The Law Defied

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 279, 28 April 1914, Page 5

The Law Defied

ULSTER VOLUNTEERS OVERSTEP . THE MARK. A PILL FOR THE OPPOSITION LEADER. ■■ COLONEL SEELY'S SILENCE BROKEN. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, April 26 The Ulster mobilisation kept the authorities engaged while the gun-running was carried out. The volunteers patroilcd thirty miles of the coast road between Belfast and Larne Harbor. The Fanny, which has been re-named the Mount Joy, crept into the harbor, followed by two small steamers. A swift transhipment followed, and the consorts departed for Bangor and Donaghadee. After landing a large portion of the cargo the Mount Joy sailed again. A coastal guardsman sighted a suspicious vessel at Donaghadee, and rushed to notify it, but dropped dead of excitement as the vessel entered Donaghadee.

At Bangor the volunteers, armed with staves, surrounded the coastguards and imprisoned them in the coastguard stations. It was stated that Captain McCalmont was at Donaghadee and Captain Craig, M.P., at Bangor. Mr. Asquilh was hurriedly summoned from the country, and conferred with Messrs Birrell and Harcourt and General Macßeady.

The mobilisation was carried oat with amazing precision. The police were powerless and were simply onlookers. The gun-running went on for six hours. The identity of many of the officers who ". interfered with the police has been estabColonel Seely, speaking at Newcastle, asked what of the plot on the other •Me? Who were the thirty thousand mobilised against? He demanded an answer from the Protestant Bishop of IDowb, who blessed the colors, and who, if'he did not denounce the use of weapons, would go down in history as the arch hypocrite of Christendom. Colonel Seely laid the whole blame on Mr. Bonar law, the only man out of forty-five milHong who did not believe Mr. Asquith's word.

.MORE ABOUT THE GUN-RUNNING INCIDENT. HIGH-HANDED ACTION. A BIG CARGO LANDED. MILITARY LAW MAY BE PROCLAIMED. Received 27, 9.25 p.m. London, April 27. The principal highways were held up by armed and unarmed men, who stopped the traffic and refused to allow anyone to pass except those furnishing the countersign. A thousand of the volunteers commandeered the Midland railway station. and remained till four o'clock on Saturday Biorning in order to intercept soldiers and police.

The Mount Joy's consignment comprised 35,000 Mausers and 3>/ 2 million round* of ammunition. The vessel wa.=. not the Fanny, but one which transhipped the Fanny's cargo at, sea.

gun-runner bore the temporary TSame of Mount Joy, recalling the vessel which broke the Foyle boom and raised the siege of Deny. The transhipment was dangerous work, being done in the dark in a choppy sea. Six hundred motor cars were employed in eonveying the smuggled arms. Received 27, 9.35 p.m. London, April 27.

A collier's suspicious movements in approaching Belfast had the effect of concentrating the Customs officers' attention, who learned too lnte that the vessel was merely a decoy. It transpires that the Fanny, while •waiting her opportunity, lay in a sheltered cove at Lundy Island, where the •ppearance of the vessel wag transformed. iShe afterwards sailed westward, and met the Mount Jov near Tuskar.

A consignment of rifles and ammunition from Germany, intended for Ulster, was landed at Hull on Wednesday, and placed in a warehouse. The police are watching the warehouse, but no attempt has yet been made to remove the stuff.

It is rumored that the Government will proclaim military law immediately at Belfast, and possibly in other parts. Hon. A. Birrcll has arrived at Dub! in. »nd attends the Irish Privy Council session.

NEWSPAPER COMMENT. OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES. Received 27, 11.5 p.m. London, April 27. The Morning Post says the situation is extremely grave. It is obvious that the Government cannot ignore the gunrunning incident, but on the other hand it is unlikely that the volunteers will submit unresistingly to the arrest c: their leaders and the seizure of the arms.

The Daily Mail says the Government's lawless attempts to use force are a justification of the gun-running. Tlie Chronicle remarks that the gunrunning exploit justifies the Government's precautions to guard the depot*. »nd they ought to despatch a larger force now that the Ulster Council has •cdered the volunteers to commit r> serious crime which shows Carsonism in its full criminal colors. The Times says the Government fir.il jeered at Ulster about "wooden guns,'■nd then planned a secret coup. **?r>. foiled, and furnished a fresh ir.ecnti\e |« Ulster to arm herself, whereof the pm-rwwing tt«b the outcome.