WAR IN BELFAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1921, Page 5

WAR IN BELFAST.

WEEK-END OF TERROR. BITTER FIGHTINC. THE RIOT ACT READ. WOUNDED FIRED AT. Bitter fighting has again broken out ■ in Belfast, where terror reigned during one of the worst week-ends in the city’s history. The Riot Act was read in the disturbed areas. Bomb explosions and shooting made warfare general, and early attempts to stop the fighting were futile. Gunmen sniped the ambulances removing the injured. Troops are being sent to reinforce the military now in Belfast, and the outbreak is partially controlled. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Sept. 26. The week-end in Belfast was one of the worst in its history. Rival mobs, particularly in the east end, continued bitter fighting throughout Sun lay, frenzied women replenishing the fighters with ammunition. Attempts to stop the fighting were futile. The police and soldiers fired into the mobs again and again and used a Lewis gun, but the only effect was to silence the gun-fire momentarily. In a few minutes it was resumed with renewed vigor. Gunmen sniped the ambulances removing those injured. Bomb explosions caused fresh retaliations by the opposing forces. Finally eight additional armored cars appeared and patrolled the streets pumping lead into the houses infested by snipers. DRASTIC MEASURES TAKEN. Additional troops and armored cars have arrived at Belfast, where the Biot Act was read in the disturbed area today. Sir James Craig, in the Ulster Parliament, said that as a result of the conference between the police, the military and himself it had been decided to mobilise special constabulary. The military was fully alive to the situation. All -the troops required would be available. The military now control the east end of Belfast city. Two battalions are coming to reinforce the garrison. Feeling runs high and none knows where the next outbreak will be, but a strong display of the military kept the storm centres quiet. The troops are erecting sandbag defences as protection against snipers. The Daily Telegraph’s Belfast correspondent says: “Sinn Fein gunmen on Sunday night, armed with rifles and carrying ammunition bandoliers, fired volley after volley into the Unionists in the Newtonards• Road. The latter put up a stubborn fight", but an ineffectual one, with stones. In some cases there were hand-to-hand struggles between Unionists and Sinn Feinera, who were able to get to grips. The disorders lasted two hours, during which frenzied womenfolk supplied the Sinn Fein gunmen with more ammunition. BOMBS THROWN. “When the Sinn Feiners threw two bombs, which burst harmlessly, the Unionists retaliated with another, which failed to explode. Finally a curious noise was heard, ana was found to be due to stones rolling down the roof of a house in Newtonards Road into the street. These stones were thrown by the Sinn Feinera in order to attract a crowd. The ruse succeeded, a large party of Unionists collected, and a few moments later a big bomb was thrown. Some of the crowd saw it rolling down the roof and tried to give warning, but the missile fell with a terrific explosion, splinters flying over a wide area and causing indescribable confusion. Some of the wounded ran. others lay in the streets, their shrieks mingling with the cries of the terrified women and children who had been attracted by curiosity. “The Sinn Feiners, overjoyed at the success of the ruse, cheered even when the wounded were being placed in the ambulance. At least sixty wounded were sent to the hospital during the evening. “The bomb outrage resulted in Unionist reprisals to-day. A band of shipyard workers, whose comrades had suffered through the bomb explosion, went to the Queen’s Island recreation ground, which is in process of formation, and attacked the Nationalists working there, shooting one and badly beating two others.”