GRAVE PLOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1920, Page 5

GRAVE PLOT.

- TO CRIPPLE LIVERPOOL DISORGANISING- MANCHESTER, SINN FEIN SCHEME. ■ By Telegraph.—Press Aasn._-eoprrle_t. Received Nov. 25, 7.50 p.m. London, Nov. 25. The Irish Office publishes the captured Sinn Fein documents containing the details of plans to destroy the Liverpool dock gates and machinery by means of gelignite, and afso sketches for the guidance of the gangs. It was proposed to ignite warehouses to niaßk the operations. Other documents give details, with sketches, for crippling the main power station in Manchester,'which is supplying the majority of factories, trams, etc. There are al9o the reports of a spy who made a close inspection. It was hoped that if the Liverpool dock gates were destroyed the outruah of water would cause widespread damage to shipping. The destruction of the power station in Sturt Street, Manwould, according to the document, paralyse Manchester. The plan of campaign as regards Liverpool was to cut the telephones, overpower the dock police, open the gates, and then demolish the gate machinery by means of gelignite. It was estimated this would require twentythree officers, twenty-seven engineers, and seventy-five rank and file for the preparations, which would occupy three weeks, the officers to reside "in 'the vicinjty for a week. The schedules contain a list of the docks, how to destroy them, the men required, how at present protected and guarded, how to deal with the guards, and how to approach them. For example the Canada dock is allotted to ten men, with a hundred pounds of gelignite, and attempts were made to calculate ttie time necessary to empty the docks by such methods. Instructions were given | as regards the most vulnerable portions of the machinery, and how the various parts would be best attacked. Sketches were drawn of the dockvards showing the method and material of construction, and what weight of explosive was required for each hinge. It was proposed to detonate the charges electrically in order to mask the approach I and escape of the gangs, and it was proi: posed to start fires in cotton and other ! warehouses half an hour ahead. The document relating to Sturt Street, Manchester, tells how the station worked and the hours of shifts, with a sketch plan' showing the positions of vulnerable machinery, for example, turbines and switchboards. It was proposed to cut the telephones, overpower the watchmen, and admit a motoT bearing tools, and also to round up the staff and the workmen. Most detailed instructions were furnished with sketches, showing how each destruction party would proceed, the .number of men in each party, and what ; implements were necessary, j Another document gives the report of a spy who toured the works one Sunday morning for an hour and a half. The same spy visited a pumping station at Claytonvale and supplied a report thereon. The spy describes the importance of the power station to Manchester industry, and shows details as to how the destruction parties ought to proceed.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.