IRISH REBELS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11173, 31 March 1922, Page 5

IRISH REBELS

THE BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN INTENSE OPERATIONS AGAINST BELFAST TRADERS. HOLDING UP GOODS TRAINS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 30 , 7.25 p.m.) LONDON, March 30. The rebels are pursuing most intense operations against Belfast traders. Further attacks have been made on the trains. One south-bound train laden with Belfast goods was captured at Drogheda station. The wagons were opened and the merchandise scattered far and wide. . The Great Northern Railway has suspended tho all-night goods trains. LONDON, March 29. The Boifast-to-Dublin mail and goods train was derailed near Adavale and surrounded by a force of armed men, who set fire to the wagons and destroyed all the goods from Belfast. The postal van was also destroyed. A train from Enniskillen to Sligo was also held up, and the goods from Northern Ireland were burned. A large force from the Free. State captured the police barracks at Beloo, County Fermanagh, and carried off fifteen police. ULSTER BANK RAIDED A STRANGE EXPLANATION. (Received March 30, 5.5 p.m.j LONDON, March 29. Three undisguised armed men entered the 'Ulster Bank at Ballycastle, Antrim, locked u.p the manager and cashier, and then decamped with a large sum of money, after stating that the money was for Oatliolio boycotted workers in Belfast and that the hank would be recouped. THE.REBEL ARMY BARRACKS COMMANDEERED. (Received March 30. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 29. Republican sympathisers at the Benmore barracks ordered the Free State adherents to leave. Two hundred departed, leaving their arms, Mr E. J. Duggan took oyer the barracks on behalf of the republic, and will use it as a training centre for rebels . POLICE AMBUSHED TWO CONSTABLES KILLED. (Received March 30, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 29' A police patrol was amlbuslied near Crossmaglen, Armagh, Two constables were killed and one wounded. NO LIKING FOR DUBLIN MEMBERS OF CONSTABULARY ANXIOUS TO QUIT. LONDON, March 29. Two hundred and fifty clerks in tho Royal Irish Constabulary pensions .office, Dublin, announced a strike to-day .unless the British Government grants them immediate demobilisation, with one year’s salaiy. They declare that tlieir lives are not safe in Southern Ireland, and thev wish to leave with means t.o establish homes elsewhere.

BATTALIONS IN BELFAST

(Received March 30, 7.25 p.m.) LONDON, March 30. Sir Jaimes Craig has successfully appealed for the retention of. four Irish battalions at Belfast.

THE IRRECONCILABLES

WARLIKE RESOLUTIONS. TALK OF DICTATORSHIP. LONDON, March 29. “A dictatorship would overthrow four Governments in Ireland opposed to the Republic the Dail Eireann, tho Provisional Government, the Britisn Government, and the Northern Government,” according to a statement issued at Beggar’s Bush and vouched for by the Republican General Headquarters. This was part of a resolution carried at Sunday’s Convention of the Irish Republican Army irreconcilables, at which Messrs Thomas Barry and Frame Barretfc forwarded a resolution Setting out matters for the immediate concern of the executive, including, first, the maintenance of Ireland as an independent Republic; second, the appointment of a Chief of Staff, who will appoint General Headquarters, subject to the executive’s veto; third, the declaration of a dictatorship, with a view to ordering the dissolution of all “pretended Governments” by the prohibition or Parliametary elections till one can be held on an adult suffrage free from the threat of war from Britain. ' The statement adds: —“It was finally decided to recommend Mr Barry’s rrjiolution to the executive, which will give its considered opinion at the next convention on May 9th.” The report continues : “The delegates were of opinion that finance would n.ot cause much trouble, as money could he liad for the taking. The press could be held by commandeering the machinery, or using the sledge-hammer.” A Dublin delegate proposed to withdraw men from tile ranks, as eacn would bring, his rifle; and another said: “You had bettor wait. You will have more than a man and his rifle.” It was decided to stop recruiting for the Free State Army. The reference to rifles is believed to refer to 1500 rifles stored at Beggar's Bush. A meeting of the Republican members of the Dnil Eireann in Dublin passed a resolution affirming that the proposal to accept the Treaty was the sole cause of the division in the Daii and the country, and asking tile Cabinet. and the majority narty of the Dnil not to proceed with, iflio agreement. Tlie resolution urged a joint nlan of action by both parties in orcUr that the murder of Catholics may be stopped

or no longer committed with impunity. It also proposed the immediatei suspension of political meetings by both parties, in order to focus the publip attention of Ireland and the world on the intolerable situation in Belfast.

SPLIT IN ARMY

A DRASTIC ORDER. Reuter’s Telavram. LONDON, March 29. Commandant O’Duffy, the Free State Chief of Staff, has issued a manifesto relieving all officers and men of the Irish Republican army of the responsibility of obeying orders from any superior officer who has severed his connection with .the I.R.A. by attending the army convention; The manifesto i 3 a reply to the order by the executive of the convention depriving Mr Malcahy, the Dail’s Minister for Defence, of the control of the army, and makes the split in the I.R.A. complete.

THE CONFERENCE

OPENED IN LONDON. LONDON, March 29. . The Irish Conference has opened in the Colonial Office. The British delegates are Mr Churchill, Sir L .Worthington Evans, Lord Peel, Sir H. Greenwood, and Lord Birkenhead; Ulster is represented by Sir James Craig, Mr E. M. Archdale, and Lord Londonderry, and the Southerners by Mr A. Griffiths, Mr M. Mr Duggan, and Mr K. 0. Higgins. (Received March 30, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 29. Official:—The Irish Conference elected a committee, consisting of Mr Winston Churchill, Sir L. Worthington Evans, Sir James Craig, Lord Londonderry, Mr Michael Collins, and Mr Arthur Griffith to examine various propositions. The committee will meet to-morrow. (Received March 30, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 29. Mr Austen Chamberlain announced in the House of Commons that in view of the Irish Conference, consideration of the, House of Lards’ amendment to the Irish Free State Bill had been postponed till to-morrow. i