QUIET IN DUBLIN

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1933, Page 7

QUIET IN DUBLIN

ONLY MINOR INCIDENTS

ban on blue shirt parade

NO ATTEMPT AT DEFIANCE

COMPLETE PRECAUTIONS

SIX BLUE SHIRTS ATTACKED

By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright. Dublin, Aug. 13. At noon to-day all was quiet at Dublin, but a minor disorder developed later. An armoured car with turrets closed and soldiers with machine-guns were patrolling in the vicinity of the Cenotaph. The Blue Shirts’ parade was superseded by a parade of police and Civic Guards. As citizens were leaving the memorial Mass for the Irish leaders who were killed, in. the civil war. police flung cordons across all the Cenotaph approaches, questioning all seeking to pass. . The police formed long lines in the principal streets at ML o’clock, concentrating on O’Connell Street, Leinster Lawn and Stephens’ Green, where the Blue Shirts had planned to assemble. Shortly after noon uniformed Blue Shirts‘made their first appearance in the streets, when six emerged from headquarters, and were immediately attacked by large crowds. The Blue Shirts, who were unarmed, fought fiercely, and civic guards rushed to their assistance. Drawing their batons they fought i>ack the crowds and encircled the Blue Shirts, who were badly cut on the faces and bodies. They escorted them back to their headquarters. The opening of cinemas and public houses helped to vacate the streets, in the afternoon. No uniformed Blue Shirts were visible. General O’Duffy, the Blue Shirt leader, has left his home for an unknown destination.

SCENE AT THE CENOTAPH. Rain damped the hopes of sightseers. The police guard at the Cenotaph dispersed at 4 o’clock, when the memorial was closed. It had been surrounded by expectant journalists and photographers, but relatives of Griffiths, O’Higgins and Collins, the dead Irish leaders, despite the possession of permits, absented themselves. Small groups prayed at the graves at Glasnevin Cemetery, but for the first time since Collins’ death no bugles were sounded nor wreaths laid on the Cenotaph. . Two men leaving the National Guard (Blue Shirt) headquarters to-night were beaten before the police were able to intervene. They were taken to hospital with serious injuries. . . , , General O’Duffy, the Blue Shirt leader, said: “If the National Guard is banned 'every member must be arrested without discrimination and must be tried under martial 'law. Huge internment camps capable of holding tens of thousands must be erected. “All who deplore coercion will rally to our movement. The Government’s mobilisation of the army and recruitment of a new machine-gun squad in order to protect its Ministers reveals its , unpopularity. I challenge the Ministers to produce a scrap of secret or other information reflecting on the National Guards integrity.”

Apart from the incident at noon, and to-night in the vicinity of the National Guard headquarters, Dublin, facing an imposing display of force, spent the dajr in practically complete calm. The citizens were apparently astonished by the completeness of the Government’s precautions, which were evidently directed as much against Communists as against the Blue Shirts.

General O’Duffy expresses the opinion that Communists are chiefly responsible for the Government’s action, as they have been assembling at Dublin during the past few days with the Object of causing mischief. He described the banning of the parade as a mere incident, not affecting the progress of the National Guard along constitutional lines. Asked whether the present development was awkward for the Guard, General O’Duffy replied: “It is also awkward for the Government. If to-day’s Dublin parade would have been illegal, will the projected Blue Shirts’ gatherings throughout the Free State next Sunday be illegal?” DISORDERS IN THE EVENING CROWDS ATTACK BLUE SHIRTS. WILD SCENES TN STREETS. Rec. 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 14. Wild scenes were witnessed at Dublin later in the evening. Huge crowds gathered at the National Guard headquarters and whenever Blue Shirts emerged they were mobbed. The police were compelled to launch a baton charge every few minutes. One Blue Shirt was attacked by a crowd of 300, knocked to the ground and kicked before the police reached him. Another was attacked on a tram. A police car crew dispersed the assailants. The people are now afraid to travel on the trams, fearing violence. The city is like an armed camp, troops standing in readiness at four barracks, while whippet tanks range the streets.