THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1922, Page 3

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. arrests of LEADERS. (Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 5O’Brien and O’Kelly, former Dail Ambassadors at London and Paris respectively, have been arrested in Dublin.

STATEMENT IN COMMONS. (Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 5. Hon. W. Churchill in the Commons, s aid Hammond’s Hotel and other buildings in Sackville Street were burning. At midday a white flag was hoisted and the fire brigado approached, when suddenly fire was opened by irregulars, wounding one fireman. The action was resumed by both sides. Do Valera’s whereabouts are still unknown. It is uncertain whether he is within the ‘cordon or whether lie has deserted his comrades and escaped. Hon. Shortt replying to a question said tb Irish Self Determination League had two hundred branches in London and the provinces, thirty two being in London. The membership at one time was eighteen thousand, but this bad considerably decreased. ' There are indications that a great fight is coming on at Glenbrugh Castle, Donegal. Five hundred rebels are in the vicinity. Wireless has been installed and farmhouses for miles around commandeered and fortified, ns outposts. Land mines have been laid. T-ere is evidence an assault will be 1 launched by artillery, and bombing abrdpiafies, and Free Staters gun crews are in readiness. Catholic priests intervened to arrange surrender terms, but the Free Staters demand unconditional surrender.

. LATEST NEWS. (Received this day at 1:30 p.m.) LONDON, July 6. The rebels only remaining stronghold is Granville Hotel and Post Office. Free Staters made successful raids for arms in many areas. Troops updating from Curragh intercepted a party of Irregulars at Ballintor and captured twenty-one fully equipped.. Hammam s Hotel was completely destroyed by fire Hibernian Bible Society building and • Gresham Hotel are now involved m the conflagration. . fle fire ope „ed from buildings near Castle Green. Rebels huv also taken up positions on North Quay and are firing across the iuijey. Nationals on the other side of the n\ci are trying to pick off these snipers. The Provisional Government has decided in view of the numerous oilers received from people to issue a national call to arms to end the pitsent trouble. , Mitchell, manager "t 1 lster Bank was shot dead during a raid on the bank.

The whole of western Ireland is apparently in a state of turmoil. Wholesale destruction is going on. Bridges are blown up, and buildings commandeered by either Free Staters or gulars.^In Ulster Parliament Lord. Londonderry stated there were eighty-two-ma-licious fire s in Belfast during the last three months. Captured documents indicated an organised plan for wholesale incien'diarism through the city.