IRISH AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1923, Page 3

IRISH AFFAIRS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. REBELS CAPTURED. LONDON, March 22. A Free State cycling column was fired upon near Dalkey, and one was killed. Free State troops rushed the house whence tho attack was made, capturing four Irregulars, with revolvers, guns, and ammunition. They discovered one Irregular had been killed by their return fire. COSGROVE'S TEST. LONDON, March 22 Interviewed by the Australian Pres, Association President Cosgrove said that the Irregulars’ propagandists had failed to obtain support in America, where the truth had been too strung. A knowledge of their deeds would enable the people to take a true measure of their fine words. The rebels he said wore now turning 10 Australia, wlnHi. being more distant, alforded them an opportunity of keeping ahead ot exposure. ’l’iie Australians, said Mr Cosgrove, would hear from Father O’Flanaghan and O’Kelly most eloquent speeches about liberty and nationality, while Mr Dc Valera, "the rebels’ nominal leader declares that if England s threat of wai were removed, he would not oppose the deeision of the people. Miss MucSwinov, he said, openly denied the right of the people to make any deeision displeasing to her, declaring that if they were so bold, they would have to submit to duress. I hat duress had been applied in the most ierociotts manner possible. Trains had been wrecked, regardless of danger to passengers. Houses had been burned and blown up, villages were blown up and wrecked; and civilians, a- in liall;.connell, had been murdered, or. like Athlone and Yoitglial. bad had their water supply cut oil. I’ublie buildings bad been destroyed. An attempt hart heel! made to blow up a eitiema theatre When it was full of people. Cold blooded murders had been committed, whereof the latest were those of a boy of 10, and an unarmed doctor. ".What the Irregulars mean by liberty, ’ he declared, “is anarchy.” To quote their words, it is ‘the rule of the torch!’ What they mean by nationality is incomprehensible by any sane being. Tt should lie borne in mind that the sufferers of those outrages are plain people, who see their homes destroyed, their lives daily imperilled, the prosperity of their country wrecked, and who eventually have to pay for till the damage Australians, who have been used to freedom and democracy tor generations, will know now the value of the words of the men who speak for the perpetrators of these awful deeds. They will all sympathise with the Irish people, who in the face of such deeds, linvo stood firm, and Ttavo deela their will must prevail.”