IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1916, Page 5

IRELAND.

♦ GERMAN VENGEANCE. \ TWO IRISH PRISONERS.SHOT. BOTH REFUSED TO JOIN CASE- ! MENT. I London, August 3. j In the House of Lords, Lord Newton, in answer to a question, said that I ihf American Embassy on August 2 notified the Government that the Germans had a hot Patrick Moran, of the 2nd Connought Rangers, and William Devlin, of tin? Royal Munster Fusiliers who were prisoners at Limberg. It was asserted that Moran attacked a guard on May 2S and that the guard killed him in selfdefence. It was stated that the. reason fcr Devlin's deatli had not been ascertained. When Mr. Gerard visited thti"imp to inquire particulars about Moran the autiiorities concealed the death of Devlin. Lord Newton added that it was sigrifieant that both men refused to join Casement. The Foreign Office had protested to the German Government against the concealing of particulars if they wove connected with the men's ref'. sal to join Casement. CASEMENT'S LAST HOUR 3. London, August 3. Shortly before hi., execution Casement received the ministration of a priest. A group of Irishmen in the street fell on their knees when the bell tolled and remained some minutes praying. The tolling was greeted with some cheers mingled with hoots. Sympathisers attempted a demonstration, but the police moved them on. Casement, on the scaffold, declared that he died for his country. Gaven Duffy, at the inquest, protest cd at the authorities' monstrous act of indecency in refusing the body to the relatives. Duffy questioned the prison doctor regarding the allegations that Casement was insane. The doctor replied that he was sane to the end. WHY REPRIEVE NOT GRANTED AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. Received August 4. 6 p.m. London, August 3. The Press Bureau publ'shes a statement that the Governmei't, before deciding not to interfere with Casement's sentence, carefully and repeatedly considered all the circumstances. Casement was convicted of trcaeheiyof the worst kind to the Empire, and as a-willing agent of Germany. The Irish rebellion had resulted in much loss of life of soldiers and civilians. Casement had invoked and organised, with German assistance, the insurrection. Although for years a British official, Casement had entered into an explicit agreement with Germany that his Irish Brigade would be employed in Egypt against the British. These prisoners, resisting Casement's solicitations to disloyalty, were subjects'' to exceptionally cruel treatment S; '■'.'* Germans. Some, since exebanjJM '>i invalids, had died in Britain. RciTiMtt Casement leaving Germany for tiif purpose if stopping the Irish., riiin". that was not raised at the trial, but it was conclusively disproved not only by facts disclosed at the trial, but by 'further evidence since available. Another suggestion that Casement was insane was equally without foundation. Counsel did not raise the plea, and Casement's demeanour since bis arrest, throughout the trial and since, gave no ground for any such defence. Indeed, there was sufficient to disprove it.