IRISH AFFAIRS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3463, 17 April 1920, Page 5

IRISH AFFAIRS.

ROUND UP OF SINN Fl-HNERS. ELABORATE PRECAUTIONS, Received 9.55 am. LONEDUN, April 15. . The ,-round up in Dublin was the biggest yet organised, and began at 1 o’clock in the morning and lasted for several hours. One hundred and fifty arrests were made. and the raided area included fifteen streets, some of the poorest in the city; also the Jewish quarters. It was ‘the largest force of troops yet employed in a raid. Thirty lorries were filled with soldiers. A wake was‘ progressing in one house, and all the males present were arrested. Particular attention was paid to. Camden street, where Kells was murdered. Cer-taiii business premises were searched. While the raiders were working armoured cars patrolled the Streets outside with guns trained ion the crowd. Constable Hensvion was shoat at Beibriggan during a procession of demonstrators in connection with the release of prisoners. He was admitted to hospital in a dying condition. The Evening Standard says in con» nection with the release of hungerstrikers that Lord French alone was responsible, Sir N. Macready, as Commander of the Forces, cannot direct or initiate a policy, and cannot act. without Frenchfs knowledge.

BIG RAID ON SINN FEIN HEADQUARTERS . .

Received 9.45 a.m.

LONDON, April 15.

Following the release of sixty-eight M.ounl'-joy hunger—st.rikers~, last night, there was a big military raid at two in the morning in the neighbourhood of Hzncourt, where the Sinn headquarters are situated. Many houses were visited, and it is reportod there were one hundred arrests.

Twenty—foul' more ‘bungel'—sh-ikars were released to-day.

11‘ L 7 - UNCONDITIONALLY.

A DRAMA'I‘IC SITUATION

Received 9.1 sa.m.

LONDON, April 15‘

The situation at Mountjoy prison was perplexing throughout. the afternoon and evening, and it was not‘until sixty or seventy ’ ‘hunger-strikers had been carried to the hospital between nine o"cloek and miulniglit that it was certain the Government had reversed its policy, and released the Sinn Feiners unconditionalgly. Tha‘oug'llout there was intense excitement. The strike at Dublin liberated the entire working population, and the ‘majority g:l.trhered in the vicinity of the prison, not knowing‘ whether‘ the strike I had achieved its purpose. There was wild excitement “then itwas certain that the meniwere releasecl without parole, but the vast crowd was instantly quiet. when the Embtilances uppezired carrying the men to the hospital. Sir Neville Macready is efreklited with the responsibility of the draniatic. reversal of the Government ’s policy. It is believed he told Lord French he must have It clear field as Commzulder~in Chief. Macready ’s ropresenta tions were submitted to Downing Street, and resulted in the repudiation of wll'.-it the I"font bench had sa.id in the Commons twenty—foul' hours (‘:11’liOl'. If is understood Mr Greenwood also expressel tl'l'o desire. that. the hunger~ strikers should be got out of the way before he took up the reins of the Chief Secret:u'ysllip. Some papers state Lord French is coming to London to consult the Government relative to the responsibilities of Sir N. Macreudy and himself. The Daily Chronicle opines that Dublin Castle rule islnot the Government’a policy. Macready and Greenwood have been given full power to pave the way to a reconciliation. and making the Home Rule Bill possible. GOVER-NMENT’S CHANGE OF POLICY.

LLOYD GEORGE GETS CREDIT.

Received 9.30 am

LONDON, April 15‘

It is significant, While political prisoners are treated as heroes, Dublin has Seal-cely a word of s'ympa.t.hy for the unfortunate policeman Kells, who, after twenty-five years of service was mui'dex'ed in a. cold-blooded manner as he was going to work’. He was in plain clothes, and the assailants were evidently familiar with his movements. They hid in a quiet sfiot till Kells was passing, and fired shots at the unsuspecting man. Then three men x--ere soon to walk quiefly away. The Lord Mayor of Cork announced tlle.l‘eleaSo- of the Sinn Feiners to .a mass meeting in.Col'k. The audience marched tolthe county gab], where the political offenders were incarcerated, and IJlayed‘and sang Sinn Fein songs. the prisoners responding and waving flags fl‘om"the windows.