THE IRISH PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM

REUTER’S TELEGRAMS. LILA. BURN ULSTER 'FARMS, LONDON, March 21. The destruction of loyalists’ homes in Jounty Tyrone, Ulster, is widespread, die sky being lurid with a glare of burning homesteads, and some of the largest farms in the county have been fited. Sn aged man was shot while defending is home against incendiaries, who later burned the farm. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Belfast correspondent states: “The new camaign of the flying columns of the Republican Army against the Loyalists in County Tyrone hits nrtiused intense c.v eilenient in the north, arid terrible eoit‘■equeiioes may follow it. People' are asking whether Britain lias forgotten that Ulstermen are still subjects of the King. The Unionist farmers in Tyrone are men of substance. Their farms are well kept. Some farms are now a melancholy spectacle of ruin and desolation, tie incendiarism, being so widespread that the constabulary are quite incapable to cope with the situation, U is pointed out that the British Government thus far lent no aid or protection to them on the border, which is left entirely to the Ulster “specials.” Protestant families in the danger zone are vacating their homes and seeking shelter further north, or are only visiting the homes in the daytime to tend their stock.

ON THE ULSTER BORDER. LONDON, March 21. An Irish Republican communique has been issued which states : We inflicted twenty casualties on the Ulster Constabulary, who had attempted to blow up the Burns bridge. They were forced to retreat, our Republican forces capturing a machine-gun and other weapon from them. The situation on the Ulster border is now very menacing.

ULSTER MINISTER’S TALK

LONDON, March. 21. The Ulster House of Parliament has passed the second reading of a Bill to provide for the apprehension of crime. Hon. Mr Megan, in moving the second reading of the Bill, said that captured documents proved that the Irish Republican Army was not active in Ulster until it was possible to operate in security under the protection of the truce. One battalion, was raised and equipped in one district between September and December. He asserted the truce was used as an instrument to organise a hostile army and a conspiracy to overwhelm the Northern Government. He continued: “If the other side would not accept peace, let there be war.” But Ulster, he said, would never be terrorised or driven by a Sinn Fein Parliament. The Belfast carters have abandoned their strike. Further protection is being assured them.