TERROR IN BELFAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1921, Page 5

TERROR IN BELFAST.

FIERCE RIOTS IN CITY.

MILITARY JOIN IN. . CHECK ON WARFARE. By Telegraph.-—Press Assn —Copyright. London. August 31. There were five deaths in Belfast today. but the situation is reported to be easier. Fierce rioting was reported over a wide area this morning. The principal city thoroughfares came within the danger zone and hundreds of people were prevented from proceeding to business. The shooting became intense at times and there were many narrow escapes from stray bullets. Shipyard workers on the way to work were sniped and Richard Duffy was shot dead and several were wounded. Hospital accommodation is taxed\o the utmost by the large number of wounded. The Lord Mayor protested to the officer commanding that troops were not used to protect the citizens. The inactivity of the military is ascribed to the continuance of the Irish truce, but the military subsequently agreed to take over the situation. SHOOTING IN THE STREETS. GUNMEN CREATE PANIC. TROOPS CHECK THE TROUBLE. Received September 1, 5.5 p.m. London, August 31. The Belfast correspondent of the Morning Post states the public welcomed the intervention of troops, as they feared the disorderly elements getting the upper hand. Soldiers with fixed bayonets in the principal streets and armored cars at vulnerable points of the city prevented the trouble spreading, but disorders, continued at many places. Women and girls were fired on as they went to work, forcing the mill owners to forbid their employees to leave the factories.

Scenes of indescribable panic followed an invasion of the Protestant quarter of the eity by gunmen. ‘"'ne party of Sinn Ferners by a trick secured admission to a York Street spinning mill and shot down a worker. Attacks on unionists were repeated during the evening, when shipyard workers and others were leaving the factories in west Belfast and the police were compelled to fire on the crowd until the shipyard workers had passed the danger zone. The Daily Telegraphs Belfast correspondent says that during the forenoon a couple of Sinn Feiners took up a position in Royal Avenue and opened fire in the direction of a crowd of people congregated to watch events. This encouraged other snipers to get to work, and the crowd fled in all directions, but a number were wounded first. A youth who was struck dropped like a log, and the crowd rushed and lifted him up. When another shot rang out a little boy screamed in terror and he also was wounded. The victims were carried into a chemist’s shop, upon which the gunmen fired, breaking the window. The gunmen paid no respect to old age and they shot Jane McCracken, a centenarian. who was walking across the street. Finally an armored car drove up and the gunmen cleared out of Royal Avenue.

FIERCE FIGHTING.

THE WORST IN BELFAST

CASUALTIES GROWING

Received September 1. SA p.m. London, September 1.

The casualties in Belfast up to Wednesday evening totalled 14 killed and about 100 wounded. The Daily News’ Belfast correspondent reports that Wednesday's disorders saw what was probably the fiercest fighting in the long history of Belfast rioting. The trouble broke out afresh in the evening, and the military fired on a mob, one person being killed and four injured. The Ulster Cabinet, the Lord Mayor and the military and police chiefs held a conference and arranged for additional troops to be drafted into the city.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

A BLOW AT PEACE.

AIMS OF THE DISORDERS.

SINN FEIN TO BLAME.

Received September 1, 8.5 p.m. London. September 1.

The Daily News' Dublin correspondent gays there is no doubt as to the meaning of the barbarous pogrom of Catholics in Belfast. It is intended by the promoters—the most violent Orange leaders—to wreck the peace movement by making any rapprochement between the North and the South impossible.

The correspondent adds: “A more devilish or more wicked device for enthroning a political feud and bringing the half-built edifice of Irish peace crashing cannot be imagined. At the same time Sinn Fein is hardly entitled to complain, having itself taken up the Fword. By keeping cool and acting in concert with Mr. Llovd George. De Valera may stem the flood, but he must Art quickly and resolutely. Unfortunately. it rather looks now as though De Valera intended to use the trouble in order to score off England and gain a tactical advantage in the negotiations. If so, the consequences may be mipremely tragic.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn-