IRISH CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18540, 28 April 1922, Page 5

IRISH CRISIS

SITUATION IN BELFAST. A REIGN OF TERROR. MURDER AND ROBBERY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 26. Lord Justice Moore, in opening the Belfast assizes, said that it was no use blinking the fact that a population of 400,000 in Belfast was being held up by 800 criminals. Since February there had been 97 murders, 57 attempted murders, 160 housebreaking cases, 130 robberies, and 37 cases endangering life.—A. and N.Z. Cable. NORTHERN GOVERNMENT'S DIFFICULTIES. APPEAL TO MR COLLINS. LONDON, April 26. The correspondence between Sir James Craig and Mr Collins is published. It commences with Mr Collins, on behalf of the Free State Government, refusing to co-operate with the Northern Government on the Railway Commission until the vital clauses of the agreement are fulfilled, particularly regarding the release of prisoners, which Mr Collins described as most unsatisfactory. , Sir James Craig, in a lengthy reply, stated that the Northern Government was trying to carry out the spirit and the letter of the agreement, but the Free State departments as a whole were not showing the courtesy and consideration which the Northern Government had hoped for, and had taken action which was calculated to embarrass the Northern Administration. Despite the agreement, armed incursions into the Northern territory continued. He regretted the disturbances in Belfast, but the Northern Government was hampered in suppressing crime. With regard to prisoners a large number had been committed for trial on charges of murder and other serious crimes. Sir James Craig, in conclusion, said that he earnestly asked Mr Collins to remember article 11 of the agreement and to join him in asking their peoples to exercise restraint. —A. and N.Z. Cable. RIVAL FORGES. EXCITEMENT IN MULLINGAB. LONDON, April 26. The situation is tense in Mullingar (50 miles north-west of Dublin). In view of Mr De Valera’s projected visit next Sunday, the rival forces are fortifying the public buildings, and as a protection against looting, and to prevent the town being terrorised, both sides are organising on a huge scale. Several big guns have been brought in, windows commandeered, and buildings sandbagged.—A. and N.Z. Cable. FREE STATE TROOPS ATTACKED. 'LONDON, April 26. Republicans attacked a lorry load of Free State soldiers in Market square. The streets were deserted save for the combatants. Six Republicans were captured. —A. and N.Z. Cable. ULSTER AND FREE STATE. LONDON AGREEMENT BREAKS DOWN. LONDON, April 26. Official correspondence between Sir James Oraig and Mr Collins, which has been issued in Belfast, indicates that the London agreflnent has definitely broken down.—A- and N.Z. Cable. COLD-BLOODED MURDER. COMMANDANT O’NEILL SHOT DEAD. LONDON, April 26. (Received April 27, at 5.5 p.m.) Commandant O’Neill, of the Third Cork Brigade of the Republican Army, was shot dead without warning when accompanying other officers on a duty call to Mr Hornibrook, a farmer near Bandon. A member of Homibrook’s family has been arrested. —A. and N.Z. Cable. OPPONENTS OF TREATY. OBSTRUCTIVE TACTICS. THE REBELS DENOUNCED. At a full attendance of the Dail Firearm Mr Griffith complained of the obstructive tactics of the opponents of the treaty, instancing the suppression of Freeman’s Journal. The position of Ulster had been aggravated by the treatv obstructionists, who sought to impose a boycott after the pact had been made, the result being more massacres of Catholics. The elections in Southern Ireland would be held in June, and the right of freedom of speech would be upheld. Mr Mulcahy denounced the mutineers in vigorous terms, and detailed their outrages, including raids on 331 post offices. He said that many prominent firms were closing their offices . temporarily.—A. and N.Z. Cable.