MINE FOUND ON RAILWAY LINE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 246, 29 July 1937, Page 5

MINE FOUND ON RAILWAY LINE.

HOUSES ON BORDER BURNT DOWN. MACHINE-GUNS AGAINST POLICE, TIME-FUSE USED IN STORE. (Received This Day, 2 p.m.) LONDON, July 28. The police stated: ‘“There is not the slightest doubt that the explosion was caused by explosives. There was found in a hole what looks like a bag of rags, which also contained some explosives. These and the bag had been placed against a bonded store, and to the explosives was attached a considerable length of fuse, possibly a time-fuse, which is in the possession of the police.” The factory was situated adjacent to the route, but the explosion occurred an hour after the Royal procession had passed. It was a shattering explosion. It blew a hole four feet across the pavement, smashing windows 150 yards distant. Police were rushed to the scene in armoured cars. It was a roar as if a great shell had burst. Another land mine was found on the

line about 100 yards from the platform ► just before a detachment of special constabulary was due to leave Belfast station for Londonderry late to-night. The detonator was connected with an electrical' apparatus some distance away. In the meantime, over the desolate hills of the Free State - Ulster border, squads of armed police were hunting terrorists along the frontier. A score of Customs posts lay in ruins, mined or fired. Houses were burned down.

The police were earlier held up hy machine-guns. Attempts were mad? to blow up 13 railway and road bridges.