IRELAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17913, 19 April 1920, Page 5

IRELAND.

SIR NEVIL MACREADY DOMINANT. RELEASE OF THE PRISONERS. INTENSE EXCITEMENT. Preea Association—By TeJegrspfe—-Otvpyrigibt. LONDON, April 15. Tho situation at the Mcuntjoy Prison was perplexing through the afternoon and ovening, and it was not until 60 or 70 hunger-strikers had been carried to a hospital between 9 o'clock and midnight that it was certain that the Government had reversed their policy, and released the Sinn Feiners unconditionally. Throughout was intense excitement. ( The strike at Dublin liberated the entire 'working population, and the majority of them gathered in the vicinity of tho prison, not knowing whether the strike had achieved its purpose. There was wild excitement when it became certain that the men had been released without parole, but tho vast crowd was instantly quiet when the ambulances appeared carrying the men to the hospitals. Sir Nevil Macready is credited with the responsibility for the dramatic reversal of the Government's policy. It is believed that he told Lord French that he must havo a clear field as Sir Nevil's representations wero submitted to Downing street, and resulted in a repudiation of what the Front Bench had said iu the House of Commons 24 hours earlier. It is understood that Sir Hamar Greenwood, the new Chief Secretary, also expressed a desire that the hunger strike should be got out of the way before ho took up the reins of the Chief Secretaryship. Same papers state that Viscount French is coming to London to consult the Government relative to the responsibilities of Sir Nevil Macready and himself. The' Daily Chronicle is of the opinion that Dublin* Castle rule is not the Government's policy. ' Sir Nevil Macready and Sir Hamar Green-wood have been given full power to pave the way for a reconciliation, and for making the Homo Rule Bill possible. A. and N.Z. Cable. RELEASE OF THE MOUNTJOY PRISONERS. ENTIRE CHANGE IN IRISH POLICY. RESIGNATIONS. LONDON, April 15. The newspapers generally consider that the release of the prisoners in Mountjoy Prison marks an entire change in the Government's Irish policy. Mr Lloyd George is personally responsible for the change. Lord French, Mr J. I. Macpherson (ex Chief Secretary), and Sir John Taylor (Permanent Under-Secretary) are generally held responsible for the earlier policy. Mr Macpherson has already resigned, and. Lord French is likely to follow. It is rumored that Sir John Taylor will have a colonial appointment. Th Evening Standard says m connection with the releases that Lord French alono was responsible. Sir Nevil Macready, as commander of the forces, cannot direct or initiate a policy, and cannot act without Lord French's knowledge.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

SERENADING THE PRISONERS. LONDON, April 15. The Lord Mayor of Cork announced the release of Sinn Feiners to a mass meeting in Cork. The audience then marched to the county gaol where the political offenders were incarcerated, and played and sang Sinn Fein songs, the prisoners welcoming them and waving; flags from the windows. —A. and N.Z. Cable. TROUBLE IN COUNTY CLARE. LONDON, April 15. The police and! the military were involved in a collision with civilians at Miltown Malbay, County Clare. Three civilians were killed and nine wounded. There are iio details.—A. and N.Z. Cable. IRISH LABOURITES AND FOODSTUFFS, LONDON, April 15. The Irish Trade Uirfon Congress manifesto congratulates the workers on showing how they can impose their will on the authorities, and urges the workers to prevent the exportation of foodstuffs until the restoration of normal supplies, which are hindered by the stoppage of transport. —K. and N.Z. Cable. BIG MILITARY RADJ. LONDON, April 15. Following the release of 68 Mountjoy hunger-strikers last night, there was a big military raid at 2 o'clock in the morning in the neighbourhood of Harcourt, where the Sinn Fein quarters are situated. Many houses were visited, and it is reported that there were 100 arrests. Twenty-four more hunger-strikers were released to-day.—A. and N.Z. Cable. A BIG ROUND-UP. LONDON, April 15. The round-up in Dublin wae the biggest ye* organised. It began at 1 o'clock in the morning and lasted for several hours, and' 150 arreste were made. The raided area included 15 streets, some of the poorest in the city; and also the Jevsish quarter. It was the largest force of troops yet employed in a raid. Thirty lorries were filled with soldiers. A wake was in progress in one house, and all the males present were arrested . Particular attention was paid to Cam sten street, where Constable Kells was murdered. Certain business premises were searched, while the raiders, working in armoured cars, patrolled the street outside with guns trained on the crowds. —A. and N.Z. Cable. POLITICIAL PRISONERS TREATED AS HEROES. POLICEMEN SHOT. LONDON, April 15. It is significant that while the political prisoners were treated as heroes, Dublin had scarcely a word of sympathy for the unfortunate policeman Kells, wno, after 22 years of service, was murdered in a cold-blooded manner as he was going to his work. He was in plain clothes. His assassins were evidently familiar with his movements. They hid in a quiet spot until Constable Kells was passing, and fired shots at the unsuspecting man. Then three men were seen to walk quietly away. Constable Henson was shot at Balbriggan during a, procession of demonstrators in connection with the release of prisoners. He was admitted to the hospital in a dying condition.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE HUNGER-STRIKERS. LONDON, April 16. There were 25 prisoners hunger-striking at Mountjoy Prison, of whom 11 were released last night. It is expected that the remainder will be released during Friday. None have signed the parole, though a paper was read over to them. It is believed that the several Dublin raids yesterday were connected with the shooting of Constable Kells. All except five arrested on Thursday were released.— A. and N.Z. Cable. EX-SOLDIER MURDERED. LONDON, April 17. (Received April 18, at 5.5 p.m.)" Captain White, son of the late Field Marshal Sir G. S. White, was hungerstriking for four days in Mountjoy Prison. He says he is not in favour of resorting to physical force on behalf of Sinn Feinism. A coroner's jury at Cork returned a verdict of murder against Mr Lloyd Georgo for the death of Mr Mac Curtain (Lord Mayor of Cork). Foley, an ex-soldier, who joined the Irish Constabulary when he was demobilised, was found dead in a creamery yard aWTralee. There were 26 bullet wounds in his body. Foley had been blindfolded and had his hands tied behind him.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

RESTRICTIONS ON EXPORT. GENERAL STRIKE THREATENED. SIR HAMAR GREENWOOD'S VIEWS. APPEAL TO MODERATE IBISII OPINION. LONDON, April 16. (Received April 18, at .5.5 p.m.) Constable HensoD, who was shot at Balbriggan' during a procession of demonstrators in connection with the release of prisoners, is dead. In obedience to yesterday's manifesto, no butter, pigs, or bacon are offered for export from Dublin, One hundred and twenty thousand transport workers have been instructed to strike immediately goods are tendered for export. A crowd at the Limerick railway station stoned the police escorting the mails. The police fired, slightly wounding several. Forty men, armed with hurleys, held up a mail car at Charleville, County Limerick, seized the mails, and then allowed the driver to proceed. Sir Hamar Greenwood (Irish Secretary), interviewed, said he was going to Ireland, as all his life he had been convinced that Homo Rule was the desire of the people, and he wished to appeal to moderate Irish opinion to help the Government in its earnest, sympathetic desire to settle the Irish problem. He believed that the vast majority of Irishmen were opposed to violence, and the whole Empire was opposed to the establishment of an independent republic.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ALL ORIGINAL HTTNOER-STRIEEBS RELEASED. LONDON, April 17. (Received April 18, at 11 p.m.) All the original Mountjoy hunger-strikers have now been released.—A. and N.Z. Cable. HOSTILITY TO EX-SOLDIERS AND POLICEMEN RESENTED. LONDON, April 17. (Received April 19, at 1.20 a.m.) The Clorunel Board of Guardians, a majority of -which are Sinn Feiners, passed a resolution excluding policemen and exsoldiers from the Union Hospital Board. It also declared that ex-soldiere belonged to murder clubs, organised to kill the Irish leaders. Subsequently hundreds of ex-soldiers raided the board room and smashed the furniture and fittings.—A. and N.Z. Cable.