IRELAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18072, 10 January 1921, Page 5

IRELAND.

EVENTS MOVING RAPIDLY. HOPES OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT. Received Jan. 9, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 8. Patrick Killen, of Athlone, was arrested on suspicion of murdering James Blagriffe. an ex-soldier, whose jhody was found riddled with bullets land labelled "spy” after capture by ■armed masked men. ROUNDING THEM VP. Received Jan. 9. 5.5 p.m. LONDON. Jan. 8. The latest tactics of the military Include an endeavour to round up the Republic army by surrounding Catholic churches during service and netting the whole congregation. Lorries filled with soldiers drive up and post sentries at the doors., The women are then permitted to .eave, while the men are searched and questioned whether they are members of the Republican Army. If so Uiey are arrested. SITUATION IMPROVING. Received Jan. 9, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 8. The Daily Chronicle asserts the political situation in Ireland is improving. The Home Rule Act controls the situation. The Dail Eireann sees the only method of amending the Act in a financial direction is to accept the Act and hold a conference between the Dail Eireann and Cabinet which is being arranged, and will take place in London shortly. The Daily Express states events in Ireland are moving rapidly. De \ alera was present at the meeting of the Dail Eireann. but found his leadership challenged on the ground he was too moderate. There is evidence the Sinn Fein is seriously divided. The Government is making ao attempt to arrest De lalera; on the contrary they are willing to meet the Sinn Feiu leaders if they do not ask for a Republic, which would im■peril the strategic unity of the ‘United Kingdom. Archbishop Clune, who has been endeavouring to bridge tne gulf, has gone to Paris on the way to Rome.

DECLARED INSANE. Received Jan. 9. 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 8. Police Sergeant Hart was courtkiartialled at Cork for the murder of Canon Magner. He was found guilty, but declared to be insane. SINN FEIN EXPOSED. RELATIONS WITH GERMANY. THE EX-KAISER’S SYMPATHY. Received Jan. 9, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 8. The Government lias published a White Paper of sixty pages consisting of captured documents and inItercepted messages showing the close relations between the Sinn Fein and Germany during the war. The documents include much secret correspondence between Count Bernal orff at Washington and the German Foreign Ofiice regarding the ■progress of the revolutionary movement in Ireland based on information from Irish-Americans. Sir Roger Casement’s activities also are closely detailed. Germany agreed to land arms in Ireland, and partially succeeded, The Sinn Fein declined a renewed offer to land arms after the suppression of the rebellion in 1916, as another rebellion was hopeless without the assistance of troops which Germany was unable to spare. The documents include a memorarmy organisation by De Valera, outlining the methods of raising and training an Irish army 3f 917,000 men. In reply to a message on St. Patrick’s Day, 1918, !rom the German-Irish Society, the Kaiser said he was following with keen interest and lively sympathy brave Ireland’s fight for freedom. He was proudly conscious that Germany’s sword had already led a protession of nationalities for freedom. MILITARY AMBUSHED. ® Received Jan. 9. 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 8. A military party was ambushed While proceeding to the relief of Trajnore police barracks on which the Republicans delivered a night attack. One soldier was wounded, but the ambushers were dispersed, leaving three dead. IRISH VOLUNTEERS. FORCE RAISED IN AMERICA. Received Jan. 9, 5.5 p.m. NEW YORK, Jan. 8. The New York Trii une’s Philalelphia correspondent states five sompanies of Irish volunteers with uniforms of similar garb to the Republicans in Ireland, have been organised, declaring their willingness to fight for Irish freedom. It is stated the volunteers a e leaving for Ireland singly, or in st tall groups, through roundabout channels. DE VALERA’S PASSAGE. YACHT AND SEAPLANE. Received Jan. 9, 5.5 p.m. NEW YORK, Jan. 8. According to Sinn Fein represenatives here De Valera was conveyed to Ireland on board a private yacht from which a seaplane took him off twenty miles from the Irish eoast, landing him on Mutton Island «t County Clare on the 29th December. It is stated De Valera narrowly escaped capture when a British

patrol boat halted the yacht, but her captain was able to convince the Questioners the yacht was making a pleasure trip. SHOT DEAD. , POLICE INSPECTOR’S FATE. Received Jan. 9, 11.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 8. Inspector McGrath was shot dead while knocking at the door of a cottage in Lister County, for a wanted man. TEMPORARY TRUCE. ARCHBISHOP CLUNE’S EFFORTS. Received Jan. 9, 11.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 8. The Australian Press representative at Dublin interviewed a veteran Irish Nationalist, formerly a member of the House of Commons for many years, who claims to have exact information concerning Archbishop Clune’s conversations with Mr. Lloyd George, and asserts Mr. Lloyd George cordially approved of Archbishop Clune’s proposal for a temporary truce on both sides at Christmastide with a prospect of indefinitely prolonging it. The Tory wing of Cabinet, especially Mr. Bonar Law and Mr. Churchill, opposed the truce unless the Sinn Feiners delivered up all arms. The Sinn Feiners refused this condition as it was tantamount to unconditional surrender. LONDON, Jan. 8. The veteran who was interviewed regarding Ireland was Mr. Healy, who commented bitterly on the Government policy. He said if Mr. Lloyd George had any goodwill for Ireland, he woudd not allow his Tory associates in Cabinet to manifest their hatred towards Ireland. COURT-MARTIALLED. Received Jan. 9, 11.40 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 8. Father Dominic, of the Franciscan Capuchin order, who was chaplain to McSwiney during the hunger-strike,, has been court-martialled at Kilmainham. He is charged with writing a letter in wlch he made statements likely to cause disaffection. The Court reserved its verdict.

LIVERPOOL OUTRAGES. YOUNG MEN DETAINED. Received Jan. 9. 11.40 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 9. Seven young men detained in connection with the Liverpool outrages have been sent to Belfast for internment. - FOMENTING REBELLION. Received Jan. 10, 12.10 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 9. Early in February, 1917, Britain received information of a German plan to land sixty thousand rifles, ten machine-guns and six million cartridges. The Government took adequate steps and the consignment did not reach Ireland. Germany in August, 1917, again refused to send troops. The authorities ascertained early in 1918 the Germans were landing arms and ammunition from time to time on the west coast of Ireland, and leading Sinn Feiners believed another revolution would bring Ireland’s case before the Peace Conference and that independence would follow, the intention being to direct troops from the Western front. It was definitely ascertained in April, 1918, the plan to land arms in Ireland was ripe for execution. The Germans were only awaiting information from Ireland regarding the time, place and date. The. British Government was able to warn the Irish command that the German agent, Dowling, would probably be landing from a submarine, and he was arrested. The plans for the new rising depended largely on the disembarkation of munitions from submarines to follow an anticipated succes of a great German offensive in France. The Government learned that seven closed railway cars arrived at Cuxhaven on the 26th April, and the contents, rifles and machine guns, were transferred to two large submarines, but the consignments did not arive in Ireland. After the arrest of De Valera and the other leaders in May, German intrigues with the (jisaffected Irish continued. German propaganda leaflets and pamphlets were disseminated in Ireland and many were found in possession of Sinn Feiners.