IRISH FREE STATE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 424, 2 December 1933, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE

RAIDS Af WEST CORK

DE VALERA'S SWOOP ON OPPONENTS

' Whole Country Astounded » Press Aflsociation.—^'QDyrlght ] -Dublin, Dec. 1. Raids were extensive at West Cork, including General O'Duffy's headquarters and the homes of Blue Shirts commanders. Although not accompanied by arests, Mr. De Valera's hew swoop on his opponents astounded the Free State. The' raiders in each 'Asaconsisted of a superintendent, inspectoj and ten detectives armed with war-atiis 'authorising a search lor arms, ammunition and seditious documents.

A sergeant told Mr. Cronin that he discovered four boxes df ammunition at the party's offices. Mr. Cronin denied that . ammunition was there an hour earlier - Mr. Cronin later said: "A police official asked me if 1 accused them of planting the ammunition, .and I replied, 'I not only accused tfyem of planting it but was also prepared to swear that either they or their agents planned it.'" In the Dail fir. O'Higgins .denounced Mr. De Valera's conduct of the economic war and condemned the raids wherein the opponents' homes were entered and their .wives treated as no. women should be,treated by Free State Officers. If the Government could not provoke United Ireland Party members. by what they -'.did them they would i provoke them by t whatthey did to their wives. Dr. Q'Higgins added that he possesed proof, of 100 brutal asaults on members of the "United i Ireland and Young Ireland organisations.' Young and* old men had been taken from their beds and beaten. j ,>.••.< Mr. Ruttledgej replying, read documents, some of which he said'had been seized in the raids, which he alleged proved conclusively that the Young Ire*land Party's aims were revolutionary. v He added that arnis' ! and ammunition had been discovered. The raids were carried out in daylight. 'Professor O'Sullivan amid uproar protested against irrelevant 4 statements and declared the Government was' goading young men into committing illegalities. He appealed to-young men not to play Mr. De Valera's game.- 'He was' still speaking when the 1 Dail rose until January 3L ; r' v '--