BELFAST RIOTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1921, Page 5

BELFAST RIOTS.

HEAVY CASUALTIES, POSITION QUIETER. MILITARY. IN CONTROL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. Received Sept. 2, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 2. The Belfast correspondent of ike DailyNews states the total casualties in the riots are seventeen killed and two hundred wounded, of whom a hundred arc still in hospital. Ninety per cent, of these could have been averted if the military had been utilised after the mid-day outbreak on Monday. London, Sept. 1. Belfast continued quiet throughout the day. The military promptly suppressed every effort to recommence fighting. The Belfast correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states that Commandant O’DuiTy, who describes himself as Sinn Fein liaison officer for Northern Ireland, made the audacious announcement that, as it was patent that the Belfast police were conniving with the Orange mob: “I ordered the Republican troops to take action for the protection of the Catholics. I posted sentries at vantage points and they made their presence felt.” The Telegraph adds: “This is an unlooked for confirmation that Sinn Fein was responsible for the deadly sniping which killed men, women and children in the open streets.”

The Dublin correspondent of the Morning Post states De Valera’s reply contains about 700 words. It includes references to the bloodshed in Belfast, and demands that Sinn Feiners in th© TjTone and Fermanagh provinces should have exclusion from Ulster. It is believed that the Dail Eireann’s reply has been redrafted since the Belfast outbreak. The Ulster Cabinet has had a further conference with the military and civic leaders. At Belfast the Lord Mayor has issued a proclamation appealing for the continuance of peace and declaring that further military support is ready and the authorities are determined to quell disorder.