IRISH HOME RULE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 32, 20 January 1912, Page 5

IRISH HOME RULE.

MR. RUN Cl MAN ON THE POSITION IN ULSTER.

THE COERCION ACT

(Received 20, 9.10 a.m.) London, January 20. Mr. Runciman, speaking at Newcastle, said lie was prepared to see Ulster treated like any other minority in the Kingdom. If-the Ulster Unionist Council’s action led to bloodshed the blood would lie on Lord Londonderry’s head for presiding over a conspiracy to mrevent free feneech. The “Dam’ News” recalls. Lord Londonderry’s lesnonsibility 'frtr' the Coercion Act of 1887, under which, it declares, the Ulster. Council’s present intimidation ,cqm£s. ; ARMS FOR ULSTER.

A Protestant Home Ruler recently sent the following' paragraph from the Northern Constitution of 'Colorline to the London “Daily News” : The “Cannon” Fund.—The committee of management of this fund, which was opened some time ago by the Orangemen of Garvagh, met in the Clinton Memorial. Hall on the evening of the 20th ult. A suitable weapon of -the “big gun” style not being procurable,, jt was decided at a previous meeting to invest the money in small arms, and after considerable discussion the meeting agreed to purchase 24 Martini-Henry military rifles of 150 calibre, with a supply of ammunition. They have also purchased a number of Lee-Enfield magazine guns from the Garvagh Rifle Club, the latter body having chajiged to a lighter weapon. Air-guns have also been provided for the purpose of practice during the winter nights amongst the members of the lodges in hall.

Wiring on December 3rd the “Daily Nows” Coleraine correspondent says:—

Most careful inquiries elicit no corroboration of the rumoured largo importation of rifles or ammunition into Garvagh. Prominent Orangemen are averse to giving exact details/ They admit that the contemplated purchase of a cannon was abandoned in favour of rifles, but these have not yet been obtained on an extensive scale, nor is general arming intended at present. Two dozen military rifles and a similar quantity used by local clubs will lie used in practice by lodgemon during the winter. Undoubtedly many Orangemen seriously contemplate active resistance to Home Rule, and drill books have been circulated in the locality, but anything like organised drilling parties cannot lie at work unless indoors, because the constabulary would immediately report public proceedings on such linos.