DUBLIN FIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 58, 29 July 1914, Page 5

DUBLIN FIGHT

* A CHALLENGE ISSUED. AX IMPETUOUS POLICE OIT'TCEU. SOLDIERS PIPE WITHOUT ORDERS. OX T THE IRISH GUN-RUNNERS. SEX SATIOXAL STAT EMEXTS.. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, July 27. Mr Birrell's statement on the Dublin affray caused a sensation in the lobbies, but the European crisis over-shadowed the Nationalist one. The feeling in Dublin is intense, .v. the soldiers are confined to barracks. The Scottish Borderers have been ordered to the Curragh and will leave tonight. The crowd remained near the soldiers, believing they carried blank cartridge». The constables who refused to charge ar Clontarf have been arrested. When the Nationalist Volunteers were ordered to disarm, they handed their rifles to residents living at Dublin Bay, who buried them. The weapons were removed to the Nationalists' secret depot to-day. Mr Redmond presided at a meeting of Nationalists in the House of Con.'mons. It is understood that it was decided not to oppose the amending Bill, on the understanding that the Government would propose drastic changes in committee.

Mr Redmond will move the adjournment to-night to discuss the Dublin incident. Mr Asquith announced that the amending Bill would not be taken tomorrow, as it would be unfair to ask the Nationalists to proceed with the Bill in view of the deplorable events in Dublin. Mr Birrell, in reply to Mr Redmond, said that Mr W. V. Harrel, AssistantCommissioner of Police, requisitioned the police on his own responsibility. Mr Harrel had been suspended pending enquiry. Mr Redmond said he ought to be hanged. Lord Robert Cecil declared that Ministers ought to lie hanged. (Opposition applause). Mr Amnry ('Unionist): They're the murderers.

Mr Birrell added that some soldiais became exasperated and fined without orders. The officers succeeded in stooping the firing immediately, but three persons were killed and thirty-two injured. A considerable number of soldiers were, considerably injured. A full enquiry into the. conduct of the military would lie held immediately. Mr Devlin asked should there be any differentiation in favor of armed Ulster volunteers marching through Belfast. Mr. Birrell did not reply. In moving the adjournment, Mr Redmond said that there had been no a». tempt to disarm the Ulster Volunteers and he wanted to know who was responsible for the monstrous attempt to discriminate. He understood that f>ir J. Ross, who was Mr Harm's superior and a well-known political partisan, was m Dublin. He demanded that Sir J. Ross should be suspended and put on trial. He also asked that the Scottish Borderers be removed from Ireland and that the proclamation regarding the impoitation of arms be revoked.

Mr Birrcll denied that the soldiers fifed on a defenceless mob. The Government had not taken action against Ulsttrites. consequently it ought not to take proceedings against the Nationalists. Mr Bonar Law said the Government was trying to find a scapegoat to save themselves and had condemned Mr Har■rel without trial. He deplored the incident, which was due to the fact that the Government had abrogated its authority in Ireland. Mr Asquith said that the soldiers, exposed to great provocation, had not exceeded their duty, which was to support the civil power. He believed the soldiers would emerge with credit from the enquiry. Lord Robert Cecil moved the closure of the debate, hut was defeated .by 240 votes to 217. The motion was then talked out. <

Sir J. Ross, Chief Commissioner of tilt DnWin polite, has resigned. Mr Figgis, the well known writer, commanded the Dublin volunteers. Uo states that he told Mr Harrel when the latter demanded every rifle that it was unlikely that two thousand men would yield without a struggle. Mr Barrel replied: "I mean to have those guns." Mr Figgis stated that the men had ammunition and would be, sure to use it. Mr, Harrel rejoined that his men also had ammunition and intended to use it. Mr Figgis said: "In that case, the bloodshed will ibe on your head." The volunteers then resisted, and the soldiers made a bayonet charge. Mr Figgis declared that the soldiers then fired. Mr Figgis adds that the officer of the Borderers asked to he allowed to lire, hut Mr Harrel refused. 'When the news reached Belfast, the priests paraded in the Nationalist quarter and exhorted the people to remain quiet.