MANY FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1920, Page 5

MANY FIRES.

tNCENDIARISM IN LIVERPOOL. WAREHOUSES DESTROYED ORGANISED OUTRAGES. Bj Tslegrapb.—Press Association London, Nov. 28. A series of fires, believed to have Ixei caused by Sinn Feiners, broke out in twelve cotton warehouses and several timber yards in Liverpool on Saturday night. The damage amounts to several thousand* sterling. Several policemen were shot at.

The organised outrages in Liverpool indicate the commencement of the threatened Sinn Fein attacks in English industrial centres, which were disclosed in documents captured during the recent London raids.

Late last night more than twelve cotton warehouses and five large timber yards wertfiJet on fire. Policemen seized ft suspect, who produced a revolver and shot a constable dead. A man named Daniel Ward states that he saw men, •■believed to be Sinn Feiners, Bet fire to one warehouse. Several fires are still burning. Fire brigades from neighboring towns are assisting the local men.

At Bootle, a suburb of Liverpool, six fires weTe burning simultaneously. The police have issued descriptions of two young men, believed to be Sinn Feiners. A later mesage says that a civilian, not a policeman, was shot dead in Liverpool. He, with a policeman, was- watching the men setting fire to the warehouses when the fatal shot was fired. The policeman had a narrow escape; a blank shot was fired at him.

The warehouses were entered by cutting and forcing bolts and locks. The fires started simultaneously at both ends of the docks.

Later accounts deny that a policeman was killed. It wa.3 Daniel Ward, the youth cabled earlier, who lost his life. Noticing men acting suspiciously in a warehouse doorway, he informed the police, who tackled the men. The latter retaliated, firing a shot which penetrated the constable's overcoat. -Two arrests Were made after a short struggle; then a third man. who was keeping watch, produced a revolver and fired at Ward, -who fell dead

The buildings set on fire were situated in the north and south ends of Liverpool. The outbreaks started at ten o'clock, and* were mostly soon -extinguished. One cotton warehouse engaged the firemen until 4 o'clock this afternoon.

The warehouses were entered by the locks and bolts being cut by special apparatus. The perpetrators appear to have uned much petrol, as many tins were founds The polio* detained four yien.

DETAILS OF THE PLOT. SINN FEIN DEFINITELY BLAMED. VfiRY HEAVY LOSS. Bfcejrea Nov. 29, 755 p.m. London, Nov. 29. Eighteen fires broke out at Liverpool, and -nine in the Bootle area, extending for several miles. Sinn Feiners carried out the plot with skill and daring. Each building was allotted to four or five men, and they were apparently strong, athletic youths,' veil coached in their task. One kept watch in each case, while the others picked the looks and cut through the padlocks with bolt cutters, of which a number were found on the burning prenrfses. They thus removed the iron bars of the warehouse doors. Motor' cars were evidently used to ewwey petrol, of which considerable quantities were used. In most cases the fire had a firm hold of the building before the brigade arrived. The brigades had so many calls in Liverpool that they called In the Birkenhead, Vfarrington, and St, Helens brigades to assist In some cages quart bottles of petrol were found in the burning buildings, a number of which were cotton warehouses, full of valuable stuff. Even in cases where buildings were saved great damage was done, due to gutting. The damage has not been ascertained, but It is estimated at hundreds of thousands sterling. The police are overwhelmed with demands for special protection of offices ami warehouses. Apart from the man arrested redhanded iB Bootle, fotir others weTe detained. The man captured when Ward was killed refuses to discrose liis identity, but he has a str.ong Irish brogue. The police believe the plot is due to outsiders, as the Liverpool Sinn Feiners are well known and are considered to be unequal to this effort.—Aua.-N.Z.» Cable Ajgn.

OPERATIONS IN LONDON. THE FIRST ATTEMPT FAILS. ONE MAN ARRESTED. Received Nov. 29, 8.30 p.m. London, Nov. 29. The city police foiled an attempt to burn a timber yard belonging to Ingram, Perkins and Co.. at Finsbury. Six men were seen, and it ie believed thej were all armed, but they dispersed. Several «J1 cant and revolvers were found on the premises. After a chase a man was detained. {Revelations are expected when he is charged to-day. Borne believe the episode indicates the opening of Sinn Fein outrages in London.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aissn.