IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 18831, 26 May 1920, Page 5

IRELAND

RAILWAYMEN GIVING TROUBLE.

REFUSAL TO HANDLE 'MUNITIONS OR

PRISONERS.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON. May 24

The latest development of the Irish situation is the refusal of the Irish railwaymen to work trains conveying Government munitions, military stores, or Sinn Fein prisoners. They base their refusal op. that of the British railwaymen to handle munitions for Poland, the Irish railwaymen declaring that they have an equal right to prevent the distribution of munitions which would be used to kill Irishmen.

Thus far soldiers have been employed as stevedores to unload ships which the dockera refuse to handle, but it is expected that the signalmen and other Irish railwaymen will strike if military engineers are used to drive trains. Much will depend upon whether the executive of the National Union of Railwaymen apprbve of the action of the Irishmen. Thus far Mr Thomas’ reply has not been received. When the railwaymen refused to carry Sinn Fein prisoners to ‘ Sligo, a military' lorry was used, but felled trees and stone barricades blocked all the roads round Ballinamore, and (he lorry only reached Sligo with the greatest difficulty.