ROUND-UP OF I.R.A.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 5, 6 January 1940, Page 7

ROUND-UP OF I.R.A.

SWIFT ACTION IN EIRE RAIDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ULSTER POSTS GUARDS ON FRONTIER I By Telok’raph-- Pre«s Association—Copyright) Received Jan. 5, 9.35 p.m. DUBLIN, Jan. 5. Even before Parliament granted powers for internment without a trial a big round-up of members of the I.R.A. began with 20 arrests in Cork. Thomas Mac Curtain was remanded at a special sitting of the Cork Court on a charge of the murder of Detective Roche. Mac Curtain’s father wa.s shot dead in his home in 1920. He was Lord Mayor of Cork. Police and soldiers carried* out raids throughout the country, seeking prominent Republicans, who need not be released before the new measure becomes operative. Simultaneously the Government imposed serious restrictions on the importation and export of documents, and pictures. Mr. de Valera told the Senate: “We can handle the situation by force, if ! necessary. The people’s will must be carried out." He said the Constitution would be altered if the Act were unconstitutional. The Dail passed the second AntiTerrorist Bill and the Senate passed both. Ulster posted 5000 special constables, each with a rifle and revolver, along the frontier after Wednesday's Dail, statement the the Republicans planned to invade Ulster. Much of the ammunition which was stolen in the Phoenix Park raid is believed to have been smulgled to Ulster. LACKS COURAGE CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT Received Jan. 5, 10.5 p.m. DUBLIN, Jan. 4. There was further bitter criticism of the Government when both Houses met to deal with measures for. the suppression of terrorism. Mr. Dillon, in the Dail, said the Opposition would give the Government ail the powers it wanted to deal with the situation, but it could not give the Government the resolution and courage necessary to defend the liberties of the Irish people. The country faced the alternatives of rule of law and order or anarchy. The Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, Mr. Frank Aiken, admitted that the Government had been too tender-hearted. Mr. Boland, hi the Senate, said that whatever damage the army fort raid had done to the prestige of the Government it would open the people’s eyes to the danger confronting the General Richard Mulcahy urged Anglo-Eire co-operation to ensure that citizens of Eire would not be allowed to damage property and endanger lives in Britain.