THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

kUt.TKAI.IAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASBOL»..JfION BATTLE AT BELLECK. LONDON June .7. Following on the shelling of the Republicans at Pettigo, on the Ulster border, the Irish Irregulars have tried to entrench themselves in a. stronghold on the Bflleek salient where the task of the British trnpos may lie more extensive, and easier to defend than Pettigo was. The base of the salient extends eight miles on the northern shore of Lough Ernie and embraces an ancient fort situated in Donegal. The old fort is garrisoned by some Irregulars, who are flying a green flag, and are commanding the town of Bedeck. A stout, resistance ls expected, as the defenders are feverishly 1 construct m r some sandbag defences.

ULSTER EMBARGO ON DERRY. LONDON, June 7. Consequent on Ulster’s prohibition of shipping and transport, the Donegal merchants chartered steam launches to bring their gootls from Glasgow. The Irish Provisional Government lias guaranteed them the conveyance of supG’ics from Donegal ports to their destinations in motdrS protected by armed Free State Guards. ■ A later message states the . prohibition was withdrawn, as a result of the protest by the Londonderry wholesale houses, which -resolutioned strongly’ condemning the order, which is totally’ opposed to the views of the Derry traders.

THE CORK ELECTIONS. LONDON, June 7. Eighty candidates other than the panel lia.vc been nominated for the City of Cork and the County of Cork, thereby causing .something of a sensation. Cork city is entitled to a representation of four, mul such opposition to the panel four, including Mr Walsh (Postmaster-General) and Miss MaeSwiney, was not expected but the commercial community have submitted Mr Beamish. a prominent ln-cwer,-and Mr Daly chairman of the Cork Harbour Commissioners wliose return is regarded as certai*. County Cork returns 11 members, but. the opposition is less formidable. The outgoing members ni'inber .only four pro-Trenty ones, but a majority of the people favour the treaty. The Farmers’ Union have nominated three, and Labour two candidates in the country. At the request of the panel representatives, one of the Farmers’ nominees, who is a Sinn Feiner and a pro-Trcaty man lies withdrawn. The others declined to withdraw. A feature of the Irish nominations lias been the number of lltli-liour withdrawals leaving Coalition panel candidates unchallenged. Contests are taking r?acc ill both Mr Griffith's and Mr Collins’ constituencies but. the independent, the Labour, and two Farmers’ Union candidates have withdrawn in Mr De Valera’s' enlist itueii 'v at Clare. Thus the further panel candidates are elected for (Tire. DE VALERA NOT OPPOSED. • LONDON June 6. The nominations for the Irish elections now show that with the exception; of Mr De Valera and three others, every DaM Eirealm leader, whether for or against the Treaty has to go to the poll. There has been a withdrawal of fqtil- Independents in County C?are. Therefore Mr de Valera has secured a walk-over in County Clare. Thirty of the members of the present Dail Eiroann have been re-elected unopposed in six lineontested constituencies. AN APPEAL. (Received this day at 8. a.in.) LONDON, June 6. Collins and De Valera have issued an appeal depreciating electoral contests which are bound to engender bitterness and discord, at a time when unity, which the Collins and De Valera pact was intended to promote, is essential. They were evidently surprised at the growing number of candidates in nominal opposition to their nominees, by farmers union labour party and other organisations. Over forty sucli candidates have now been selected, necessitating contests in twenty of . the twenty-seven constituencies.

IRISH ARMY REPORT. LONDON, June 6. The Irish Republican Army version of the incidents at Pettigo as embodied in an official report have been issued ironi general headquarters of the Irish Republican army at Beggars Rush. It Asserts the shelling of Pettigo and killing of seven members of the Irish Republican army, and capture of others were •entirely unprovoked and states with the exception of portion of one street, which is in the country of Donegal, the Irish Republican Army garrison there was strictly ordered not to fire, unless fired on. It denies as a false malicious statement, that British troops were fired at from Free State territory. On the j third and fourth, eight shells were fired I at Pettigo from surrounding hills. On Sunday, while the congregation were coining out from mass British armoured cars rushed the town and gave the Irish Republican army fifteen minutes to clear out. The Irish Republican | Army officers ordered the men to evacu- j ate and as they were retreating they were fired on hv British armoured cars and specials supporting. Military members of the Irish Republican Army in some eases replied. It was then that Driver Crossley was killed. j MRS LAVF.RSTON’S EXPLOITS. I LONDON, June 6. I The Loudon newspapers are now , giving much prominence to Mrs Laverston, the so-called Woman of Lough Erne, who is aboard her yacht Pandora (m the lake. She has commandeered a fleet of small boats for transport of British soldiers, who are thus made able* to take the Sinn Feiners in the rear. « Some of the boats which she has commandeered were in Sinn Fein waters, and the Sinn Feiners are greatly chagrined, never believing that the woman would venture on bullet-swept waters. It is reported that Mrs Laverton wore a dainty pistol in her belt, and that on one occasion she stalled off a Sinn Fein raid by mounting a big brass telescope in the bow of the boat, and pretending it was a machine gun.