WILD SCENES IN DUBLIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19568, 15 August 1933, Page 7

WILD SCENES IN DUBLIN

CITY LIKE AN ARMED CAMP POLICE PROTECTION FOR BLUE SHIRTS United Press Association —By Eiectrlo Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 14, 5,5 p.m.) LONDON, August 14. Wild scenes were witnessed in Dublin later in the evening. Huge crowds gathered at the National Guard headquarters and whenever the 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; while another was attacked on a tram before the police and car crew dispersed the assailants. People are now afraid to travel on the trams as they fear violence. The city is like an armed camp with troops standing in readiness at the four barracks, while whippet tanks range the streets. THE FIRST ROUND WON. ACTIVITIES OF NATIONAL GUARD United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 14, 7 p.m.) LONDON, August 14. “The Daily Mail” says that General O’Duffy’s wisdom prevented another “bloody Sunday.” Mr De Valera won the first round, but more mil be heard of the National Guard, whose aims appeal to those feeling the pinch of a suicidal economic war against Britain. They have won the support of the almost ruined farmers and the sympathy of Mr Cosgrave, the police and Church. Mr De Valera may well feel uneasy. NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRITAIN. POLITICAL POSITION FORECASTED. United Press Association—By Eiectrlo Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 14, 7.0 p.m.) LONDON, August 14. The special correspondent of the “Daily Mail” at Dublin reports that the executive of the National Guard met simultaneously for the cenotaph ceremony and to consider the possibility of Mr De Valera rushing the country into an early election with the formation of a republic as a straight issue. The increasing economic distress may cause Mr De Valera to attempt to consolidate the position by a snap vote. Meanwhile he is still seeking to restart negotiations with Britain through General Smuts and the Hon. N. C. Havenga, of South Africa, both of whom failed to bring the Governments together.

THE SUSPENDED PARADE POLICE TAKE CHARGE OF SITUATION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright DUBLIN, August 13. At noon all was quiet, an armoured car, with turrets closed, and soldiers with machine-guns patrolled in the vicinity of the Cenotaph. The Blue Shirts’ parade was superseded by a parade of the police and Civic Guards. As the citizens were leaving Mass, the police flung cordons across all the Cenotaph approaches, questioning all seeking to pass. The police formed long lines in the principal streets at 11 o’clock, concentrating on O’Connell Street, Leinster Lawn, and St. Stephen’s Green, where the Blue Shirts planned to assemble. Blue Shirts Attacked. Shortly arter noon uniformed Blue Shirts made their first appearance in the streets, when six emerged from the headquarters, and were immediately attacked by large crowds. The Blue Shirts, who were unarmed, fought fiercely. Civic Guards rushed to their assistance. Drawing their batons they fought back the crowds and encircled the Blue Shirts, who were badly cut on the face and body, and escorted them back to headquarters. The opening of the cinemas and public houses helped to vacate the streets. In the afternoon no Blue Shirts were visible. General O’Duffy left his home for an unknown destination. Rain damped the hopes of the 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 the relatives of Griffiths and Collins, despite the possession of permits, absented themselves. Small groups prayed at the Glasnevin graves, but for the first time since Collins’ death, no bugles were sounded, nor were wreaths laid on the Cenotaph. Two men leaving the National Guard headquarters to-night, were beaten before the police were able to intervene. They were taken to hospital suffering from serious injuries. THE GENERAL IN PARIS OPTIMISTIC AS TO FUTURE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright PARIS, August 13. "Wc shall be masters of Ireland in

three years,” declared General O’Duffy to a representative of the Paris “Soir.” “We don’t want politics or politicians, but a disciplined and a well governed country, when we hope to persuade Northern Ireland to join us. This evolution is inevitable.’ STATEMENT BY GENERAL O’DUFFY CRITICISM OF PRESENT GOVERNMENT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright DUBLIN, August 13. General O’Duffy, In a statement, 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 the recruitment of a new machine-gun squad, in order to protect its Ministers, reveal its unpopularity. I challenge Ministers to produce a scrap of secret or other information reflecting on *ie National Guard’s integrity.” Apart from incidents at noon and tonight, in the vicinity of the National Guard headquarters, Dublin, facing an imposing display of force, spent the day in practically complete calm. The citizens were apparently astonished by the completeness of the Government’s precautions, which were evidently directed as much against the Communists as against the Blue Shirts. General O’Duffy expresses the opinion that the former were chiefly responsible for the Government’s action, as they had been assembling in Dublin during the past few days, with the object of causing mischief. He described the banning of the parade as a mere incident, unaffecting 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 today’s Dublin parade would have been illegal, will the projected Blue Shirts’ gathering throughout the Free State next Sunday be illegal?”