IRISH TURMOIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 24

IRISH TURMOIL

DUBLIN PEACE CONFERENCE. LONDON, July 4. Elite conference of Sinn Fein leaders and Southern Unionist representatives opened at Mansion House. Intercessory services for the success of the conference were held in several churches. The conference adjourned till Friday, after reaching an agreement on certain points. . The deliberations at the Dublin sion House Conference lasted three and aquarter hours. Lord Midleton and the Unionist delegates were heartily cheered by the crowd as they left. The released Sinn Fein leaders joined in the cheering. Mr De Valera and Mr Griffith drew up an official report, which announced an adjournment till Friday, adding that certain agreements had been come to. The nature of the agreements have not yet been divulged, but it is believed that they include a fresh appeal to Sir James Craig, which the Unionists have undertaken to convey. It is noteworthy that, no troops were allowed near the conference, the police alone directing the traffic. The “ Star Spangled Banner ” was much sung, and there was a great display of American flags. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, speaking from the steps of Mansion House, said that all hoped a great deal would come out of the conference, which was the most momentous ever held in Ireland. Mr De Valera also spoke. He said it was a great happiness to be among his own people. CAMPAIGN OF OUTRAGES. LONDON, July 4. During the week-end the Irish rebels murdered several policemen, including two who were previously held prisoners, and another young constable who recently returned from nis honeymoon. The rebels also attempted to destroy a troop train, but were interrupted by' the South Lancashires, who surprised the rebels while they were laying six mines on the Great Southern railway. Six rebels were wounded while fleeing. Mines and other explosives, electrical apparatus, and a motor car were captured. Many outrages are reported in Central Antrim. Telegraph wires were cut and Ballymena was Isolated. Post offices were raided and looted and bridges and roads were destroyed in Tyrone. incendiary fires occurred in Omagh. A cordon of special police surrounding London with a view to checking the activities of rebel incendiaries frustrated attempts to set fire to signal boxes and to cut wires. Lord Castlemaine’s residence (Moydrum C a.-nile. near Athlone) was burned by a party of 60 armed men, who informed Lady Castlemaine that it was a reprisal for recent burnings in the neighbourhood. The damage is estimated at £120,000. Armed masked men burned five farmhouses and their contents near Athlone during curfew hours. A blind woman, aged 90, had to be carried from the burning building. No arrests were made.