The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1916. THE DUBLIN TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1916. THE DUBLIN TROUBLE.

What were the circumstances that led up to the serious disturbances at Dublin, and what was the object of the rioters has not yet transpired, but it is evident the affair was organised on s. fairly large scale having ail the elements of revolutionary tactics. It appears that a large body of armed Sinn Feiners made a suddent swoop on St. Stephen's Green, taking forcible possession of the post office, cutting the wires, and occupying the houses in the vicinity with the object, presumably, of 'shooting at the police and military. Why this outbreak of Irish firebrands should have occurred just now is best known to themselves. It is more than possible that there may be some connection between the occurrence and the abortive attempt to land arms, for in all probability the renegade Sir Roger Casement has not ■ been idle in his traitorous efforts to stir up the rebellion which he led the Germans to believe was ripe, and the fact that he was engaged in the attempt to supply arms and ammunition to the notoriously iU-afi'eeted section of the Irish community gives color to the theory. His arrest and the sinking of the vessel containing the arms may well have goaded the Sinn Feiners to acts of vengeance whicli will, ,ve are confident, be abhorent to the mass of the Irish people who have shown their loyalty to bo beyond all question. All the same the outbreak comes as a great shock f\> the Empire, but when the circumstances are carefully considered it will be regarded more as'a slight festering wound that can be exorcised by the surgeon's knifo. The police and military evidently lost no time in dealing with the rebels, though it is matter for deep regret that'useful lives should have been sacrificed over such a mad outbreak. It is satisfactory to know that the authorities have the trouble well in hand, and we may confidently evpect that it is practically stamped out, the punishment of the rioters and their instigator following in due course. It may be expected that the German press will magnify the incident to suit their purpose, but that need not occasion any anxiety; if it pleases them it does 110 harm to Britain. All outbreak of this kind is always unpleasant, but though it is particularly objectionable just at this critical period, the knowledge thai such eruptions can be promptly and effectively dealt with eliminates all feeling of danger. Now that the traitorous instigator is in safe keeping it is to be hoped that no further rebellious acts will be perpetrated and thus avert any additional stain on the loyalty of the Irish, than whom no braver defenders of the Empire can be found. The uprooting < f the disloyal section cannot be too promptly taken in hand.