IRISH CRISIS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17469, 1 June 1922, Page 7

IRISH CRISIS.

HEAVY FIGHTING IN NORTH. ARTILLERY REINFORCEMENTS. (By Cable—Press Association—Copjrkhi.) (Australian and K.Z. Cablo Association.) LONDON. May 30. Heavy fighting at Strabane (County Donegal) and Lifford (County Tyrone) continues, with sniping from the 'housetops. Armoured ears and machine-guns are in action. It is reported that the casualties are heavy. Open warfare continues on the Ulster border between the Free State and Ulster troops. The former wo preparing for a general advance on Strabane and Dorry. Ulster specials held up traffic lxrtwecn Strabane and Lifford. The rifle fire in the Strabane streets was heard for miles. The populace w fleeing, and business houses ai* closed. Many houses in Lifford have been sacked. A battery of artillery from England p.issed through Belfast, en route to an Ulster tovvn. The I.R.A. is sending heavy reinforcements. Clady bridge was blown up by bombs. The kidnapping of Unionists in the country districts continues.

MANUFACTURE OF MUNITIONS. LONDON, May 30 Replying to questions in the House of Commons, Mr Winston Churchill said that if munition factories were being worked in Dublin it was with'n the rights of the Provisional Government, but he agreed that if munitions were being manufactured on a great scale it would be a matter for serious consideration. He had suspended the supplies or munitions from England as from iho date of the Collins-de Valtra agreement. (Cheers.) Mr Churchill stated that the Government had no hope that the officers kidnapped at Maoroon (County Cork) wero alive, and had so informed their reiatives. Ho would make a statement regarding the position in Ireland on Wednesday. The Provisional Government in Dublin has issued a proclamation summoning Parliament to meet in Dublin on July Ist.