ULSTER ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 206, 26 May 1921, Page 5

ULSTER ELECTIONS

RECORD POLL ANTICIPATED A SHORT, SHARP CAMPAIGN THE BRITISH CONNECTION VERSUS SINN FEIN By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. May 25, 7.35 p.m.) London, May 24. Final preparations have been made for the Ulster elections. A record poll is anticipated. The campaign has been short and sharp. It is generally recognised that the issue of the elections is the British connection against Sinn Fein. Sir James Craig, in a final message, appealed to the loyalists to shatter the ehemy’s hope of establishing a republic. The working-class districts are a blaze of colour. Union Jacks are everywhere, and lamp-posts are painted red, white, and blue. There is occasional etone-throwing, but generally order is well preserved. De Valera telegraphed to the Ulster voters as follows—''.Politicians say the Irish problem is not solvable, but you plain people can solve it to’morrow at the polling-booth by making a genuine people’s peace and a united Irish nation." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. May 26, 0.10 a.m.) London, May 25. The polling has closed in Belfast. It is estimated that 90 per cent, voted in all districts, in some cases 95 per cent. Women voters were particularly energetic. Three spirit shops were looted. A few civilians with broken scalps were treated in hospitals, but considering the excitement good ord§r was maintained. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WILD SCENES IN BELFAST RIOTING AND INTIMIDATION. (Rec. May 25, 10.50 p.m.) London, May 24. 'Later reports from Belfast disclose that wild scenes of rioting and intimidation occurred, and it is feared that there will be a heavy casualty list. Many voters were shot, stabbed, or clubbed, and taxi-cabs and motor-cars were wrecked. The polling-booths were guarded by armed police, while troops were held in readiness to deal with rioting. The streets were continually patrolled by a fleet of armoured cars. Partisans came into conflict at a number of booths, where queues four deep, extending a hundred yards, and including many women, were lined up waiting for the opening. There was a serious affray at Saunders Street booth, where seven anti-partitionists were stabbed, beaten, and removed to ■hospital. Two policemen in attempting to interfere were driven off with bottles and stones. Remarkable scenes were witnessed in a number of streets, which were half hung with Union Jacks and" Half with rebel emblems, while groups of working women, gaily adorned with flags, made demonstrations, ‘'singing election songs. Even dogs were decorated, while effigies were hung from street lamp-posts. Acute tension prevails, and there are fears of further lawlessness this evening—" The Times.’’ CHARGES AGAINST_CROWN FORCES GENERAL CROZIER’S DOSSIER. (Rec. May 25, 7.35 p.m.) London, May 24. The "Daily News” publishes a summary of the dossier drawn up by Gen,eral Crozier, in which- the general outlines specific charges of looting, arson and murder against the Crown forces in Ireland) during his command of the auxiliary division of the Royal Irish Constabulary. General Crozier states that highly placed personages at Dublin Castle were guilty of hushing up evidence against the Crown forces in several murder cases. The '‘Daily News" demands the appointment of a Parliamentary Select. Committee to investigate the charges.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RiEPLY BY SIR HAMER GREENWOOD. Rec. May 25, 10.lft> p.m.) London, May 24. Sir Hamar Greenwood, replying to a question, said General Crozier’s allegations referred to a period during General Crozfer’s command of the auxiliary forces when he was responsible for discipline. .‘lf General Crozier produced supporting evidence his charges would be considered. It was untrue that Gen. eral Crozier was forced to resign because he was determined to enforce discipline, which had improved since his resignation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SERIES OF OUTRAGES COLD-BLOODED .MURDER OF SOLDIERS. Landon, May 23. Four of the night staff of the Cork "Examiner” were leaving the office early in the morning when a civilian threw a bomb at the group. Two—Walsh and Dorman—received terrible injuries, and are in a precarious condition. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. London, May 24. Armed men entered the Shercock (Cavan) branch of the Northern Bank, and tied up the manager and cashier with ropes, ransacked the premises, securing .£4OOO. and escaped in motor-cars. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec, May 25, 11.25 p.m.) London, May 25. Three hundred Sinn Feiners captured the village of Kilmanagh, in County Kilkenny, and fortified several houses, but when warned that the police were coming their- courage failed, and they fled. The police pursued the rebels and shot two who had been on the run. Thirty armiedl Sinn Feiners at Castletownbere, Kerry, overtook six soldiers out for a walk unarmed. Two of the soldiers escaped by swimming out to sea. Tho four others wore placed with t,teir backs to a ditch and shot in cold blood. A rescue party found one with a bullet wound in the neck still alive. Forty Sinn Feiners dragged a shoerraker out of his house near Cavan, riddled him with thirter-m bullets, and pinned a notice to the’body: "Shot by order of T.R.A." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

TROOPS AND .SINN FEINERS IN COLLISION

London, May 24

Six lorries of troops and seventy Sinn Feiners had a'collision wear Thurles, nnd one Sinn Feiner was killed, two dangerously wounded, and two soldiers killed. A number of civilians who were in thd line of fire were wounded. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. May 25, 10.10 p.m.) London, May 24. A patrol of the Royal ’lrish Constabulary, comprising an inspector nnd eighteen men, encountered thirty armed civilians at Skirrlagh, County Mayo. A fivefour figHt followed, in which the inspector was wounded and a constable kille-J. Another constable galloped under fire to Newport for reinforcements. These outflanked the rebels, who fled, after fighting another half-hour. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. ALLEGED INCENDIARISM OFFICER OF SELF-DETERMINATION T,EAGUE CHARGED. (Rec. May 25. 7.35 p.m.) London, May 24. Conroy, secretary of the Irish SelfDetermination League, and a. youth nam-

cd M'Alwikon, are charged with setting fire to boat-building works at Wallsend. Both were armed with revolvers when caught, nmning away.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TRIAL OF GRATTAN ESMONDE . JURY DISAGREES. Vancouver, May 23. Grattan Esmonde, the Irish envoy, who was refused admission to Australia, was tried at the assizes on a charge of using seditious language. The jury disagreed.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.