A BAYONET BARRIER.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 July 1919, Page 3

A BAYONET BARRIER.

U.S. DELEGATES HELD UP BY Y SENTRIES. ' ' Notwithstanding the edict issued to the contrary, the American doliegates in Ireland attempted to enter Westport a.ft‘er travetling froinl. .Gal“.'ay’ Says the Weekly Meail of May 17. They were held up by sentries at the military boundary and pl‘Q.vQnl-(id from entering the town. b ' Soldiers were stationed in the roadway with fixed bayonets, under the command of a. young lieutenant. When MCSSTS ‘V3lsl’; 131111110, and Ryan motored up with Father ()'Fla.nnignn and several Sinn Fein M. ’sP., armoured cars were drawn across the thorough.t'are, and SOlllO police, armed with earbines, were also on the -scene. - The military dispfay was imposing. Mr Walsh produced passports to the otficer in charge, and informed him that they had diplomatic passpol'tS vised by the Embassy. His colleagues had similar passports, given to them at the request of Mr Lloyd George and President Wilson. The ofiiecl‘ replied 111.231: he knew for some days the delegates were coming, but the place was under Inilit:ll'y control, and his ordel‘s were that the delegates cbiiiil. not get through. At one time an exciting scene was enacted at the barrier by a Large body of persons marching in formation, ezirrying trieos‘.'oui' and stars and stripes, but these were dispersed by the military at the point of the bayonet.