CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1922, Page 3

CABLE NEWS.

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

HUSH HAPPENINGS. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. (Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 3. •Mrs LaVe'rton dbscribifig the relict of Batlymimeena Castle states the Pandora rail iit and anchored. &P?« al constables aboard engaged a l»V bo J? of Republicans and drove them ott ■with heavy losses. Then it was notice that the sluice gates had been opened and there was danger of , stranding. She jumped and weighed anchor and the Pandor. was pulled to deep water She was constantly sniped _at, but bail a and naturally fired back and she thought she got several too.

PRESS COMMENT LONDON, June 3. The “Observer” says the Irish Treaty proved a recipe for chaos, and ruin of every hope kindled thereby turned into ashes. Between tl stark fanaticism of the antis and utter moral weakness of most who are nominally for the treaty, as fair a chance m ever opened, before a nation lias been thrown away. The signatories have joined their opponents to propose co. stitution which is separatist and Re publican in everything but name. j civic liberty of the Irish people been suppressed by a bargain e " two factions, each fitbont a, sl.red o real representative nutlionty to iiomin ate a packed Parliament on tl e basis of elections made to order. O' D basis there can be no valid ratificatmii of the treaty which must cease '"The “Sunday Times” states R is m,w clear the compact winch Colli • With De Valera was a surrender at discretion, Republicans come .n o" terms of indefinite delay taking the sense of the country on the treaty and redrafting the constitution m suci wavs to to render the treaty nugatory •by the assertion- of complete m dependence. Obviously the most <«•; midable consequences are entailed Mr Churchill’s declaration of Britisi Hie, Zt neither O.ve—t » country will shirk these. Ihe pe°P' c will never tolerate a separate Dsh Republic A forcible assertion ot Valera’s claim would precipitate wat. which would not end till the military reconquest of the secessional provinces was complete.

IRISH happenings. ' (Reeoiveil this day at 10.10 a.m.) bONDON, June 4. Republicans attacked an Ulster special post at Cnlmore, but were driven off P They also blew up a bridge. Th are now digging trenches near Ctdnmre Snipirtg was continuous on' Strabane-Lifford border. Six thousand ex-serviee men I tlong ; n( , to tho British Legion, attended an impressive service at the Eenoapi connection with the Legion s first an nal Conference. Prince Henry rev,ewe ex-servicers’ Horseguards r| .en fPrince Bent* and General Haig attended the service. „ According to the “Daily Express. Eree State leaders are amending th draft constitution to meet British objections. They are prepared to. brave De Valera’s wmtli. British troops l clearing out Sinn Fein invaders from Fermanagh.

A storming party. (Received this clay at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, June 4

After heavy preliminary firing, British troops stormed Pettigs this afternoon. Republicans replied with heavy machine gun fire killing one police driber. The British took prisoner the IRA. commandant and staff and also a’ large number of Sinn Feiners.

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS. LONDON, June 4. Threo Sinn Feiners caught Woulfe Flnnaghan, a well-known magistrate, leaing Newry church after morning mass and shot him dead. The murderers escaped in a' waiting motor car, into the Free State. Flnnaghan recently sentenced a number of rebels, and was a marked man.

Week-end outrages in Belfast resulted in a man being shot dead, two special constables, and six civilians wounded; also two soldiers Seaforth Highlanders were brutally assaulted on Sunday morning. Liverpool regiment and a battery have gone to Londonderry. Guns will be available to the command on the border, following the order of Londonderry Commandant. Ulster specials are manning small boats, which when armoured will patrol Lough Foyle to prevent the transport of petrol to Donegal.