GUN-RUNNING.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14985, 4 June 1914, Page 9

GUN-RUNNING.

THE CARGO OF THE FANNY.

A SENSATIONAL COUP

(FROM OIK OWN' t'ORRKS"ONDr.Nr.) LONDON, April 20. On Friday night the north-east corner of Ulster was in full control of the Ulster Volunteer Force, who exercised _■ sort of mild martial law, drew cordons rouud the ports of Belfast, Lame, Bangor, and Donaghai.ee and — it is -said —round tho police and coastguard stations, and landed a great quantity of German arris and ammunition, which were at onco distributed far and wide throughout the province. Accounts vary, but tho consignment a_>-pew.-s to havo been from 25 to 30 thousand rifles and more than a. million cartridges. The coup was arranged with greatest skill and audacity, and was carried through with complete success. By Saturday morning tho ships which took part in the gun-running were far away, and all the Government could do was to instruct the police to take tho numbers of private motors ou the roads all over tho province.

Four weeks ago. I sent you an account of tho strange proceedings of a small foreign steamer off the coast of Denmark. This vessel, the Fanny, a Norwegian steamer of about 300 tons, left Copenhagen on March 31st, anil proceeded to the coast of Langeiand, ono of the Danish islands. There sho was met by a German steamer, from which, while lying at anchor, sho took on board a cargo. This naturally aroused tho suspicions of the authorities, and tho harbour warden of Dagelycko camo out and demanded tho Fanny's papers. Observing that 6ho had been shipping guns, the Warden took her papers away and reported tho matter to the Danish Government. This scared tho master, and he took advantage of a fog to hoist his anchor and mako for a Norwegian port, for tho purpose of posting letters afid ascertaining how much had been published. Matters wero reported to tho British Governmont through the Ambassador. It was asserted in explanation, that the arms might be for Mexico, or for Venezuela but only simple people would put Ulster quite out of their minds. From the Norwegian port, says tho correspondent of tho "Daily Telegraph," tlio Fanny steamed into the North Sea, where she met a succession of heavy gales, and day after day great green seas fell aboard her and kept her decks awash. The only important damage was the Kninshing of a side-light and, as the vessbl was proceeding to waters much frequented by shipping, it was necessary to havo tho light replaced. ARRIVAL AT YARMOUTH. "Eventually the Fanny dropped anchor in Yarmouth Roads. Sho was not tho Fanny which had been boarded by tho Danish Customs officer. Nor waa she tho Fanny which had made a Norwegian port of call. Twice she had changed her namo, first to tho Bcrthea, and then to the Dorothy. She was twice repainted, and on two occasions there wero alterations in tho distinguishing marks of lor funnel.

"A man went ashore at Yarmouth to ! buy a now sidelight, and to get tobacco for the crow and some fresh provisions. Afterwards someone left the ship, journeyed to London, and got into'touch with Ulster. While ho was in the Metropolis the Fanny, or tho Berthea, or tho Dorothy, or whatever was tho namo of the ship at tho time, proceeded on her way past tho mouth ol the Thanies and Dover into the English Channel. Sho was not in a hurry, for she hatnot to be at her rendezvous for a week, so «ho steered nearer the French coast than tho English. "After rounding Lam r End a course was sot for Lundy Is I-,'.!*'! f.iiri.shc arrived at the fixod'li.ne. in the Bristol Channel sho was neither tho Fanny, tho Berthea, nor the Dorothy. -Tgain, chc had been repainted, rechristoncu, and Tedecoratod with new distinguishing marks. All stories of the Fanny being off the Ulster coast aro puro inventions. Sho was never within many miles of it, and was never intended to be. MEETING THE MOUNTJOY. "Betore the Fanny airived off Lundy eortaiu people turn coaio vo en© conclusion tnat It would be unw.so for iier to attempt; to run tne cargo, ana it became necessary to find an. Jihigiish snip tor tne .lob. oo tm., -.ou.iejoy was charteied for the purpose, with a picked crew of stove-lores and sailors, aJi of thorn members of, the iJlster Volunteer .Force. Sue proceeued to a spoo in the vicinity of Lundy island, and it was then arranged tuat the (.iuptshould part company ami steam by different routea to a place ono hundred miles south of tho Tuskar.

"In tho twilight of a oe-autiful evening tho Fanny and tho -Uountjoy came together again and wero lashed portcido to starboard. "U ncn darl.ners fell tho work of trniishippiug ii.-- cargo bogan. Tho weather was perfect, not a breath of wind ruffling tho surface of tbe water, which was as smooth as a millpond. Not a lamp was lighted on either boat, and for rix hours the crews of both ships worked under tho greatest difficulties with tho finest spirit and energy. From tho two holds of tno Fanny packages of rifies were lifted by the windlass and. carried overside into the three holds of the Mountjoy, whero stevedores stowed them away.

"As dawn was breaking the r.hips parted company, aud the crews did not sco each other for a full day. Then they met at a prearranged spot in Cardigan Bay, and all throngh tho night the crews worked with-might and main to finish the job before dawn. They succeeded, and the Fanny left the Mountjoy to travel to southern chinos. WARSHIP'S SEARCHLIGHT. . '"The Mountjoy came leisurely across the Irish Cuanuel. Thero was no hurry. One night a war-hip. believed to be a cruiser, was within a tew miles of her, and kept her powerful searchlight playing upon her for a full hour. .no Mount.oy went sieadily on her way, paying j«> heed to the exercises of t_io ship of war, and doubtle.s the ollicers of the latter looked upon the Mountjoy as being just what she seemed, an innocent, dirty collier, doing her work as ono of tho drabs of the ocean. So she went on, tho Fanny's Ulster officer now aboard her, until, just as the sun was setting on Friday, a memOer of the Ulster Unionist Council boarded her, and_she was directed to run tor Lame. ihere were twenty men on tho Mountjoy—fourteen to handle the cargo and six to ran the Kh!p." IN BROAD rAVLIGHT. Doscnbing tho scene at Larue, a correspondent says:—'"**_ lound that tho wboie town was held by the Volunteers. They occupied the streets after the last train from Belfast had arrived, and then cordons wero placed across all roads, and a double line prevented access to the sea-frout. iwo constables attempted to pass the sentries, but they •were told they could not proceed, and they returned to the police barracks and remained inside until tho Volunteers were dismissed. On one side of the esplanade 200 were drawn up two-deep, and only tneir drivers and the Volunteers were to De* seen anywhere. Not a light was in the houses."

It was daylignt before tho Mountjoy arrived, and separate squads of Volunteers wero at once put on to dischargo the arms and fill the bunkers. Profiting by the illegality of tho work on which they were engaged,' the firemen struck for higher w.-iges. and made it possible that the vessel would not get away. Tho captain refused to accede to their demands. . Ho order-

Ed the firemen ..shore. But the officer of one of the companies doing quayside labourers' work asked for live* volunteers. This number, proceeded aboard, and, after the local .tiro body bed mimped drinking water into the' tanks,"the ship steamed away, the volunteers r.tloat and .-1511010 giving three hearty cheers tor tho King. The landing .it Donaghado. from tho Lnrno b-.tat was not finished till ten o'olock. There is as much, secrecy in the distribution of the weapons as there was in their landing. 1:'. one procession oF sixty-four oars the only man who knew the destination wa.< the leading driver. The other drivers did not ask. and did nor want to know, where they were going. They were perfectly content to follow an excellent lead.

In one ease forty laden cars awaited the" nopearance of the directing officer before they had the slightest indication whither they were bound. .-Sometimes a car would he s t >nt in one direction, and would be proceeding on its journov. when a road si_jn.il would cans, it to to be given fresh instructions. "WHAT SHIP?" ''Mountjoy'' was, of course, a name assumed for the occasion by a vessel specially engaged for this contraband sorvi.e. Her real name is not disclosed. When she crept into Lame Harbour tho vessel did not bear her registered name. Over it at the bow and ou tho stern wero stretched two pieces of tarpaulin, on which were painted, in white letters the name "Mountjoy." and Ulster-men will regard the shin as the .successor oi' tho Mountjoy which broke tho boom in the Foyle and raised the siego of Dorrs*. The .'• Mountjoy" of -to-day had the rifles aboard for a few days. She has now been made fair.ous, at least in Ulster: but when she reappears her glory will bo known to but v few, for she will again jilough tho seas under her old name.

NOT ENOUGH RIFLES. It is stated that the Government has withdrawn the largo body of secret servico agents who wero engaged in Ulster last year, hence its failure to know anything of a project which must have been a subject ot' discussion for some considerable time. When I was in Ulster I had good reason to beliovo that every man of tho Volunteer Force was in possession of a firearm of somo sort. A large number of these; howover, were only shot-guns, aud it is probably correct that tho coup of the Fanny has completed tho arming cf tho force with rifles throughout. Tho multiplicity of patterns and ammunition is a most serious drawback to the efficiency of tho force. Further importations aro absolutely essential if tho Volunteers aro to enter on a campaign.