IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 19229, 20 May 1921, Page 5

IRELAND

SINN FEIN VENGEANCE VENDETTA AGAINST R.I.C. AND AUXILIARIES (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Austialian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 18. Sinn Fein vengeance continues in Ireland according to discharging Black and Tans whom the authorities have paid off, advising them to return to England, where it is known that they are well marked by Sinn Fein gunmen. One states that he travelled homeward circuitously, taking three days on the journey. He was shadowed throughout by an agent disguised as a priest, which he alleges is a favourite device. Women are often employed in espionage, sometimes in the guise of nurses. Women in the west of Ireland warn Sinn Feiners of military movements by lighting fires and by the manner of wearing hatpins and buttoning their coats. Periodical raids on mails enable Sinn Fein to learn the English addresses of the Royal Irish Constabulary men’s relatives. The recent large development in the London organisation enables then to use this knowledge.

An armed band commandeered a crowded passenger train at Ballaghatierin, Roscommon, and drove it close to the police barracks. Using the engine as a fort they opened an intense fire. The' police replied, compelling the attackers to start the train and escape. The passengers had a terrifying experience, lying down in the carriages under a hail of bullets. One was wounded.

TWO CONSTABLES SHOT DEAD. REBEL COLUMN CAPTURED. POLICE INSPECTOR’S GALLANT STRUGGLE. THE LONDON OUTRAGES. LONDON, May 18. (Received May 19, 8.50 p.m.) A Devon Regiment patrol surprised a Sinn Fein column of thirteen near Kilmachomas, in County Waterford. The rebels surrendered without resistance. Constables Dunn and Doran were shot dead at Kinnittz, in King’s County. Two others were wounded. A man named Mac Neill, who was wounded during a Sinn Fein raid at Shepherd’s Bush, is dead. District-Inspector Walsh was shot at Dundannon, County Wexford. He was a fine athlete ,and when confronted by three rebels he closed with one armed ruffian. Although Inspector Walsh received a ant*, in the hip as he closed, he struggled to his feet again and grappled with his assailants, who fired three more shots and then ran - away. Inspector Walsh is in a desperate condition. An aeroplane at Skibbereen dropped hundreds of leaflets addressed to the Irish republican army. The leaflets contained challenges from the Crown forces to the rebels to come out in the open In uniform and fight, adding, “Ambushes are open murder.” Scotland Yard believes that young women disguised as men took part in the week-end outrages in London against relatives of men serving in the Crown forces in Ireland. Four women and twelve men are detained by the police. Steps have been taken to protect other London relatives who are in receipt of threatening letters. The elections for the Ulster Parliament are being contested energetically. The platform issues have resolved themselves into a decleration of Unionist opposition to the establishment of a republic, while their opponents assert they are out to kill partition. The Unionists are confident of winning 36 seats.