NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3510, 21 June 1921, Page 23

NEWS BY CABLE.

IRISH TURMOIL RIOTING IN BELFAST. LONDON, June 12. There was serious rioting in the York street district at Belfast. The police were outnumbered. Many rioters were wounded by revolvers, some seriously. Police reinforcements ended the trouble. June 13. The riots were resumed in Belfast on Sunday night. Opposing crowds of Loyalists and Sinn l’einers stoned each other in York street neighbourhood. They discharged revolvers and rifles from the windows and roofs of the houses. Several bombs were thrown. Soldiers in armoured cars restored order. Constable Sturdy was fatally shot, and also three civilians, and about 50 persons were treated in the hospitals. Sniping between Loyalists and Sinn Feiners occurred in the Kashmir road. One Loyalist was killed and three wounded. These disturbances may result in the cancellation of the King's visit to open Parliament. The week-end rioting in Belfast was the worst the city has experienced. June 14. Sniping continued at Belfast all night long. It was intensified in the morning when the snipers opened a fusillade on the trams, which were packed with workmen, compelling them to evacuate them. Thrilling revolver duels ensued between gunmen sitting on the skylights and the police on the ground. Sinn Fein snipers on the roofs of buildings in Belfast fired on trains conveying Loyalist workers to the dockyards. Une was wounded. Isolated disturbances are reported in Belfast. Last night Sinn Feiners from the housetops sniped the workers who were proceeding to the docks. Two men were shot. The trams were stopped for 20 minutes. June 15. Rioting was resumed in Belfast last night. The streets were sand bagged, and snipers fired from windows and housetops. Two dead men were picked up in the street. Many were wounded. Disgraceful scenes took place at Belfast during the funeral of Constable Sturdy, who was killed on Sunday. As the procession passed the Sinn Fein quarter, women and girls jeered at the coffin, and there were other unseemly demonstrations. As the constables were returning from the funeral the Sinn Fein crowd attacked the constables, who opened fire. Several Sinn Feiners were wounded, and a girl was killed. Sinn Fein incendiaries burnt down several buildings in connection with the water supply, including the valve well house in Silent Valley. The damage is estimated at £30,000. Though, the supply is dislocated, the Water Board is able to get water from other sources. June 16. Belfast throughout the nights of Tuesday and Wednesday resembled a battlefield. A large number of. Sinn Feiners entrenched themselves behind sandbag barricades in the streets, firing on the police. Others, taking up positions on the roofs, kept up a continuous fire on the police and the military. The Crown Forces had to storm tile Sinn Fein positions, the defenders evacuating them directly there was danger of rapture, though they returned and reoccupied the entrenchments when the Crown Forces had passed There were not enough police aud soldiers to deal with the Sinn Feiners. The killed included William Frazer,' a boy of 12. who went out to look for his sister. Frazer’s two brothers were drowned recently while trying to save a

•A°q While the S inn Feiners were converting Belfast into a temporary battlefield there were many outrages elsewhere. A farmer’s house was destroyed at Atlibov, and his wife and child were burnt to ‘death. A Royal Irish Constabulary pensioner was murdered at Listowel. Boyle, a Protestant farmer at Mulinalione, was killed and an aged civil servant was shot near Cashel. All were alleged spies.

SINN FEIN BARBARITY. LONDON, June 12.

A party of men masquerading as soldiers, who said that they were taking men to the barracks for identification, captured Kerr (a barber), M’Bride (a publican). and Halfpenny (a postman). They took them from their homes in North Belfast and shot them. The bodies were taken then in motor cars and flung into the fields at the roadside. Juno 13. A mystery surrounds the execution of three civilians. Armed parties in motor cars dragged the men from their beds and shot them near their homes, and then carried the bodies to lonely fields outside the city. The victims were Catholics and it is believed that their deaths were reprisals for recent attacks on the police. Head Constable M'Elvill was murdered while going to mass at Kilbcgan, Westmeath. A party of men took Dean Finlay, aged 80 yeais, who was living in retirement at Davvnboy, Cavan, from his home and murdered him. They then burnt .liis house to the ground. Irish rebels indulged in an orgy of death and destruction during the week end. David I’itzgibbon was murdered at Liscarroll, County Cork. Two ex-service men were murdered in Dublin. Wood pork Mansion, at Sea rr iff. County Clare, was destroyed by fire, the damage being estimated at £IOO.OOO. Two other residences and a workhouse were destroyed in the same locality.

Four coastguard stations wore also burned.

Three out of four State railways in Donegal were closed by Sinn Feiners, who also stopped motor transport by stealing and destroying the cars. The authorities have suspended the steamer services between Londonderry and Donegal ports, which have acted as a substitute for the railways, saying: “If the rebels don’t want the railways, they don’t want the steamers either.” The telegraph and telephone communications are nearly wiped out, and the rebel portions of the country are completely isolated. June 15. An attempt to wreck a troop train at Dublin by the removal of rails was frustrated, though a goods train was derailed. Sinn Fein claims that in the last six months in County Cork the mortality in the Crown Forces amounted to 1000. Dublin Castle says that it is less than 300 for the whole of Ireland. Four hundred armed men attacked and destroyed C'oreal House, Athlone. Skevanish House, Innisliannon, the residence of Colonel Peacock, who was recently murdered, and Coolmaine Castle, Kilbrittain, were both destroyed. A party of rebels attacked a train which was proceeding to Limerick. The soldiers returned the fire, killing two men. June 17. Sinn Feiners burnt down the Carnegie Library at Castle Island, Kerry. June 18. Armed rebels attacked and burned three coastguard stations on the Dublin coast. Armed men removed a widow and her two sons from their beds in Dundalk and shot them dead outside the house. SEVERAL ROBBERIES REPORTED. LONDON, June 18. Two hundred rebels ambushed 25 auxiliaries in four motor lorries at Newmarket (Cork). Three road mines were exploded, disabling three motor lorries. Two cadets were killed and four wounded during the fight. Reinforcements found the dead bodv of one attacked, and it is believed that ethers were killed. Armed men held up a postal paymaster riding in a car in Dublin, and stole' £IOOO. Others held up the Ranelagh branch of the Ulster Bank, and stole £2OO. Two men stole £2OO from the College of Sciences in Dublin. OUTRAGES AROUND LONDON. LONDON, June 18. Sinn Feiners last night attempted to set fire to a number of railway signal boxes around London. The most serious outrage was at Clapton (a suburb of Lon-, don), where the assailants fired revolvers, wounding a signalman, who managed to telephone for assistance. He reached the next box, where he was medically attended to. The perpetrators of an outrage at Southall poured oil on the instruments and woodwork after binding and partially gagging a signalman, who was just able to shout for help. The workmen from locomotive works nearby arrived just in time to prevent a fire. . A similar attack was made at Barnes, where the fire was extinguished oefore much damage was done. Gunmen hired a taxi at New Cross at midnight and told the driver to proceed to Lee. Approaching Lee the men jumped off the taxi, surrounded the driver, and at the revolver point bound him and threw him on the roadside. The taxi disappeared. Nine arrests have been made. Scotland Yard reports that the signal box outrages are the work of Sinn F’einers. The men arrested are all Irishmen, aged from 17 to 24. They were armed with revolvers, wire cutters, and paraffin. At Bromley (Kent) the police stopped a taxi, whereupon six armed men fired on the police, who returned the fire, wounding a man named Robinson, who was recently acquitted on a charge of incendiarism. Ho with three others has been charged with firing at the police with intent to murder. Further attempts were made to damage the London railways last night. The sleepers on the Brighton line, at Battersea. were set on fire, but were extinguished before serious damage was done. IRISH PAR LIAMENTS. LONDON. June 11. The Nationalists and the Sinn Feiners ignored to-day’s election for the Northern Ireland Senate, although the Unionists left seats for them. The Unionists had to nominate the whole of the Senate. All were returned unopposed, including three Unionist Labour men. [The Senate of Northern Ireland consists of 26 members. The Lord Mayor of Belfast and the Mayor of Londonderry are members, ex officio, and the twentyfour other Senators are elected by the members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland.] LONDON, June 15. It is officially denied that Mr Lloyd George and the overseas Premiers will attend the opening of the Northern Parliament at Belfast. Elaborate precautionary measures are being taken regarding the King’s vis't to Belfast to open the Ulster Parliament. A large number of English and Irish detectives are arriving in Belfast. Incoming strangers are being carefully watched. The police will occupy suspected houses along the Royal route. ROYAL VISIT TO BELFAST. LONDON, June 18. It is officially announced that the Queen will accompany the King to Belfast. The battleships Revenge and Ramillies, and the cruisers Cleopatra and Carysfort, with a destroyer flotilla will escort the Royal yacht.

STORMY DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.

LONDON, June 14. In the House of Commons Mr J. Devlin (Nationalist) moved the adjourn merit of til© House on the ground of the want of proper control of the Crown Forces in Belfast on Sunday. He accused them of cowardly crimes, including the murder of two youths named Duffy; also of three other men. who were dragged from their beds. The Government had not attempted to bring the assassins to justice. Mr Jack Jones (Labour member for West Ham) repeatedly interrupted the debate by shouting epithets at Sir Harnar Greenwood. The. Speaker rebuked Mr Jones, saying that unless he restrained himself he must leave the House. Sir Hamar Greenwood, in replying, said the conditions in Belfast were still unsatisfactory. The rioting and shooting continued. It was an unworthy presumption to say that these brutal murders were committed by the Crown Forces. Mr Jones shouted: “ Three cheers for the chief assassin.” The Speaker again warned Mr Jones, V ho, when he repeated the statement, was compelled to leave the House, crying Good night, assassins; you are a gang of assassins.” Mr Devlin also interrupted, and called on himself a rebuke bv the Speaker. Sir Hamar Greenwood continued ; There is a deliberate campaign by Sinn Fein gangs to destroy the success of the Northern Parliament. Within the last few hours a considerable oortion of Belfast waterworks has been destroyed. “The Government,” he said, “wanted to hand the administration in Ireland to Irishmen.” The Chief Secretary concluded by appealing to the members of the House to remain united against this rebellion. The Government would take every step to defeat the conspiracy bv Sinn Fein, which aimed at breaking up the Empire. Mr Devlin’s motion was defeated by 192 votes to 64. BANK CLERK ROBBED. LONDON, June 16. Armed men on Northern quay, Dublin, held up a clerk of the Royal Bank, and stole a bag containing £650, THREE SOLDIERS WOUNDED. LONDON, June 16. - Sinn Feiners attacked a troop train at Drumcondra Suburban Railway Station, Dublin, using bombs and revolvers. Three soldiers were wounded. A DISGRACEFUL RECORD. . LONDON, June 16. In the House of Commons, Sir Hamar Greenwood, replying to a question, said that the Irish rebels since July, 1920, had murdered 310 police, 124 military, and 134 civilians. During the same oeriod one member of the Royal Irish Constabulary and one cadet bad been found guilty of murder, and four members of the constabulary and one military man were now undergoing trial for murder. BOYCOTT OF ULSTER, LONDON, June 13.

The Sinn Fein has declared that no cheques on Ulster and Northern Belfast banks will be acceptable under any circumstances. The boycott campaign has already severely hit Belfast industries

which are relying on Irish trade, and many firms are in a precarious position. ALLEGED TREATY AN INVENTION. LONDON, June 12. The Russian delegation in London, on behalf of the Soviet Government, declares that the alleged treaty with Sinn Fein is a pure invention. DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED. LONDON, June 13. Two Sinn Feiners (Timothy Murphy and Edward Punch) were sentenced to death at Limerick for levying war and possessing arms. They were reprieved, and sentenced to imprisonment for life. FISCAL AUTONOMY. LONDON, June 17. The Earl of Donoughmore, speaking in the House of Lords on behalf of the Southern Unionists, surprised the House by asking for fiscal autonomy for the South, which is one of De Valera’s chief demands. The Daily Express says that it is understood that the Government is inclined to grant fiscal autonomy to Ireland if the North and South request it jointly. Many members of Cabinet have long favoured such a course, but the offer hitherto has not been made unconditionally. The Government is now ready to concede substantial amendments to" the Home Rule Act in order to secure its acceptance in the South. A NEW PROPOSAL. LONDON, June 18. It is rumoured that the Government is anxious to utilise the presence of the dominion Prime Ministers to settle the Irish question. One proposal is that General Smuts, Viscount Grey, Earl Derby, and Mr George Barnes, as Government delegates, should meet an equal number of members of the Northern and Southern Parliaments, with full powers to conclude a settlement, requiring only the formal endorsement of the British Government. CARGO OF ARMS SEIZED. NEW YORK, June 15. Six hundred modern machine guns, concealed in the United States Shipping Board steamer Eastside, destined for an Irish port, were seized by the police at Hoboken. The discovery resulted from the marine strike, which necessitated a change of the Eastside’s crew. Lmited States Federal officials received the tip, and ordered a seizure. The police learned of the removal of munitions, and physicaly fought the Customs officers for possession of the shipment, which is valued at 175,000 dollars. The police lodged the guns in court, where ownership warrants were sought by Frank Williams, of New York, contractor. The Department of Justice admits that it is .making investigation into a plot to smuggle arms into Ireland. The guns were taken aboard the Eastside nightly in launches. The machine-gun incident at New York is not regarded as an international affair. It is only a matter of domestic law.

Judge Lynch (Federal judge) has signed an order forfeiting to the American Gov ernment the machine-guns and munition seized on the steamer Eastside. Tin. officials are endeavouring to determine how the arms came on board the ship The steamship company and the Co’l Arms Company deny any knowledge o: the transaction.

June 17. The State Attorney (Mr Gross) announced at Newark that he will ask the Federal Grand Jury to indict all criminally concerned for the shipment of arms to Ireland, which violates the Espionage Act and the penal code relating to violations of neutrality and to conspiracy against friendly States. The authorities know where arms were brought from and to whom they were consigned. They are now seeking the members of the crew who signed on to take the place of strikers, and who are believed to be Sinn Feiners. Mr Gross declared : “We have no doubt that this is a Sinn Fein plot. This type of conspiracy must be stopped.” Mr Gross has received instructions from the Attorney-general (Mr Daugherty) ordering a complete investigation. AMERICAN LABOUR FEDERATION. NEtV YORK, June 15. The Convention of the American Federation of Labour at Denver discussed the Irish question. Mr J. H. Thomas, delegate from the British unions, stated that the British Labour movement always favoured Irish freedom, but did not want an independent nation. They found difficulty in solving the Irish question, but wished the convention luck if it could solve it. Ireland, 3GOO mile; away, was in a deplorable condition, religious differences being largely responsible.