IRISH REPUBLICANS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1929, Page 3

IRISH REPUBLICANS

AN ALARMING PICTURE

(United Press dissociation—Bj Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, April G

“Despite the apparent quiet,.” the Daily 'Express’s special correspondent declares, “not since 1922, when the Four Courts were laid waste by fleeing Republicans, has the public mind of Southern Ireland Ibeen stirred to such a pitch of nervous tension. There is grim anxiety in the air, and an atmosphere of hush and dark, mysterious foreboding. Every man lias a loaded revolver in his pocket, and there is the gravest concern for hundreds of individual citizens, who, on one account or another, have incurred disfavour with a dangerous hand of political desperadoes, which nas recently sprung into existence. They •ire known as Ireland’s League of Ghosts, and are the surviving remnant of the irregular gunmen. Among them are countless women. Meetings are held regularly on the top floor ol •me of the oldest mansion houses in I>ub : in. Agents are established throughout the length and breadth of Ireland. In recent weeks thousands of letters have been circulated threatening instant death. The most frequent victims are jurymen empanelled for eases against Republican prisoners. They are warned that uniess these men are acquitted they must suffer the consequences.” The corresnondent instances several cases of cold-blooded murder, and proceeds to state that “more- than Dublin itos have left the country in tlie past fortnight for fear of their lives. .Women are among the most aggressive thus constituting one of the greatest problems of the authorities. Leaflets and placards are being broadcasted throughout the Free State. The Government claims to ha ve a close contact with the movement. Hundreds of raids have been carried out. Meanwhile, public alarm is increasing, and people are genuinely afraid. Never have Irishmen been more cautious in, conversation. One high Government official told the writer that the whole country had become a vast whispering gallery. One did not know who was peering into the nearest keyhole.”