THE IRISH PROBLEM

Southland Times, Issue 18619, 18 August 1919, Page 5

THE IRISH PROBLEM

m I LAWLESSNESS IN COUNTY CLARE. ATTACKS ON POLICE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, August 14. Received August 17, 5.5 p.m. An official memorandum reviews the recrudescence of crime in County Clare since January and describes the determined attack on July 20 on a police hut. The windows of the hut were riddled with bullets and four constables within returned the fire and beat off the assailants. A similar attack was made on a hut at .Connolly, the conflict lasting an hour. Armed men attacked Broadford barracks on August. 3 and fired 200 shots, greatly damaging the building. One constable was wounded. Six or seven disguised men on August 5 entered the barracks at Newmarket on Fergus. They bound the police with ropes, seized carbines, revolvers and ammunition and departed in three motor care. A sergeant and constable returning to Illanbaun on August 4 were held up by armed men, who killed the constable outright. The sergeant f died of wounds.

Two hundred police and military raided a mansion in Glandore, County Cork, and arrested four Sinn Feiners. They seized a quantity of ammunition and Sinn Fein Volunteers’ equipment. They hauled down the Sinn Fein flag and hoisted the Union Jack. Thirty armed men on August 8 attacked a hut at Maynoe.

The attacks are in furtherance of the avowed Sinn Fein policy to overthrow the Constitutional Government in Ireland. The Government has decided to suppress the Sinn Fein and kindred bodies in the country as unlawful associations.

SINN FEIN TERRORISM DENOUNCED.

(The Times.) LONDON, August 14. The Government suppression of Sinn Fein follows upon the Roman Catholic bishops’ and also the Dublin Corporation’s denunciation of the campaign of terrorism and murder. The Government enumerates outrages beginning in 1917 and lapsing for a considerable period owing to the wider and sterner military rule in 1918, but virulently reviving in 1919. Armed bands have since attacked the police on nine occasions, and many other crimes have been committed. RIOTS IN LONDONDERRY. LONDON, August 14. There are riots and looting in Londonderry. Troops charged the mobs. Soldiers were stoned during a Sinn Fein demonstration. GRAVE DISORDERS FEARED. LONDON, August 15. Received August 17, 5.5 p.m. The authorities are anticipating grave disorders in Londonderry. The military issued proclamations against the Nationalist and Sinn Fein Lady Day demonstration, which was to include a procession round the walls of the town. Troops for the first time since the siege of Derry occupied these walls. Orange men and other Unionists had expressed a determination to prevent anyone using the walla for an antiBritish parade.