IRISH TURMOIL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 303, 16 September 1920, Page 5

IRISH TURMOIL

ENROLMENT AND ARMING OF

CITIZENS

FOR USE IN QUIETER AREAS

PREPARATIONS IN CASE OF HUNGERSTRIKERS' DEATHS ■ By Teleßrapli-Preaa Association-CopyrlEht (Kec. September 15, 11.5 p.mj London, September 14. An official announcement that the Government intends to enrol and arm well-disposed .citizens in Ireland, and also to appoint a special Under-Secre-tary with headquarters in Belfast to administer the six Ulster counties, has in-' tens-ified general anxiety. It is regarded in some Quarters as a. partisan act, but Government circles claim that the fullest defensive preparations must be made in view of th© effect hungerstrikers' deaths might havo on an excited nation, a large portion of which is already armed. The Government intends to use volunteers to-,-police the quieter districts, releasing police and troops for tho more troubled areas. The volunteers will bo restricted to the areas in which they reside. —United Service. CONDEMNATION OF IRISH PAPERS (Rec. September 15, 8.20 p.m.) ' London, September 14. Commenting on tho announcement that well-disposed citizens would bo enrolled to assist tho authoritiiw, the "Irish News" asks: "Is the Government mad? The Government has set itself tho task of destroying tho Irish nation. Apparently the beginning of the end has arrived for half a million Catholics in Ulster."-Aus.-N:Z. Cablo Assn. (Rec. September 15, 10.35 p.m.) London, September 15. The proposed formation of a forco of armed: citizens in Ireland is much debated. The Government's idea is to put the restoration and preservation of order in Irish hands as" largely as possible, and to form an auxiliary forco to assise the police. Tho "Irish Times" is alarmed at the prospect, and says it.will complete tho marshalling of Ireland into two amiod camps. Catholics assert that only Cavsonites will enrol to assist th» Government.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PROTEST AGAINST MILITARISM ALLEGED INDISCRIMINATE REPRISALS. London, September 13. "Tho Times" publishes a,letter signed by thirteen distinguished intellectuals and publicists, including Sir Philip Gibbs, Mr. H. G. Wells, Mr. John Masefield, and Dr. Gilbert Murray, protesting against militarism in Ireland. It says: "A sort of lynch law is in force, applied not only to culprits, but to villages aad towns. ' Soldiers and police are making indiscriminate reprisals for murders of the police, and the Government has failed to restrain or punish them. It has now issued an order forbidding coroners' inquests in nine counties, thus removing the last vestige of protection for the civilian population."—"Tho Time?." I

A REPORT DENIED. . (Eec. September 15, 8.20 p.m.) London, September 14. The report stating that officers' wives in Ireland have been ordered to return to England is officially denied.—Aus.-N.K. Cable Assn.

SELF-DETERMINATION FUND SUMS NOT RECEIVED PROM AUSTRALIA. London, September 14. A report on' the Sinn Fein balancesheet of the Irish Republic, prepared by the Republic and Finance Minister, states: "Although we have heard'of considerable Bums being in the hands of our friends in Australia for the self-de-termination fund, we have not yet received any money from Australia, excopt i 1175. from three West Australian indivi-duals."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablp Asm