TURMOIL IN IRELAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 18

TURMOIL IN IRELAND

GENERAL STRICKLAND’S ATTITUDE. LONDON, January 18. General Strickland, in a letter to the Lord Mayor of Cork, says: “ In accordance with the urgent wish of the people of Cork I used my influence to secure the reprieve of Joseph Murphy. Now I am told that martial law is bringing discom fort to the general population. Nevertheless, in the last fortnight there have been dastardly attempts to murder the Irish Constabulary in Cork city. It- is incon ceivable that the majority of the inhabitants do not view these murders with disgust, but I see no traces of steps to purge the city of assassins. I am ready to let martial law rest as lightly as possible upon the law-abiding people, if I see signs that they are assisting me, but I can do nothing if the present passive attitude continues." AMBUSH IN COUNTY GALWAY. LONDON, January 18. An ambush at Headford village, in County Galway, resulted in six out of eight auxiliaries being wounded. Their lorry was riddled with bullets and wrecked. The auxiliaries returned the fire of those in the ambush, capturing three who were wounded. It is believed that others were killed, as large blood trails were found. THE DUBLIN RAID. LONDON, January 18. Seven young men were arrested in Dub lin during the raid, which lasted 36 hours. They were released after inquiry. LORD MAYOR OF CORK. WASHINGTON, January 18. It is understood that following upon a Cabinet meeting at which the Secretary of State (Mr Colby) and the Secretary of Labour (Mr Davies) conferred with Mr Wilson, the President sustained the position taken up by Mr Davies that Mr o,’Caliaghan (Lord Mayor of Cork) must leave the United States. The State Department’s solicitor pointed out that Mr O’Callaghan could not be given a seaman’s standing, since he had no seaman s certificate for vise. THE CORK FIRES LONDON, January 20 The Irish Labour Party has issued a report on its investigations which the secretary made of the burnings at Cork on December 11. The report contains evidence alleged to have been given by a large number of witnesses, whose identity is not revealed. The incendiaries are alleged to have been in every case members of the Crown forces. The report consists of a booklet with 100 sworn statements to prove that the Crown foi’ces were responsible for the Cork fires. [By explosions and incendiary fires in Cork city on the night of December 11, the Carnegie Library and a number of theatres were destroyed. The fronts of three blocks, embracing many large business houses in Patrick street, were reduced to ruins. Two large drapery premises were blown into the street. The damage was estimated at £3,000,000.] RAID IN LONDON SUBURBS. LONDON, January 19. The police raided a number of houses in the London suburbs, which were believed to hold Sinn Feiners, and seized a number of documents. Dlt MAN NIX AGAIN. LONDON, January 19. The Edinburgh Town Council refused the use of the Usher Hall for a Roman Catholic welcome to Archbishop Mannix. January 22. The military arrested Father T. Mannix, of Ballvhea. lie is a relative of Archbishop Mannix. POLICY OF REPRISALS. LONDON, January 19. In reprisal for the Headford ambush, military lorries entered the village last night and burnt eight houses, including the priest’s house. A proclamation has been issued stating that henceforth a number of rebels will be carried on lorries conveying the Crown forces in the counties of Dublin and Meath, in consequence of the recent attacks. Following on the murder or two policemen on Saturday night the owners of six business premises in Washington street, Cork, had orders to vacate them. The military then blew up the premises. January 21. Following on the official reprisals at Cork, the military arrested 23 persons, including Mr Crawford, a Unionist, who is chairman of tile technical schools, and in whose brewery bombs were found. POLICE PATROLS AMBUSHED. LONDON, January 20. (Received Jan. 21, at 8.20 p.m.) Sinn Feiners ambushed a police patrol at Glenwood. They killed Inspector Clarke, a sergeant, and four constables, and wounded a sergeant and a constable. January 21. A sensational encounter between the police and some ambnshers took place at Tolka Bridge, Dublin. Information was received in the morning that an ambush was being prepared, and motor lorries with the auxiliary police and an armoured car rushed to the scene. ' The ambnshers, who had loopholed the

sjaA[OAa.t put? ‘([ca\. oqj puiqaq p©j©AOO -sip 9U9AV squiog -apuui ©aa A sqsauu xig •aaAooaa oq paqaadxa qou si pm? ‘papunoAi jC^snoaarm?p sbav jeqaj ©uq 'Sung ‘uiaqi pansand eoqod 'spjDij eqq oqirx peg pui? ‘pasutLins Q.iaw ‘agpuq oqi jo' pi?ax were lound in the possession of the prisoners. Several hundred troops were stationed 300 yards from the bridge, and two lorry loads of police recruits arrived at Tolka Bridge just after the ambushers had been, dispersed. Head-constable Larkin and Sergeant Moxham were ambushed while cycling at Ballincollig (County Cork). The sergeant was shot dead olf his bicycle, but the constable escaped. O’Sullivan, a constabulary officer, was shot dead in the street at Listowel, Kerry, while walking with his son, aged five years. Thomas Lawless, formerly an ex-Irisli Guardsman, was shot dead in bed atMarlborough. It is alleged that his murderer was in uniform. MILITARY ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTH. LONDON, January 21. There is great military activity in South Tipperary. Dozens of arrests have been made, and roads have been trenched in several districts in order to hamper the forces of the Crown, which are compelled to fill up trenches as they go along. The military are accompanied by hostages and female searchers. The police and auxiliaries raided the board room of the Macroom (Cork) District Council, and arrested all the councillors and the county surveyors and deputy-sur-veyors. All but five were subsequently released. SPEECH BY SIR ft.UIAR GREENWOOD. January 23. Sir Hamar Greenwood, addressing the Auxiliaries at Dublin, said their duty was to prevent crime with the view of freeing Ireland from terrorism, assassins, and a small, misguided minority. He urged the necessity of discipline worthy of a great cause. They were up against some dirty fighters. Moreover, some politicians in Ireland and England were insulting them. They had opposed the army in war time, and had championed the conscientious objectors and every shirker in the Empire. He was sure the Crown forces were breaking up the awful terror which had nearly ruined Ireland but which would soon be a happier Ireland, developing her great destiny as a partner in the Commonwealth of the Empire. DE VALERA’S MANIFESTO. LONDON, January 23. Mr De Valera, in a manifesto, emphasises Ireland’s undying desire for independence. He is confident of final success. “With calm deliberation,” he adds, “let us face the New Year. The Republic is ready to endure whatever is necessary to win the priceless boon of a permanent peace.”