IRISH RIOTERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 232, 25 June 1920, Page 7

IRISH RIOTERS

MOB LAW PREVAILING IN DERRY GRAVE SITUATION IN DUBLIN OPTIMISTIC STATEMENT BY ATTORNEYGENERAL (By Telegraph-Press Associatlon-Copyrleht London, June 22. In the House of Commons, Colonel Ashley, in drawing attention to the failure of the Government to maintain order in Ireland, especially in Londonderry and Dublin, said that mob Jaw had prevailed in Derry for seven days. Ho declared that the situation was unbelievable. The Chief Secretary and tho Lord Lieutenant were prisoners m their own houses, as were the officials at Dublin Castle, and had to take exercise in their own grounds, and the Kepublicans had estab. fished their own. post offices. It was useless to talk of conciliation with the Sinn I'einers and cssns9ins., The only way to deal with the menace was to declare martial law.

In reply, Mr. Denis Henry (M.P. for Londonderry and Attorney-General for Ireland). repeated Mr. Bonar Law's earlier statement. Ho said a battailion of troops had gone to Londonderry, and there wero two. battalions in Belfast remdv to proceed to Derry. He admitted that the position in Dublin was very grave, but hoped fhat means would be found to adopt the' suggestion to get the assistance of all loyal men, irrespective or party, There had already been a successful 1 , attempt along such lines. The troops were instructed that if attacked they were to treat the attackera eat Ley would treat an encany on tihe field of battle. If lihey saw armed men approaching, the troops must order them to "Hands up!" and in the event of refusal must fire. The Constabulary had already been granted increased pay. Arrangements had been made for tlho compensation of the widows and children. He was assured by those responsible in Irefand that better times were in store, There was every prospect of a speedy improvement. Already there had Toeen a marked' reduction in oattle-driving,—lteuter. FIERCE FIGHTING"!" LONDONDERRY BETWEEN UNIONISTS AND NATIONALISTS. London, June 23. There was fierco fighting during the night over a wide area in Londonderry. St. Columba's C&tholio College was attacked with riHo fire, and there were numerous casualties. A Catholic nrmed M'Kenna waa shot dead in Bishop's Street, and lay in the bullet-swept street until a priest went out and administered the last rites.

At 9.80 (i.lll. to-day,' Unionists and Nationnllist volunteore erected barricades surmounted by sandbags, over which tliey fought fiercely while troops less than a hundred yards away prevented individuals venturing into the danger area. Looting was indulgod in extensively during the night, particularly at publiohouses. A renewed attack on St. Columba's was remised, while the Irish volunteers retaliated vigoroudy, attacking the Unionist districts, from which women and children have fled.—Aus.-N.Z. Cab!© .Assn. ' EXTENSION¥M FIGHTING ' MAN HUNTS FREQUENT. (Itec. June 2A, 8.5 p.m.)

London, June 28.' The Londonderry fighting has extended to now areas. A hundred oasualties aro reported. The firing is increasing, and snipers are busy from the housetops. Sbrioua fighting, is in progress .at Waterside. Unionists hold the Carlisle bridge, i'ood supplies in the city are running out. Milk and other commodities that reach Londonderry aire' bring commandeered by the fighters..' The Magistrates hav© requested destroyers to be sent. Many citizens aro '.caving tho town. Vigorous action is expeoted in Londonderry when reinforcements arrive. Despito official assurances that oiiiet reigns in Londonderry, correspondents report that many dead and wounded urn lying in the streets as a result of the fierce fighting which has been raging since midnight. , Hotels in tho r.cutrai area near the Guildhall are crowded with refugees. Elsewhere the: city . consists of a patchwork of Sinn Fein and Orange areas, iii which man hunts five of frequent occurence. The (hundred po!icemen on duty, realising their ( powerlessness, seldom appear in the streets.' Young soldiers remain- coolly in the streets, but their orders are only to fire in.extreme oircumstancee. Thoy watch the i nan hunts unmoved from doorways, while the rival parties are shooting. Reinforcements, including cavaf.ry, are bfilng sent by sea with a viow to avoiding the delays which would bo likely if the railways were used.

Lord French and Sir Nevil Macready have conferred with 'Mr. Lloyd George at Downing Street.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MACHINE-GUNS IN ACTION IN THE STREETS. CR-ec. June 24, 8.45 p.m.) London, June 24. Hundreds of Deny refugees are ai riving in Tyrone and Donegal. They were forced to leave their homes by bands of armed men. There is a movement in other northern towns to join if the Derry riots continue. MacliWguns are now in action in the streets of Derry, where another night of terror is certain. A destroyer convejing marines has reached Lougli Eoyie.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.. BIOTERS TO BE SURROUNDED AND DISARMED. (Rec. June 24, 10.10 p.m.) London, June 24. It is understood tihnt the Government has decided to surround and disarm the Londonderry rioters.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asm. DISCUSSIONS TOifTflE PREMIER VIEWS OF SINN FEIN PRESIDENT. (Rec. June 24, 8.5 p.m.) London, Juno 23. Mr. Arthur Griffith, acting-Sinn I'oin president, interviewed, said: "If Mr. Lloyd George's statement that ho :s willing to discuss the situation means private conversations, that is useless, but if accredited representatives of Britain are prepared to meet accredited representatives of the Irish Government the proposal will bo acceptable."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [The Government's willingness to rroet representatives of n'.l Irish sections, including the Sinn Fein, was expressed by Ministers in tho course of their reply to a deputation from the 'Irish delegates to the National Union of Railwayman.]