IRISH TURMOIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 8 March 1921, Page 15

IRISH TURMOIL

SENSATION IN CORK. THE EXTREME PENALTY. LONDON, February 28. A sensation was created in Cork by the announcement that six men arrested in connection with the ambush will be executed to-day. Prayers were offered in all the churches in Cork for grace and a happy death. The six condemned men were shot at the Cork Barracks. They were shot in batches of two. As the bodies fell the chaplains rushed forward and administered extreme unction. March 1. As an outcome of the Cork executions, gunmen attacked soldiers in the streets of Cork, killing five amd wounding 11. A number, of civilians were also wounded. It is rumoured in Cork that several persons have recently disappeared and it is believed that they have been kidnapped, and that their fate was to depend on the fate of the six men executed. An official report states that the soldiers murdered at Cork last night were unarmed. The crowd outside the barracks at Cork during the executions recited prayers, and then dispersed quietly, but the city was excited. The tension which increased hourly, culminated at dark in a number of encounters between soldiers and civilians. Two soldiers were killed and six soldiers and several civilians were wounded. General Strickland has ordered all persons to be indoors at 6 o’clock in future, The Archbishop of Dublin has issued v statement characterising the Cork executions as barbarous. “The victims,” ne says, “ were shot two by two, four having to stand aside within hearing of the shots while the first pair were done to death. Similarly the next pair were kept in agonising suspense while two more were disposed of. With a refinement of cruelty a quarter of an hour was allowed to elapse in the intervals. C-ould any more scandalous form of reprisal be devised?” DUBLIN MURDERERS TO BE EXECUTED. LONDON, February 23. Dublin reports that a number of prisoners who were court-martialled in connection with murders in Dublin in November will be executed this week. THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY. LONDON, February 28. Air Lloyd George, in the House of Commons, stated that the Government did pet intend to alter its present policy of lhpintaining order in Ireland. Sir Hamar Greenwood would be allowed to carry his administration to a successful conclusion. ATTACKS ON SINN FEINERS. LONDON, February 28. Fifty civilians ambushed 15 police who were proceeding to the Mullinger Assizes. Shots were exchanged, and two civilians were wounded. The police discovered Sinn Feiners drilling in a field at Thurles. The police fired and several rebels were seen to fall. One was captured, but died later. Four other arrests 'were made. A large force of police and military occupied the National University buildings at Dublin. The lectures were suspended •while the students were assembled and searched. GENERAL CROZIER’S RESIGNATION. LONDON, March 2. Captain W. A. Redmond, in the House of Commons, moved the adjournment to draw attention to General Crozier’s resignation. He asserted that General Tudor, for political reasons, intended to reinstate the Cadets. Sir Hamar Greenwood replied that he admitted the looting at Trim. When General Tudor heard of it he sent General Crozier to Trim, and the latter reported that he had arrested certain persons, who will bo court martialled, and that he proposed to dismiss 26 others. General Tudor replied approving of the arrests, but he expressed disquietude at the dismissals- without a full investigation. Sir Hamar Greenwood added that he had endorsed General Tudor’s action. All the persons implicated would be court martialled, and General Crozier had been asked to give evidence. He believed that General Crozier’s resignation was not due to receiving General Tudor’s letter. Mr Asquith supported Captain Redmond’s demand for an impartial inquiry. The adjournment was negatived by 253 votes to 60. RAILWAY CLERK MURDERED. LONDON, March 1. Three armed masked men entered the railway parcels office at Cork at midnight, forcibly removed the clerk, and shot him dead in the tunnel near the station. THE VATICAN. LONDON, March 2. The Rome correspondent of the Daily News states that the Vatican will take advantage of Cardinal Bourke’s presence n Rome to express disapproval of his recent Irish utterances, on the ground that the Vatican has steadily resisted pressure, both from the British Government and the .Sinn Fein, to take sides. A DRAMATIC CAPTURE. LONDON, March 3. M'Kcon, who is alleged to be responsible for the murder of Inspector M’Grath on January 7, and who it is alleged was also responsible for- ambushes resulting in the death of 28 cadets, was captured at Mullingar under dramatic circumstances. Tho police and the military held up a train and arrested M'Keon in a carriage. While he was being taken, handcuffed, to

the barracks M’Keon escaped. The police pursued him, firing at M’Keon, who fell wounded. He was taken to the hospital. His oondition is precarious. SINN FEIN ENVOY. SYDNEY, March 4. Mr O. T. Esmond e is a passenger by the Makura. An official denial is given to the statement that Mr Esmonds refused a pay for an armed guard and other attendance during his detention. No armed guard was provided and no charge wai made. CURFEW IMPOSED IN DUBLIN. LONDON, March 4. In view of the recent attacks on th# Crown forces in Dublin, and in pursuano# of warnings, 9 o’clock curfew lias been imposed in Dublin. STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. LONDON, March 3. Replying to questions in the House of Commons, Mr Lloyd George stated that the Government was perfectly willing to gKe facilities to the elected Irish ropresfhtatives to discuss the problem of Irish government, but could not permit certain persons who had taken part directly in murder to participate in the negotiations. MY Devlin asked whether these observa» tions were made to the representatives of the Beers when asked to meet the British representatives, and whether some things were done by the Boers similar to those done in Ireland. Air Lloyd George emphatically resented the insult t o -South Africa, stating that there was no comparison between the men who fought openly in the field with those who paraded the streets in civilian dress and shot the guardians of the law.(Cheers.) EX-POLICEMAN SHOT DEAD. LONDON, March 3. Roche, an ex-policeman at Skibbereen, was shot dead in his own home. He was suspected of supplying milk to the police. The military in the south and west of Cork commandeered civilians, who are repairing bridges destroyed by rebels. MORE ATTACKS ON POLICE. LONDON, March 5. A lieutenant and a private were wounded during an attack on motor lorries at Gowel. Eight police were ambushed at Capoquin, and Constable Duddy was killed. Motor lorries containing police and some_ prisoners arrested in the country were attacked with bombs and rifles between Phcenix Park and Dublin Castle. It 19 believed that the police kißed three of the attackers. The lorries were again bombed in the Dublin streets before reaching the Castle. Two of the police were slightly wounded. Three armed men held up the chief clerk of Mountjoy Prison, who was returning from a bank, and carried off the bag containing £IOOO, being the gaol staff’s wages. The Belfast police raided a poteen still, capturing 300 gallons of spirits, which is the largest capture yet made. " Sinn Feiners on Friday blew up bridges on the Nenagh and Limerick roads. The military on Saturdav blew up important bridges leading to Tralee, isolating the district and preventing the people from obtaining their week-end supplies. The Crown forces have declared their intention to repeat similar reprisals until the Romiblicans discontinue the destruction of bridges. PRECAUTIONS IN ENGLAND. LONDON, March 5. The Manchester police have devised an elaborate scheme for thwarting Sinn Fein incendiaries. The town and agricultural districts are patrolled by police in motor cars and motor cycles, whose occupant* are armed and instructed to challenge pedestrians. The motorists detain any suspicious people. Hundreds of special constables are also enrolled, and bloodhounds are kept at some of the mills.