IRISH AFFAIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 37

IRISH AFFAIRS.

OUTBREAK OF LAWLESSNESS. THE DUBLIN CONVENTION. (By Cable.) The Press Bureau reports that at a meeting of the Irish Convention the chairman (Sir H. C. Plunkett) reported the results of the delegation to the Cabinet. I After discussion the Convention adjourned till Wednesday to consider Sir H. C. Plunkett's report. The lawlessness in Ireland is largely the result of an organised conspiracy against the Dublin Convention. Many people from ' the east and south are' taking refuge in Dublin. ■■•_,■■ | A sinister feature is that the priests are powerless. The Church as a whole has not spoken, and the impression of divided counsels is- producing unfortunate consequences. The Mayo Sinn Feiners have demanded a public apology from a priest * for denouncing lawlessness from the pulpit. I Prospects of firmer action by the Government have revived interest in the convention, WIDESPREAD OUTRAGES. In the House-of Commons Mr Bonar Law said that the condition of part of Ireland was under the Cabinet's consideration. He was unable to make a statement regarding measures for strengthening the | Executive's hands. The United States authorities have issued a statement "showing that a former editor of the newspaper Gaelic American directed and attempted the shipment of German supplies to Sinn Feiners prior to Casement's arrest. Secret service agents seized a letter and advised the British, who were thereby able to capture a ship bound for Ireland. There have been exciting scenes in Cork County. Sinn Feiners robbed a party of American sailors. Sinn Feiners cheered for Germans, Turks, and Bulgars, and stoned the Americans, who charged and captured a number of youths and gave . them a sound thrashing. Finally the police assisted the sailors aboard the warship, at which the crowd flung stones until the police dispersed them. ! The Press Bureau reports that an outbreak of lawlessness in County Clare neceesitated on Sunday the sending'* of additional troops to assist the police. The county has been declared a special military area under the Defence, of the Realm | Act. | County Clare has been declared a special military area under the Defence of the Realm Act. The military forces have been strengthened. I Further cattle drives have occurred :in Roscommon, causing conflicts with the police, in which many were injured on ; both sides. ! The Times Dublin correspondent says that Mr Duke, Irish Secretary, has promised the Government's practical help for those persons whose lands have been seized : in the name of the Irish republic. ! The correspondent adds that for months past the peasants have been seizing and ploughing lands despite the presence of the police. He urges the gravity of the position and the necessity for prompt action, as the next few weeks, perhaps , days, will severely test the Irish Execui tive, and possibly will place the fate of the Irish Convention in Mr Duke's hands. I More outrages are reported. An armed band stuck up and stole £5500 from a bank manager motoring to Kilfeyra cattle fair to pav the dealers. ! The police cautioned 3000 men who were driving cattle at Castle Fergus. The drivers attacked the police barracks, shouting : "Close in and kill them." They refused to disperse, whereupon the police fired, wounding two men. The mob then dispersed, carrying off their wounded. At Roscommon pig fair a number of farmers, resenting the price fixed for pigs, mobbed a Dublin food control official, whom the. police rescued. Dealers now refuse to purchase pigs, fearing another Shin Fein seizure. ; The Daily News Limerick correspondent says that the War Council has taken a sirons line in relation to the unsettled conditions in Ireland, and there is no cause for alarm. Arrangements have been made capable of coping with any trouble. Mr Duke, Irish Secretary, states that the Sinn Feiners have commenced disorders, hoping to wreck the Dublin Convention, which is at a critical stage. Mr Duke has written to the Lord Mayor of Cork that physical disability due to hunger

striking is not a ground for discharge from prison. Ordinary criminals in all parts of Ireland are adopting the hunger strike. Freeman's Journal reports that Mr Duke is resigning, but the latter says he has uo statement to make on the ffubiect. A daring outrage in County Clare on Sunday is typical of the utter disorganisation in the county. Two constables were badlv shot while protecting a family who were Crown witnesses in a Barrymore murder case three years ago. A man named Marrinan was returning from a task with constables escorting him. when suddenly six masked men jumped over a wall, disarmed and knocked down the constables, and then fired revolvers, wounding the fallen men. The who wore masks, escaped, and no arrests have vet been made. Eight youths, charged at Sligo with fiarticipation in an unlawful assembly, reused to remove their hats {n court, but began smoking,- and sang Irish songs of freedom. The magistrate demanded an apology, but one of them said he did not pay any regard to any representative of the British Constitution. The magistrate then imposed a sentence of seven day 3 for contempt of court. The prisoners thereupon threw themselves on the floor, and while the police were attempting to remove them the crowd in court became threatening, and a detachment of military had to be summoned. The prisoners were carried out to a lorry and removed to gaol amidst a scene of great excitement. Lawlessness continues in West and South Ireland. There have been numerous raids for. arms, cattle driving, and seizure of land, and the militarv is now in control. In County Clare 'the civilians are not allowed out after nightfall. A party of moonlighters in Galway set fire to nine farmers' houses. Similar outrages have occurred elsewhere. The' Sinn Feiners are publicly burning American flags. Michael Brennan, styling himself the General Commanding the Forces of the Irish Republic in County Clare, has been arrested. He has been accustomed to travel %a& district in khaki uniform. The Daily Mail's Ennis correspondent states that the magic touch of authority has restored order in Clare, and that all lawlessness has disappeared. The grand jury at Clare Assizes passed a resolution of indignation that a state of lawlessness and intimidation to outrage was allowed to grow up in Clare. They blamed the present Irish Administration's notorious neglect of the most elementary obligations of the Government, and protested against the unfairness* of the Administration's attitude towards Irish Constabulary troops, who were often compelled to passively look on at the most illegal proceedings. The Manchester Guardian says: " The authorities in Ireland have failed to realise the importance of the insidious beginnings of semi- agrarian, crime and intimidation, which have now become a reckless and irresponsible but definite movement,* which would 1 be deserving of the name of anarchical if it did not" seek to justify itself by attempting to perform some of the neglected, duties of the existing anarchical system of government. Sporadic bands calling themselves ' Provisional Governors' are lawlessly attempting to carry out the rural reconstruction which the Irish Executive suspended at the outbreak of the war. Almost every f>arish has its ' Prothero ' or ' Rhondda,' nstructing the farmers, and graziers not to buy or sell. Sinn Feiners threaten to control all exports. Ireland must be given a Government which will govern, whatever its' constitution."