IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 18858, 25 June 1920, Page 5

IRELAND

SITUATION EXTRAORDINARILY GRAVE. MOB RULE AT DERRY. MARTIAL LAW DEMANDED. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 22. In the House of Commons Colonel W. W. Ashley, drawing attention to the failure of the Government to maintain order in Ireland, especially in Londonderry and Dublin, said that mob law had prevailed in Dory for seven days. He declared that the j nictation was unbelievable. The Chief Secretary and the Lord Lieutenant were prisoners in their own houses, as were the officials of Dublin Castle, having to lake exercise in their own grounds. The Republicans had established their own post offices. It was useless talking of conciliation with Sinn Feiners and assassins. The only way to deal with the menace was to declare martial law. In replying, Mr D. Henry, Attorney-Gen-eral for Ireland, repeated Mr Bonar Law’s earlier statement, and said that a battalion of troops had gone to Londonderry and there were two in Belfast ready to proceed to j Derry. He admitted that the position at Dublin was very grave, and hoped that means would be found to adopt the suggestion to pet the assistance of ail loyal men irrespective of the party. There had already been a successful attempt .along such lines, the troops had been instructed if attacked to treat the attackers as they would treat an enemy on the field of battle. If they sew armed men approaching the troops trust order them to put their hands up* and in the event of refusal they had to fire. Tiie Constabulary had already been granted increased pay, and arrangements had been made as regards compensation to widows and children. He had been assured by those responsible that Ireland had better times in store. There was every prospect of a speedy improvement, and already there had been a marked reduction in cattle-driv-ing. CIVIL WAR AT LONDONDERRY. FIERCE STREET FIGHTING. MANY CASUALTIES. LONDON, June 23. There has been fierce night fighting over a wide area in Londonderry. St. Columba’s Catholic College was attacked by rifle fire, there being numerous casualties. A Catholic named McKenna w,as shot, in Bishop street and lay in the bullet swept street until a priest went out and administered the last rites. At 9.30 this morning Unionist and Nationalist volunteers erected barricades surmounted by sandbags, over which they were fiercely fighting, while troops were less than 100 yards away, to prevent individuals venturing into the danger area. Looting was indulged in extensively during the night, particularly on public houses. A renewed attack on St. Columba’s College was repulsed, while the Irish volunteers retaliated vigorously, attacking the Unionist districts from which women and children fled. LONDONDERRY DISORDERS EXTENDING. NEW AREAS INVOLVED. SNIPING FROM HOUSETOPS. THE POLICE POWERLESS. LONDON, June 23. (Received June 24, 5.5 p.m.) The Londonderry fighting has extended to new areas. A hundred casualties are reported. The firing is increasing, and snipers ire busy from housetops. Serious fighting is in progress along the waterside. The Unionists hold Carlisle bridge. The food supplies in the city tire running out. Milk anti other commodities that 1 reach Londonderry are being commandeered j by the fighters. The magistrates have requested that deI stroyers be sent. Many citizens are leaving j the town. Vigorous action is expected in London--1 tierry when reinforcements- arrive. Arthur Griffiths, the acting Sinn Fein President, in an interview, said that if Mr Lloyd George’s statement that he was willing to discuss the situation meant private conversations that was useless, but if accredited representatives of Britain were prepared to meet accredited representatives of the Irish Government the proposal would be acceptable. Despite official assurances that quiet reigns in Londonderry, correspondents report that many dead and wounded are lying in the streets as the result of fierce fighting which has been raging since midnight. The hotels in the neutral area near the Guild Hall are crowded with refugees. Elsewhere the city consists of a patchwork of Sinn Fein and Orange areas, in which man hunts are of frequent occurrence. The hundred policemen on duty, realising their powerlessness, seldom appear ”jn the streets. Young soldiers remain coolly in the streets, but their orders are only to fire in extreme circumstances. They watch the man hunts unmoved from doorways, while the parties are shooting. Reinforcements, including cavalry, arc beins- sent by sea with a view of avoiding the delays which arc likely if the railways are Lord French and General Sir Nevil Maeready conferred with Mr Lloyd George at Downing Street. REFUGEES FROM DERRY. MACHINE GUNS IN ACTION. LONDON, June 24. (Received June 24, 9.45 p.m.) Hundreds of Derry refugees are arriving at Tyrone and Donegal, They were forced to leave their homes by bands of armed men. There is a movement in otiicr northern towns to join if the Derry riots continue. Machine guns are now in action in the streets of Deny* where another night of terror is certain. A destroyer conveying marines has reached Lough Foyle. It is understood that the Government j have decided to surround and disarm the rioters.