IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 18854, 21 June 1920, Page 5

IRELAND

RAILWAYMEN’S PROPOSAL. GOVERNMENT'S FIRM STAND. WILL RUN TRAINS ITSELF. DEPUTATION ASKS FOR TRUCE IN IRELAND. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Conv.right.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 19. (Received June 20, 5,5 p.irt.) The Government informed a British and Irish railroadmen’s deputation that it will take drastic action in the event of further refusals to convey troops and munitions The strikers will be . summarily dismissed and if a general railway strike occurs the Government will run the trains it requires w : th the military and shut down the remainder.

Irish delegates frankly told the Ministers that in that case certain sections of Irishmen would d timber at sly destroy tracks rnd wreck train*, adding that the inevitable paralysis of Irish industries would result in civil war. Rnilwaymen met the Premier and Ministers. Mr Thomas subsequently stated that the railwnvmen proposed that the Government should not send further troops and munitions to I"eland. If the Government agreed, the railwavmen would appeal to ail sections of t’e Irish people to suppress "rime and violence and the British and Irish Trade Un : on Congresses would use the perod of truce to seek a solution of the various problems and also to discuss with the Government means of producing a better atmosphere in Ireland in the hope of settling the Iri*h problem. The Govern ment replied refusing to discont’nue the "lerpateh of trooos and munitions, but stat- : n> r that ; t would do it = utmost to prevent •ornvoe«t’on. T( was willing to meet rep •c-rnfati ve- n' a’l the Irish se"t ; on' in

"'liftin'': the ? : tn Fein, hut eoul;! go no further than that. Mr Thomas added that the question of -he f'ock strikers in Dublin remained un=ettled. He desired, in order to prevent a misunderstanding. to state that the Gov eminent intended to clo?e the Irish railways in the event of the transporters fttr*her refusing to carry troops and munitions H" feared that this would lead to incal -ulrble consequences. English and Irish railwayman would continue to consider the position in the light of the Government’s announrement.

CORK TRAIN HELD UP. MASKED MEN TAKE OFFICIAL MAILS. LONDON, June 19. (Received June 20, 11 p.m.) A large armed party disguised as Sinn Feincrs held up the Dublin-Cork mail train at Charleville and at the point of revolvers removed two bags of official mails. The passengers were frightened but were not molested. BATTLE AT LONDONDERRY, SERIOUS FACTION FIGHT. LONDON, June 19. (Received June 20. f>.s p.m.i Serious rioting, lasting all night, occurred at Londonderry. Unionists ant! exsoldiers encaged in a battle with stones with Sinn Feiners. Many women participated on both sides. There was indiscriminate rifle and revolver shooting and several casualties occurred. The police were powerless to interfere. The situation improved a! midnight on the arrival of troops. L’nionists guarded the Carlisle bridge, thus preventing numbers of Sinn Feincrs from returning to their homes Sinn Feiners nitempting to cross the river in boat? w<-re driven back by ride bullet? and compelled to billet themselves with Fiend:-. The troops in the meantime are .idigently searching pedestrians for arms. PUNISHMENT OF GIRLS. LONDON, June 19. (Received June 20. n.o p.m.! Sixteen Sinn Feiners attacked two young ladies at Castletown in County Cork and cut oil their hair, because they had entertained two military officers. The party ifterwanl? attacked the officers, burnt their ;ar and (lung the girls’ hair into the flames