POSITION GRAVE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11784, 21 March 1924, Page 6

POSITION GRAVE

THE IRISH OUTBREAK NUMEROUS RESPONSIBLE OFFICERS NOW ARRESTED. SIEGE RAISED. By Telegraph.—Presw Assn.—Copyright Kent LONDON, March 19. Late at night troops surrounded a public-house in Parnell street, Dublin, where it wa« reported that 30 to 40 wanted mon were assembled, including General Tobin and Colonel Dalton. A grave situation, believed to be the sequel to the recent Army trouble, is indicated by the fact that several Ministers \isited the scene of operations. It is officially announced that ten officers who left their posts were arrested on the roof of a publio-liouse. The siege, in which a large force of military with armoured oars and machine-guns participated was raised at 10.30 this morning. There were no further arrests. The arrested men include Colonel O’Malley, three other colonels, and four commandants. General Tobin escaped. Colonel Dalton .was not present. ELEVEN HOURS’ SIEGE TROOPS KEPT AT BAY. TOBIN'MAKES HIS ESCAPE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 20, 5.5 t>.m.) LONDON, March 20. A Dublin message states that news reached military headquarters at 9 o’clock on Tuesday night that a meeting of 40 mutinous officers ivas bein'* held in Devlin’s public house, which faces the Rotunda Hospital within 50 yards of the Parnell Monument. It was a well-known Sinn Fein meeting place in Michael Collins’s days. When the troops arrived they searched the customers’ bar, and then attempted to go upstairs, but were suddenly warned to stand hack. The searchers withdrew and were quickly leinforccd by ten lorries filled with troops who 'surrounded the block cf buildings and guarded the streets with armoured cars. BLOODLESS BATTLE.

There was considerable firing throughout the eleven hours of the siege, recalling the terrors of the revolutionary period, though it was bloodless. Most of those captured were found on the roof, whence they could not escape owing to the bright moonlight, so surrendered without firing a snot. Colonel Slattery, one of the prisoners, jumped from a lorry while being taken to the prison and raced along the quay pursued by soldiers who fired as they ram. Finally Slattery surrendered. It is believed that Tobin and Dalton, with 20 or more other officers, previously escaped over tho roofs in (tho darkness, while their comrades! kept the troops at bay. .. UNAUTHORISED ACTION RESIGNATIONS DEMANDED. SERIOUS PROBLEM ARISES. Australian and N.Z Cable Association. (Received March 20, 9.30 p.m.) DUBLIN, March 19O’Higgins announced in the Dail Eireann that the Defence Minister Mulcahy had resigned. The Government has demanded’ the resignations of Adjutant-General O’Sullivan, Chief-of-Staff McMahon, and QuartermasterGeneral O’Muirthile. The Home Minister stated that last night’s operations were undertaken without the authority of O’Duffy or consultation with the Executive Council. The Government recognised that the present state of things and the resignation of two Ministers constituted a problem which, needed the gravest consideration. ' They hoped by the beginning of next week to be in a position to tell the people what action they proposed to pursue in regard to the whole matter.

UNAUTHORISED OFFICERS MUST RESIGN, Australian and N.Z Cable Association. LONDON, March 19. General Mulcahy, Minister for Dt fence, has resigned. The Government has demanded the resignation of a number of leading officers, because last night’s operation was unauthorised. NEW MINISTER OOSGRAVE TAKES POSITION. 'Pol-—,-, (Received March 20, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 20. President Cosgrave is undertaking the duties of Minister for Defence.