ULSTER IN ARMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2134, 28 April 1914, Page 5

ULSTER IN ARMS.

THE GUN-RUNNERS,

HOW THE POLICE WERE

TRICKED.

GRAVE SITUATION,

MINE READY TO EXPLODE.

By Toleirra.p.U—PreS3 Aesociatiofl-Cepsrignt j London, April 28. The mobilisation of tho Dlstermen, which kept the authorities engaged, was carried out with amazing precision. The police were powerless, and had to look on at tho gun-running for six hours. 'While gun-running was being varried out tho volunteers patrolled thirty miles of tho coast road oetween Belfast and ] Lame Harbour. Tho steamer Fanny (renamed! the ■ Mountioy) crept into the harbour, followed by two small steamers. Swift transhipment followed, mid. the consorts departed for Bangor and Bonaghadee. After landing a large portion of her cargo, tho Mountjoy re-sailsd. A coastguardsman, who sighted the suspicious vessel at Donsghaifee, rushed to notify tho officials, when ho dropped dead from excitement. As tho vessel entered., Bonaghadee and Bangor volunteers, armed with staves, surrounded the coastguards and imprisoned them in tho coastguard stations. . It is stated that Captain M'Calmont, of Donaghadee, and Captain J. Craig (Unionist M.P. for Daivn), of Bangor, were in charge. The identity of many of _ tho officers who interfered! with tho police lias beou established. Mr. Asquith was hurriedly summoned from tho country and conferred with ■Mr. Augustine Birrell (Chief Secretary for Ireland), Mr. Lewis Harcouri (Colonial Secretary), and Major-OoMrai Sir C. F. N. Macßeady (Director of Personal Services).

COMPLETE SURPRISE. VOLUNTEERS MASTERS OF THE . SITUATION. (Rec. April 27, 9.25 p.m.) London, April 27. The principal highways, were held up by armed and unarmed volunteers, who stopped tho traffic, and refused tea.llow anyone to pass except tho-so furnishing tho countersign. A force of ono thousand volunteers commandeered the Midland Railway Station, and remained the-ro till four o'clock on Saturday morning, in order to intercept soldiers and police. The Mountjoy's consignment consisted of thirty-five thousand Manser rifles and 3} million rounds of ammunition. Tho vessel was not the Fanny, but en© which transhipped tho Fanny's cargo at sea. Tlio gun-runner bore- the temporary name of Mount-joy, re-sailing tho historic vessel which broke tho'boom across the river Foylo and raised the famous sicgo of Deny in tho time of James 11. Tho transhipment was dangerous work. ■ It was done in tho dark, in a choppy sea. Six hundred rno-tor-cnrs wore- employed conveying the smuggled arms. A collier whose suspicious movements when approaching Belfast, B.nfl tho interest taken in her by a detachment of-Ulstermen, had' tho effect of concentrating the Customs officials' attention, who learned too late that tho vessel was morely a desoy. It transpires that the Fanny, while waiting her opportunity, lay fn a sheltered covo in Lundy Island, where tho appearance -of tho vessel was transformed. Sho afterwards sailed westward, and mot the Mountjoy near Tuskar. A consignment of rifles and ammunition from Germany, intended for Ulster, was landed at Hull on Wednesday, and stored in a warehouso. The police arc .watching the warehouse. No ' attempt has yet been made to remove, the eases, It is rumoured that the Government will proclaim military law immediately in Belfast, and possibly in other parts. Mr. Birroll has arrived in Dublin, and will attend tho meeting of the Irish Privy Council. (Rec. April 27, B.IS p.m.) London,. April 27. Three of tho Curragh regiments have been ordered to Ulster.

MINE READY TO EXPLODE. SITUATION EXTREMELY GRAVE. CReo. April 27, 11.5 p.m.) London, April 27. The "Morning Post" (Unionist), commenting on the events in Ulster, • remarks that tho situation is extremely gravo. "It is obvious," says tho "Post," "that tho Government- cannot ignore tho gun-running, and, on the- other handj it is not likely that tho Ulster volunteers will submit without resisting the arrest of their leaders or tho seizure of their arms." Tho "Daily Mail" (Unionist) says that tho Government's lawless attempts to uso force- affords justification for tho gun-running. Tho "Daily Chronicle'; (Liberal) declares that the gun-running exploit 'justifies the Government's precautious in guarding tho depots, and" says that it ought to dispatch, a larger fore© now that tho Ulster Council lias ordered the volunteers to commit, a series of crimes to show "Carsonisra,'-' in its full criminal colours. The-"Times" observes that tho Government first jeered at Ulster about her "wooden guns," and then planned a secret coup, which failed,, and which furnished a fresh incentive, to Ulster to arm herself. The gun-running ineide&t was the outcome. Tho "Daily News" remarks that- the "plea of tolerance to Ulster now falls to the ground," and demands tho punishment of everyono participating in tl;p gun-running.

COLONEL SEELY DENOUNCES A BISHOP. ANGRY SPEECH "AT NEWCASTLE. London, April 26. Colonel Seely, ex-Secretary of Stata for War, speaking at Newcastle., asked, in reference to the charges against tho Government of beiiig the authors of a , plot to provoke 'Ulster, "What of tho plot oil tho other sidor Who wcro tho thirty thousand mobilised against?" Ho demanded an answer from the Protestant Bishop of Down, who had blessed tho colours of tho volunteers, and who, if ho did not denounce, tha uso of weapons, would go down in history as the arch-hypocrite of Christendom. Colonel Secly laid tho whole of tlw blamo on Mr.' Boiiar Law, "the only man out of forty-five millions wiin would not believe Mr. Asquith's word," (Itec. April 23, 0.15 a.m.) London, April 27. During his speech at- Newcastle, Colonel Seely said that he supposed that boforo long there would bo an appeal to the country. Ho did not support tho cry of "Tho People against tho Army." The latter knew frothing about polities, and it would bo a fatso cry.