GRAVE RIOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1920, Page 5

GRAVE RIOT.

AFFRAY IN'IRELAND. MOB ATTACKS SOLDIERS, •THE POLICE USE BAYONETS. By T»lejpaph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, Received April 19, 7.50 p.m. London, April 19. What is described as the most wicked riot ever known in Derry began on Saturday night and lasted many hours. It arose as a result of Wednesday's affray, when troops fired on a crowd, which caused fierce indignation in some quarters of the town. Notices were posted on walls warning the soldiers to expect vengeance, and a warning was given to civilians to discontinue friendly relations with the police. A band of youths started hostilities at eight o'clock, attacking two soldiers in Ridge Street, which was the scene of Wednesday's shooting. The soldiers were roughly handled before they took refuge in the Soldiers' Club in Carlisle Street- The crowd smashed the doors and windows with iron bars, and a desperate fight took place inside, chairs and other furniture being used as weapons. Eventually the soldiers won. They expelled the raidprs, and erected defensive barricades.

SOLDIERS WAYLAID. Meanwhile, individual soldiers attempting to Teach the club were waylaid, and one was removed to hospital. The local police were quite unable to cope with the fight, and large reinforcements were drawn from various quarters of the town. These suddenly appeared on the scene, and were ordered to clear the street. They were momentarily unsuccessful, but the crowd, returned to the fray apd rained stones, bolts and bottles on the police. A number of revolver shots, apparently from the crowd, caused a temporary panic. The police drew bayonets and charged. They drove the mob pell mell down the street, but shots became so frequent, that the police fired two warning volleys in the air. Two hundred Dorsets arrived and the crowds irate then over-armed. ANOTHER VIOLENT FIGHT. Meanwhile a violent faction fight was proceeding at the ferry quay gate, which lasted three hours. The police made numerous bayonet, charges, and separated unionists and Sinn Feiners.

When the rioting in these areas was suppressed a signal light in the sky notified an attack on the Lacky Road barracks- All the police who could be spared rushed in that direction, followed by fifty troops at the double. A number of revolver shots were fired at the troops en route. A sergeant and five constables held the barracks against a determined and well planned attack. Four decoy messages failed to lure the defenders afield. The attackers freely used revolvers and boulder.?, but the police, behind sandbags, drove them out of range. All the defenders were slightly wounded. Eleven civilians have been taken to the hospital.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE VICEROY RESIGNS. LONDON PAPER'S STATEMENT. Loudon, April 17. The Evening Standard states on high authority that the Government has received Lord French's resignation. His decision is final. At the inquest on Mac Curtain at Cork, Lord French and Mr. J. J. Taylor declined to attend. The Crown Solicitor warmly protested against the monstrous suggestion that the police were responsible for the murder. The jury, after two hours's absence, found that Mac Curtain was murdered in circumstances of the most callous brutality. The murder was organised and carried out by the Royal Irish Constabulary, officially directed by the British Government. ' A verdict was returned of wilful mur-, der against Mr. Lloyd George, Lord French, Mr. MacPherson, and others. The jury condemned the practice of ,raids at unreasonable hours. A party of twenty men, at midnight, attacked three policemen in Dundalk, and felled two. The third fired his revolver and wounded Thomas Mulholland, who died at Louth Infirmary. Mulholland was interned after the 1918 rebellion.! A brigade of lancers, hussars and dragoons has been ordered to Ireland.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

RAID NEAR A CHURCHPOLICE AND CIVILIAN KILLED. Received April 19, 2.35 p.m. London, April 18. Murderers concealed behind walls near a church at Kilmihill, West Clare, fired on a party of police as the latter were leaving mass. Sergeant Carroll was killed and Constable Collins was wounded in the back. Several civilians were wounded during the affray, including John Breene, whose injuries! were fatal.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.