Tremendous Tension

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 6, 26 May 1914, Page 5

Tremendous Tension

IRISH ARMIES MAY CLASH. THE NATIONALIST VOLUNTEERS. ' RECOGNISED BY HIBERNIAN SOOLETY. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, May 24.

There is tremendous tension in Uletsr. It is feared that the rival volunteer armies will come into collision on Tuesday evening, when the Home Rule Bill has passed the House of Commons under tihe Parliament Act.

Both armies are feverishly preparing and are fully supplied with anus and ammunition for active service.

Fifty motor-cars distributed rifles in the evening from County DoWn to various centres in Fermanagh County. Two hundred Covenanters were out all night guarding certain houses. The police, on bicycles, unsuccessfully attempted to trace the motors, but the number of the cars had been changed, and in some eases the numbers of Nationalists substituted.

Every commander of a Covenanter regiment ihas received orders to be ready, in viaw of the possibility of Nationalist rowdyism on the passing of the Home Rule Bill. The commanders are authorised to take whatever steps they deem advisable to maintain peace, to prevent disloyal processions, burnings, bonfires, or displays taking place •ia the Unionist territory throughout their command.

The Covenanter official organ. The Ulsterman, contains an appeal signed 'by officials of various societies in the .North of Ireland to their fellow trade unionists in Britain to assist them ia the crisis, assuring them that the democracy of Ulster is soul and body in the Ulster movement.

The Dublin correspondent of the Observer states that the Hibernian Society has officially recognised the Nationalist volunteer movement, which is daily growing.

Mr. Devlin, who at first regarded it as a menace to the Nationalists' machine, has now decided to identify the machine with the volunteer movement.

CHANCES OF A DISSOLUTION. London, May 24. Reynold's Newspaper asserts, on good authority, that an increasing number of Cabinet Ministers are in favor of a dissolution.

FURTHER POLICE PRECAUTIONS. CONSTABULARY DRAFTED TO *' ULSTER.

Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 25. 5.45 p.m. London, May 25. The bayonets seized at Dublin on Thursday have been released and handed to the consignee. Tihe Irish Constabulary at Roscommon have received orders to stop all leave, as they are wanted for duty in %the counties of Donegal and Fermanagh. They will have no rifles, carrying only batons. A number of police from the Leinster counties are also being drafted to Ulster.

NO DISSOLUTION. SPECULATION ON THE AMENDING BILL. Received 25, 10.30 p.m. London, May 25. The Chronicle*, discussing the amending Bill, forecasts the ultimate disappearance of the time limit for Ulster.

Cabinet has determined not to dissolve in 1914.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. PREPARATIONS ON ALL SIDE?. THE SITUATION SERIOUS. Received 26, 12.45 a.m. London, May 25. Unionist volunteers at Belfast are preparing, and will be called out in case of emergency. They are intended to be used exclusively to prevent provocative incursions in Unionist districts. Both tides are taking measures t<~ prevent disturbanccß when the Home Uutel'ill is passed. The Roman Catholic clergy are active in exercising a restraining in-

/ Specially-selected police, armed wUfc rifles in Wcstmeath county, have undergone special training, and left for Derry. Thirty of the constabulary at Ross have been ordered to Derry.

The Times' Belfast correspondent says the passing of the Home Rule Bill will create a much more serious situation there than is commonly believed.. Cordons of volunteers will be thrown across the streets, forming the boundary between the Nationalists and Unionists. Nobody will lie able to penetrate the lines unless furnished with a pass. Meosurcs taken portend a more serious challenge to the. Government's authority than the landing of arms. The Government will not take measures to suppress the volunteers' supremacy. The volunteers will be in full possession of parts of the town. Every man in the Belfast regiments to-day has a rifle.