battalions are being organised in Dublin City alone—recruited mostly from the unemployed and from excitable young men, who do not quite know what it is all about, but foresee some excitement to relieve the monotony of life. With a Government in power that dare not interfere with them, this army will have no difficulty in obtaining supplies of arms, nor is there any mystery about the source of theso supplies. "Some months ago, in the course of the drive under the Public Safety Act, as the Constitution Amendment Act is generally known, it was discovered by the authorities that a cargo of arms from Soviet Russia had been landed on the West Coast of Ireland. The arms were brought part of the way on a Russian steamer and transhipped at sea into smother vessel, which succeeded in getting them ashore. Their present whereabouts has not been traced."