IN IRELAND

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1921, Page 2

IN IRELAND

; IUSTKALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. ! ULSTER ELECTIONS t 1 LONDON, May 24. * The Ulster Elections are about to lake place. The final preparations have been made for the elections. A record ’ poll is anticipated. The campaign has 1 | been short and sharp.

It is generally recognised that the one issue of the Ulster Elections is the British connection as against Sinn Fein Sir James Craig, the Ulster Unionist leader, in a final message said lie appealed to loyalists to shatter their enemies’ hope of establishing a Republic. The working class districts of Belfast are aldaze with the colour of Union Jacks, which are being flown everywhere, and the lamp posts have been painted red, white and blue. There!' is occasionally some stonethrowing. Generally, order is kept well preserved. DE VALERA’S APPEAL. LONDON, May 24. Mr do Valera has telegraphed to the Ulster voters as follows: “The politicians say that the Irish problem is one that is not solvable; but you, plain people, can solve it to-morrow at the polling booth by asking a genuine people’s peace and a united Irish nation.” RITTERNESs INTRODUCED. LONDON May 24. The “Times” states: “Later reports from Belfast disclose that wild scenes of rioting and of intimation have occurred there at the elections. It is feared there will be a heavy casualty list.

Many of the. voters were shot, stabbed, or clubbed, and taxi cabs and motors were wrecked.

The polling booths were guarded by armed police, while troops were held in readiness to deal with the rioting. The streets were continually patrolled by a fleet of armoured cars.

The partisans came into conflict at a number of booths, where there were queues four deep extending for hundreds of yards, and including many women. They were lined up and waiting for the opening. There was a very serious affray at Saunders Street booth, where seven of tTte anti-partitionists voters were :tab bed, and beaten. They were removed to the hospital. Two policemen who attempted to interfere in this were driven off with bottles and stones. A remarkable scene was witnessed in a number of streets, which were half hung with Union Jacks, and half with rebel Republican emblems. Groups of working women were gaily adorn*d with flags and made demonstrations singing election songs. Even the dogs were decorated while effigies hung from street lamp posts. Acute tension prevails, and there are fears of further lawlessness in the evening. GENERAL CROZIER’S RESIGNATION. LONDON, May 24. Regarding the case of General Crozier who resigned from the Crown Forces in Ireland over the retention of men he dismissed for looting, the “Daily News” publishes a summary of the dossier that was drawn up by General Crazier (cabled reference to which was made on March 1). In this statement General Crozier outlines his specific charges of looting and arson, and murder, against the Crown Forces in Ireland committed during the command of the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish .Constabulary. General Crozier states: “Highly placed personages at Dublin Castle were guilty of hushing up the evidence' against the Crown Forces in several murder eases.” The “Daily News” demands the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the chafges of General Crazier. GREENWOOD VERSUS CROZIER. LONDON, May 24. Sir Hamar Greenwood, head of the Irish Administration, replied in Pajliament to a question regarding General Crozier’s charges. He said General Crozier commanded the auxiliary forces, w hen h ( > was responsible for discipline. If General Crozier produced supporting evidence, his charges would be considered. It was untrue to say that General Crozier had been forced to resign because he had determined to enforce discipline. Sir H. Greenwood declared that discipline had improved since General Crozier’s resignation. FURTHER REPORTS. LONDON, May 24 Three hundred Sinn Feiners captured the village of Kilmanagh, in County Kilkenny. They fortified several houses. When they were later warned that the police forces were coming their courage failed, and they fled. The police pursued them and shot two, who had been “on the run.”

Thirty armed Sinn Feiners at Castle Townbere, Kerry, overtook six soldiers out for a walk unarmed. Two escaped by swimming out to sea. The other four were captured and placed with their hacks to a ditch and shot in cold blood. A rescue party came and found one with a bullet wound in the neck, hut still alive.

Forty Sinn Feiners dragged a shoemaker out of a house near Cavan, rid- ■ dling him with thirteen bullets. A pinned notice on his body read: “Shot I by order of 1.11. A.” Ulster polling finishes. •'Received this day at 8 a.m.j LONDON, May 24. Polling has closed in Belfast. It is estimated that ninety per cent voted > in all districts, and in some cases ninety five per cent. Women voters were 1 particularly energetic. Three spirit ’ shops were looted. A few civilians with broken scalps were treated in the hospitals, but considering the excitement * good order was maintained. •

CABLE NEWS.