THE IRISH SITUATION

Waikato Times, Volume 95, Issue 14949, 20 May 1922, Page 5

THE IRISH SITUATION

TERRORISM IN BELFAST

MURDERS ON TRAM CARS.

ROBBERY OF BRITISH SUBJECTS

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received May 19, 6.5 p.m. LONDON, May 18.

Protestants and Roman Catholics alike were victims of rival murder gangs that continued their operations in Belfast to-day. Two men boarded a tramcar and shot dead a youth who was‘sitting on the top deck. The murderers escaped though 60 passengers were in the car.

Armed men hoarded another tramcar and, shot dead two flax dressers who were going to their employment. The assassins took seats behind their victims. Shots then rang out, and the men ran down the steps of the car carrying smoking revolvers. The passengers, who thought that the firing came from outside, were crouching on the floor. The conductor ran up to the top deck and found the two flax dressers huddled on the floor. A man was shot in the abdomen when walking down a street, and died a few hours later.

In the House of Commons, Sir John Butcher (Unionist) sought leave to move the adjournment in order to call attention to the open and avowed, robbery of British subjects in Sou them Ireland and ihe failure of the Imperial Government to make representations to the Provisional Government. The Speaker refused to accept the motion, on the ground that it was a matter for the Provisional Government.