CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

THE IRISH AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. FREE STATE MOVES. LONDON, March 7. Reports assert the invasion of Limerick is assuming a most serious aspect. Yet no collision has occurred. Jfhei citizens are: apprehensive. The Republicans are under Commandant Barry and are well armed. They have been recruited chiefly in Cork and Tipperary. They now occupy several large hotels and a wing of the mental asylum. Commandant Barry states that the coup has been undertaken for the purpose of proclaiming an independent Irish Republic. Meanwhile the headquarters of the Irish Republican army are devising means to end this Limerick revolt. Ten of their companies have left Dublin for a secret destination. It is believed to be Limerick. More troops are expected to follow.

NEW IRISH POLICE. LONDON, March 8. A New Irish National Police Force is being formed, and is in training at the Royal Dublin Society’s show ground. This will form the nucleus of a police force, numbering several thousands of men to replace the Irish Constabulary and. the Dublin Police. Recruits are being drawn both from the Republican Army and from the exmembers of the Royal Irish Constabulary, who resigned during recent troubles.

It is stated the new force will in no sense be a political one.

BELFAST STRIFE CONTINUES LONDON, March 8.

More gunmen were engaged in fierce activities in Belfast city throughout the day. Some were early establishing themselves on chimneys, roofs, and in windows in the Carrick Hill locality, from which they fired at shipyard employees proceeding to work. Five people were killed, including two boys during the forenoon. Early in the afternoon the situation became worse. Later on jsnipers descended into the streets, which were in some cases made impassable. A detachment of the Norfolk Regiment, stationed in Hanover Street, was compelled to open fire, killing two snipers and wounding a third. Gunmen hurled a bomb into a military patrol wounding a soldier. Later machine guns were used against the gunmen, who temporarily ceased: their activities, which, however were resumed in the evening .■Many civilians were wounded. ,A bomb was flung into a restaurant, but there were no casualties.

“DIE HARD” MANIFESTO. LONDON, March 8

Lords Salisbury, Carson, Findlay, Linlithgow, Northumberland and Sydenham, Sir F. Banbury, Sir Johnson Hicks, and other Tory Lords and Commoners have issued a manifesto justifying their opposition to thfe Coalition. They say: The following principles are essential: Loyalty to the Throne; a restoration of the efficiency of the Second Chamber (House of Lords); that is the first duty of civilised government to protect lives, liberty, prosperity : that crimes,such as arson, murder, or theft, committed for the promotion of political ends must he resisted by the whole fore'e of the State; that ex;es sive taxation and meddlesome regulations are alike mischievous State in'offer once ; that the multiplication of officials are a hindrance to prosperity ; that hasty grandoise schemes of so-called re construction are also objectionable. Without extending the National responsibilities, the contry should fulfil the great duty of firm, unselfish government in territories such as India, which had long formed part of the Empire. “Britain,” they declare, “is beset with .dangers which, under the name ot Socialism and Communism, threaten the existing social system. There are dangers also due to vacillation and eiror which have defaced public administration since the, armistice; and a usurpation by the Executive Goxentnient of functions of Parliament.

LIMERICK HAPPENINGS. (Received This Day at 5.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. A thousand I.K.A. troops have arrived at Limerick, and considerably outnumber the armed Republicans who are holding several buildings.