RAID FOR ARMS.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19012, 1 August 1933, Page 5

RAID FOR ARMS.

MOVE BY DE VALERA. “BLUE SHIRTS”' HOMES VISITED. A " HITLER-LIKE SWOOP." United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, July 31. Dublin reports state that the President, Mr De Valera, made a Hitler-liko swoop at the week-end on General O’Duffy’s National 6uards.i The police throughout the country visited the homes of thousands of “ Blue Shirts ’’ and demanded the possession of firearms, which in many cases was refused. ‘ General O’Duffy himself Was not visited, but Mr E, Blythe, Minister of Finance in the Cosgrave Cabinet, and Mr Gerald O’Sullivan, formerly Adju-tant-General in the Free State- Anpy, both declined to surrender their revolvers. 4 Many " Blue Shirts ” were shown orders revoking permission to hold' firearms, but members of the Irish Republican Andy, who are pledged to establish the Republio by force, were not visited. • Mr Blythe described - the. .Government’s demand as a scandalous abuse of authority, the object apparently being to facilitate the assassination of its principal political opponents. The Government enoouraged crime by members of the Irish Republican Army, which was an illegal body, and guilty of many cowardly murders. “ I have no intention of becoming a defenceless target," he concluded. ■ Mr O’Sullivan said his revolver would be obtainable -only by force.