IRISH CRISIS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3410, 14 February 1920, Page 5

IRISH CRISIS.

VIOLENT MEETING AT ALBERT

HALL.

REBEL SONGS AND SPEECHES.

LONDON, Feb.‘ 12.

Speeches at the Albert Hall. meeting were a most violent denunciation of England. It. had been suggested that the date was chosen to synchronise with yesterday’s‘ London meeting of the Council of the League of Nations. The .audie~nc.e sang "rebel songs and waved Sinn Fein flags. Mr Grifiiths declared, in reference to" Dublin Castle, that a. few months ago the secretary instructed the Irish constabulary to shoot prisoners if“r'escue was attempted, and also to shoot a certain Sinn Fein Commoner on sight and accuse him of shooting first. The Chairman read Mr Smillie’s message on behalf of the Scottish national committee, saluting represe-nUa.tives of the Irish _Republic and sayinguit too was preparing fora day not far distant when English control of Ireland and Scotland would cease. Persons‘ on the platform included Viceroy French’s sister (Mrs Despard). Guardsméh’ pickets were stationed at the doors to prevent soldiers attending the’ meeting.

A BETTER OUTLOOK.

LONDON, Feb. 12.

Official circles regard Mac Neill’s statement to the Australian Press as a valuable, contribution to the Irish controversy. They consider that the moderate tone of the interview augurs well for the smooth working’ of Home Rule, which will almost certainly be in operation within a year. It is well known that a large section of the Sinn Fcin, while professing to be dissatisfied with any proposals short of complete independence, will not refuse to participate in the advantages of the wide measure of self-government. which ‘ts contemplated. There are indications that Ulster will not resist the establishment of its own Parliament. It would be a paradoxical situation if Ulster accepted, and Southern Ireland, where the demand for Home Rule originated, refused to elect members to the Dublin Parliament. But, as the interview suggests, even the ranks of the Sinn Fein include a moderate wing. As far as the British Government is concerned, the Act will undoubtedly be interpreted in a most generous spirit, thereby minimising ‘ opposition. Proportional representation introduced into the Irish municipal elections strikingly demonstrated that the Sinn, Fein has a smaller following than was genenzrlly supposed. At the Parliamentary elections, when passions were inflamed over conscription, the campaign result‘ed in the return. of 73 out of 105 Irish members. An analysis of the figures at the municipal elections shows-rough- ‘ ly that the votes were distributed as} follows: Sinn Fein, 32 per ccnt;j Labour, 22; Unionist, 20; Nationalist,‘ 12; Independent, 8; Municipal R-eform,§ 5. It is undoubted there is a great] amount of earnest determination andl profound convfction behind the Sinnl Fein, but it is diflicult to believe thatl they ignore the valuable means for? security and self-Government which the new measure provides. Mr MaeNeill apparently frankly and fairly recognises this.

AMAZING SCENE IN DUBLIN.

MILITARY MOTOR VAN HELD UP.

LONDON, Feb. 12‘

There Was -an amazing ‘hold-up of la military motor van in the heart of Dublin by armed men. A hand-cart, on which was a long ladder, pulled across the street formed an effective barrieade. Twenty men produced revolvers. Two officers and nine unarmed soldiers riding on. a. motor van obeyed the command, “Hands up!” and lalighted whole the raileds searched the van, apparently seeking Mr Barton, a member of the |HOuSe of Commons, who is undergoing court—martial. Failing to find Barton, the railers coolly walked away. Meantime tram and other traffic was held up, and crowds looked on amus|edly. A pedestrian was Wounded in the foot by a revolver fullet.

ANOTHER OUTRAGE.

CONSTABLE KILLED AND ANOTHER WOUNDED.

LONDON, Feb. 12.

During the early morning there Was an ‘attack on the police barracks in an isolated village westward of Castlefown, Berehaven, in which a constable was killed and ‘another wounded. A gable was blown out -of the barracks. Details are meagre.

A gang of armed men raided a farmers’ house near Rosemoon, cmnpelling the farmer to swear that he would not permit his son to join the police force.

on}: 1-0 cAilé.o FLIGHT.

LONDON, Feb. 10.

Secrecy concerning the Cape.-Cairo flight continues. Competing firms absolutely decline information until Egypt is reached. According to official information, Lieut. Cotton is still at Le Bourget, but yarying reports we ‘abroad.

The~Austl'alian Press learns from an unofficial, but reliable, source, that his machine did not touch Le Bourget, but made a, magnificent ten hours’ flight from Lympne, and landed in the dark near Brindisi.

The longest flight from England yet accomplished is the South African machine Silver Bullet"s performance of fourteen hours. After flying all night long in adverse weather, it landed at Sollum, on Sunday, and proceeded to Cairo on Monday. There has been no news of the Hand-ley-page éincc it left Brindisi.

TCToc.lZ:erc-11’s Vickers’ machine is still undergoing repairs at Khartoum.

It is understood the Blackburn Company contcmpl’a,te«s entering for lthe race, and are negotiating with Australilan airmen. '

Meanwhile negotiations to secure an engine for the Kangaroo machine are proceeding. When the engine is mounted in the machine the question whether the Kangaroo will be "diverted to the Cape flight. instead of procuring :1 new nrachine will ‘be considered. Watkins will not participate in further stages of the flight, but may return to Australia or engage "in a few month ’s study in preparation for Cope ’s Antarctic expedition. Williams is en route to Australia, but Rendle, Potts, and another mechanic are determined to carry on dn the Kangaroo, preferably to Australia, rat-lle’r than the Cape flight, Litigation -is pending in reference to the recovery of the insurance on the damaged engine. Cope’s Antarctic aeroplane is nearing completion. Its trials were made in Iceland, instead of Scan’dan'a.via.

END OF THE SILVER QUEEN.

CAIRO, Feb. 11.

The Silver Queen machine crashed near Wadi Halfa, owinguto the evaporation of the water in the radiator. The machine was wrecked, but the aviators are safe. . ' ' AIR MINISTRY REPORT. PARER AT GROTAGLIE. Received 11.30 am. LONDON, Feb. 13.

The Air Ministry reports “that Parer arrived on the tenth at Grotaglie, ten miles north of Taranto.