IN IRELAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1921, Page 2

IN IRELAND.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. praying for peace. LONDON, July 11. Popular .interest continues in the peace negotiations. Praying queues are not only seen in Dublin and Cork, but also in the Churches of the Poor in London districts, where humble folk crowded all day Sunday, praying earnestly. Abuiidarit evidence accrues that the truce is making pathetic appeals to the sympathies of the tamon pebpi'e. Meanwhile the turbuleht elements continue the warfare iii Belfast where the day.’s deaths total nine arid inore than 100 wounded are in hospital.

.The situation is. rapidly becoming worse, arid the infantry were ordered to turn out.

An outbreak occurred in Cork where a young bov was killed. The body of a chauffeur, labelled “a convicted spy,” was found near Cashel, i Two brothers, farmers were shot by ; masked men at Roscommon. | A SIGNIFICANT PHRASE. LONDON, July 10. There is much comment on Downing Street’s use of the word ‘‘Hostilities” in reference to the truce in Ireland. Comment is made on it as implying a recognition of the belligerent status of the Irish Republican Army. This attittude is likely to have important consequences in the coming-ne-gotiations, it also imposes a duty on the Irish Republicans to carry out the truce accordingly to strict standards of civilized warfare. A. widespread hope now exists tt Air de Valera’s visit- to 'London will result in peace. LIFTING OF A DARK CLOUR. LONDON. July 10. The “Times” Dublin correspondent states:—“Only those who have been living in Ireland through the past terror can realise the profound relief and thankfulness with which all parties and creeds have welcomed the truce. Saturday here was. a day of thankfulness. The political atmosphere was reflected in the looks and the voices of the peep 1 > who now moved and talked freely ami >. ilv, for tho c lotTd of fear and depression had been lifteod. Although some further scattered i imes had been reported the truce was anticipated in 48 hours. It had .been unanimously welcome'! ind: generously observed. The press expresses delight. IRISH UNIONIST PRESS. " LONDON, July i The “Irish Times” voices the southern Irish unionists’ gratitude for what it terms “a sudden, blessed change from shadows to sunlight.” The first and :est thanks, it. says were due to His dajesty the King for his Belfast speech is being one of the greatest services (lie Throne had ever rendered the State, it says that the public’s o: in ion is tin it will be a hard task to make the truce, but it would be harder still to break it. The “Irish Times” adds:—“For this reason, Irishmen are not disposed to criticise the actual terms, refusing to believe that hostilities will be resumed. It generally believed that the Republican leaders will be able to enforce a truce, though occasional violences may crimps be committed.

GHASTLY DAY IN BELFAST. A SCENE OF HORROR. (Received This Dav at 9.40 a.in.) LONDON, July 11 Sunday was the ghastliest day in Belfast’s history. Unionist mobs burned down 42 houses, of which 20 belonged to Catholics, in Cupar street alone. Hospital surgeons had continuous work lor nine hours. One hospital announced at seven in the evening that it could not accommodate further cases. Private hospitals had to he utilised. Catholic refugees from their burned down homes were seeking a spot to lay their heads.

On Sunday afternoon a bombardment of the area comprising three-eighths of '•e city wai reminiscent, of France. For more than three hours nobody, except Crown forces, went outdoors, ft is estimated ten thousand rounds of ammunition swept the streets in that locality. Fourteen persons are known to he killed and others are believed to have been carried into houses during the firing. Shots were fired at an ex-policeman’s bouse in Kilcasli, which killed a fifteenyear old girl.

Major O’Connor, a retired officer, was taken from his bed at Rocliestown, Cork, and shot dead. Four soldiers who were kidnapped at Cork, on Sunday, were found two miles outside the town, shot. DF VALERA ARRIVING. (Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) LONDON. July 11. Hon Lloyd George in the Commons, announced the receipt of De \ nlera s telegram stating he was arriving in London on Thursday. The Sinn Fein delegation consists of De Valera, Arthur" Griffiths, Stack and Barton, all members of the Bail Eireann.