IRISH TERRORISM.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 191, 13 August 1931, Page 1

IRISH TERRORISM.

Orangemen Prevented front Holding Celebration. RAILWAY LINE TORN UP. United Press Assn.— By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. (Received August 13, noon.) BELFAST, August 12. Republican terrorism frustrated the plans of the Orangemen of Cavan and Monaghan to celebrate the relief of Derry. The situation was so ugly that Free State troops were called up by wireless. Catholic youths promptly tore up the tracks of the Great Northern Railway in order to prevent special trains with Orange demonstrators reaching the meeting place at Coote Hill. All roads converging on Coote Hill were blocked by huge trees and trenches were hurriedly cut during the night. All orange flags and emblems were burnt. Great alarm was created throughout a wide district. The Orangemen, not being desirous of causing bloodshed, abandoned their meetings. Large bodies of Catholic youths, arm ed with heavy sticks, marched on Coote Hill. Others travelled in commandeer ed lorries and motor-cars. Parties bleu up the railway bridge and took up posi tions to prevent the Orangemen from coming in their thousands at dawn. When the Civil Guards arrived th* Catholics bolted. A number have beer, arrested. The action of the Republicans i obviously a retort to the Police Bn now before the Dail Eireann. 44 Undoubtedly underground organic tions in the Irish Free State are becom ing bolder. They are drilling and committing outrages under the noses of the police, who are unable to cope with the increasing menace of lawlessness owing to the conspiracy of silence among the general population, who are afraid to perform their civil duty owing to terrorism and the intimidation of jurors, said the Minister of Justice, Mr James Fitzgerald-Kenny. 44 The Government is aware that a so-called Republican Army is drilling and is determined to hold the murder gang in check and prevent a repetition of the murders which have blackened the history of the Free State.”

The Free State Ministry is gravel) concerned at the recrudescence of shooting and is introducing a new Police Bill seeking power to abolish trials by jury, to create a tribunal having authority to inflict the death penalty and to permit the use of the Army in co-operation with the Civic Guards to suppress the widespread illegal drill ing of the Irish Republican Army.