IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 19258, 23 June 1921, Page 5

IRELAND

ROYAL VISIT TO ULSTER DEPARTURE OF THE KING AND QUEEN LONDON, June 21. There were remarkable scenes of .enthusiasm at Euston when the King and Queen left for Holyhead, the crowd cheering and shouting “Good luck and a safe return,” and singing the National Anthem. According to the Central News a remarkable report said to be on good authority is circulating in the lobby to-night that Sinn Fein intends to signalise the King’s visit to Belfast by offering peace to his Majesty. Lord Dufferin has been elected Speaker of the North Irish Senate. Three military officers belonging to the Felthard garrison were kidnapped while walking in plain clothes towards the tennis courts. Their bodies were afterwards round at Woodroffe, near Clonmel. The officers had been blindfolded and shot. The father, mother and brothers of the recently murdered Inspector MacGrath have ..appealed to Lord Fitzalan and Sir Nevillv Macßeady to exercise clemency towards McKeown, the Sinn Fein member of the House of Commons, who was convicted of murder. The appeal urges that I mercy can be shown instead of vengeance and that the sacrifice of a second life would not aief the bereaved in finding consolation. THE ROYAL JOURNEY. EXTRAORDINARY PRECAUTIONS ADOPTED. LONDON, June 21. (Received June 22, J|3s p.m.) The King and Queen <*®B'd the Channel to Ireland escorted by a flotilla of battleships and destroyers. Most elaborate precautions were taken to guard against the possibility of a Sinn Fein outrage. Troops and police continue to be drafted into Belfast. The route of the procession will be cut off from the rest of the city. Their Majesties will proceed surrounded by a dense bodyguard of picked Life Guards, Ulster Rifles, and police. A house to house search will be conducted, as well as a search of all roofs overlooking the route. Special precautions were taken to safeguard Their Majesties on the railway, men being posted along the permanent way in sight of one another on the whole route from Euston Station to Holyhead. THE KING’S SPEECH. DESTRUCTION OF A VILLAGE. LORD BANDON KIDNAPPED. LONDON, June 21. (Received June 22, 10.45 p.m.) Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, announced that the Kings Speech at Belfast would be made on the advice of the British Cabinet, not of the Government of Northern Ireland. Mr Hughes sent a message on behalf of Australia congratulating Ulster on the opening of the Irish Parliament. The village of Knockeroghery, near Roscommon, was almost completely destroyed early this morning. A large party of armed and disguised men without warning the ininhabitants set fire to the houses, only three out of fifty buildings being saved. The people rushed from the burning houses in terror, amidst constant fusillades of revolver shots, and escaped throdgh a field. Lord Bandon’s residence at Castle Barnard was burned by armed men. His lordship was kidnapped, and his whereabouts is unknown. Lady Bandon and the servants were removed from the house and locked in an outbuilding. REINFORCEMENTS FOR IRELAND. SOUTHERN SENATE’S POWERS. LONDON, June 21. (Received June 23, 12.10 a.m.) In the House of Commons, Sir L. Worthington Evans stated that the Government was sending all the available troops to support the forces operating in Ireland. Unity of the Irish command would mean an extension of martial law, which was being considered. Twenty members of the South Irish Senate, including Lord Dunraven and Lord Middleton, have memorialised Mr Lloyd George pointing out that their powers under the present Act are insufficient successfully to carry on the government. They urge recasting, and say that they are ready to function wWi a constitutionally elected Lower How, but are not prepared to act with a nominated body. Lord Donoughmore’s motion in the House of Lords demanding a disclosure regarding proposed amendments to the Home Rule Act was further debated. Lord Desart and Lord Dunraven supported, and Lord Birkenhead discounted the suggestion that an amendment of the financial provisions would be efficacious. There was no chance of that. The British people would deal with the Irish situation, accepting the necessary sacrifices. Ireland might use fiscal autonomy to discriminate against British industry, and might repudiate her share of the National Debt. The motion was defeated.