ENGLAND V. IRELAND

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 2789, 28 May 1921, Page 5

ENGLAND V. IRELAND

BRITISH TROOPS MOVfcINC DIRECT ACTION. 1 DUBLIN WILL HAVE TO‘ PAY. ONK MILLION POUNDS. Electric Telegraph—Press Association Copyright. (Australian-N.Z. Cable Association.) Eondon, May 26. It is now expected that the Unionists will secure 38 seats in Ulster. There have been great rejoicings in Belfast. A Sinn Fein crowd burned a furniture van and maltreated the driver. An armoured car restored order. The Socialists made such a poor show that ail forfeited their £l5O deposit. London, May 26. The latest Ulster returns show thatj Sir James Craig had a big lead in County Down, but De Valera’s return is assured. Michael Collins is among those elected in Armagh. London, May 26. As counter reprisals i*>r the military reprisals a number of the houses of prominent Unionists in Cork have been burned. The destruction of bridges and roads continues in the district. The main roads towards Yougliall are blocked by felled trees and telegraph poles. Th© first wanting of the Dublin Customhouse fire was given by a clerk telephoning t.j the military. Tie saw the rebels enter, and dropping his voice to a whisper sauD “Como at once or you will be too late.” The line was then cut-, and within throe minutes the first Crown forces arrived. The fire raged throughout the night, and little is left except a blackened wall and smouldering ruins. All the documents and contents of the building were destroyed. The damage is estimated at £7,000.000.

Auxiliaries wTfo gallantly entered, the burning Cu stomhouse found i he bodies of three rebels partially burned, each with a. revolver wound in the forehead. They undoubtedly died by their own hands. The caretaker of the Customhouse has died of wounds.

The Dublin newspapers strongly condemn the burning of the Customhouse. They consider it a blow to the prospects of peace. Londo, May 26. In the House of Commons Sir Haruar Greenwood replying ,to a question, said that since 26th .March 16,388 rounds of American ammunition, had been captured in the Dublin district. 1 London, May 26. Tn the House of Commons the Premier, answering a. question, said that he had had no response to the offer lie had repeatedly made to the Sinn Feiners. He added: “We certainly do not propose to drift. If a further step is demanded it is additional Crown forces to cope with the situation.” THE CROWN FORCES. FOUR MONTHS’ CASUALTIES. London, May 25. Sir Ha mar Greenwood in* the House of Commons, replying to a. question, said the casualties among the Crown forces in Ireland from Ist January to tlie end. of April were 109 police killed and 224 wounded, and 48 military killed and 113 wounded. (Received this day, at 8.55 n.m.) London, May 27. For the eight seats in County Down Sir James Craig (29,829) DeValera . (16,269), Andrews, unionist, (12,584), were elected on tlie first' counts. A DETERMINED MOVE. FIFTY THOUSAND EXTRA TROOPS. (Received this day, at 11.5 a.m.) London, May 27. Al.| jiie men spareable in the Erglush garrisons are being drafted I<j various points in tlie disturbed Irish areas. The reinforcements will probably number fifty thousand, making a total of 106,000 'troops in Ireland. Tlie Government has decided on taking more drastic action against- the gunmen, a systematic rounding up of murder gangs bring undertaken.

It is estimated that the cost ol rebuilding the Custom House will be a nfillion. sterling, Dublin, paving Vhe inquired gum.