IRISH AFFAIRS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3585, 22 September 1920, Page 5

IRISH AFFAIRS.

' McSWEENEY STILL FASTING

Received" 3135 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 21

On behalf of McSweeney’s friends, j it is stated that nothing is passing j hi s lips, except pure water, medicine ' composed of carbonate of soda and bismuth to counteract gastric juice, and the sacred wafer of Holy Communion. Even if his friends tried to introduce nourishment, lie would refuse it. His friends deny that alcohol is being used during massage.

MILITARY AND POLICE REPRISALS. COLONEL MACREADY’B STATE MENT

Received 9.25 a.m,

LONDON, Sept. 21. | Interviewed by a Parisian corres- 1 pondent, Colonel Macßeady said: “Yes, there have been some reprisals in Ireland—say three at the most.” He added: “We are taking every step to prevent, a recurrence. The,troops’ mission is to help to protect the police, the number of which is insufficient to maintain order. The British Government, faced by the Sinn Peiners’ practical declaration of wan, does not wish to retaliate in ;he same manner; but in the event of a general revolt we are perfectly ready.” He insisted that Ireland really desired peace, but a very small Fand of ter I roists was imposing a violent policy. “We know most of their names, and the day may come when we shall effect a clearance. If so, IrSland would a month later know tranquility and order.” ’

Correspondents frankly disagree with Colonel Macßeady’s first statement.

The Times’ Dublin correspondent telegraphs: "There have been a good many reprisals by the police, and few by soldiers, since* the Sinn Feiners began their campaign of political murder and outrage. Such reprluls are at least intelligible to all who know the present condition of I ; fe in Ireland. Police in lonely places are attacked and martyred, and they would be more or less than human if the passion of resentment did not strain the bonds of discipline People argue that such reprisals are haying the merit of checking outrage where vigilance and discipline had failed, and many towns are now quiet and peaceful. In other places, outrage was discouraged by a lively fear of retaliation. None the less, the reprisals are deplorable, because they are creating a permanent bitterness between classes of Irishmen and weakening to a dangerous degree any respect surviving for constitutional law and order. The public is forced to infer that the Executive either regards the ■ reprisals leniently, or is powerless to preven- them, and both theories work great mischief, while the splendid traditions of the Royal Irish Constabulary are damaged. The Daily Mail’s Dublin correspondent states: “The English auxiliaries of the Royal Irish Constabulary are responsible for the reprisal tactics which have spread terror throughout the country districts; and w-ehrever a policeman or soldier Is shot the nearest community lives through a night of fear, believing that the Curse of Cromwell has been revived." The correspondent adds: “Sein Fein is drifting into two - camps. Griffiths is fighting for the leadership against the violent influential leaders of the Republican Army. Meanwhile the British military system has markedly improved. 1 "

MIDNIGHT SHOOTINGS.

POLICE AND CIVILIANS KILLED 1 REPRISALS BY POLICE AND MILITARY. Received 9.50 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 21. Police-Inspector Burke and Sergeant Burke, two brothers, were shot dead in Balbriggan at midnight. Uniformed men sacked Balbriggan. Two civil-* ians were shot dead and several were wounded. Many business houses were destroyed. About fifty Constabulary recruits engaged in the sacking of Balbriggan. A dairyman named Gibbons and a barber named Lawless were dragged out from their houses and were first bayonetted and then shot dead. Twenty-eight houses, mostly belonging to prominent Sinn Feiners, were burned. A FATAL, ENCOUNTER. LONDON, Sept. 20. A party of, Sian Feiner s attacked a military lorry in a Dublin street and ordered twelve soldiers to hold up their arms.' Some obeyed, but the others opened fire upon the raiders, wounding two. The Sinn Feiners returned the fire. There was a sharp fusilade until the Sinn Feiners were routed and fled, leaving their weapons

and three prisoners. Several soldiers

were seriously wounded. Two died. One Sinn Peiner is dead, and another is dying.