RAIDS ON ULSTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1922, Page 5

RAIDS ON ULSTER.

ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN.

HELP TO KEEP PEACE. PERIL OF CIVIL WAR. I >j Tolesrapb.—Prem Assn—Copyright. Received Feb. 10, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 9. The Irish disturbances formed the subject of a series of questions in the House of Commons. Mr. Winston Churchill said the Provisional Government had not requested Britain to retain troops in Ireland. It would be impossible to give the date of the completion of the withdrawal of troops from Southern Ireland. He was arranging the transfer of a large portion of army stores to the Provisional Government, but the transfer of anything in the nature of munitions of war or transport would be strictly regulated. A member: "As a possibility of civil war exists will the Minister undertake that not another rifle or bullet will be handed over?”

Mr. Churchill: “I will give no such undertaking. So long as the Provisional Government carries out the treaty we will equip it with all means to maintain order within its own territory.” Mr. Churchill, replying to a question whether Lister would receive the same consideration, said the Imperial Government was responsible in every way for assistance in the maintenance of law and order throughout Northern Ireland and its function would be discharged with adequate forces.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

SOME 'KIDNAPPED RELEASED. OTHER CAPTURES MADE. Received Feb. 10, 5A p.m. London, Feb. 9. A number of kidnapped persons from the Belieek district have been released. The Ulster Home Office has sent a further strong remonstrance to the Viceroy against delay in releasing the kidnapped persons. While an ambulance was proceeding to remove wounded to hospital it was surrounded near Monaghan by armed LRJL’s, who captured the guard of four soldiers and four police. They removed these prisoners to Monaghan, which is strongly held by the republican army detachments, and they were then sent to an unknown destination.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FRONTIER STRONGLY GUARDED. PRESS CONDEMNS RAIDS. London. Feb. 9. Ulster is concentrating a large foree of police on the southern frontier, where 5000 are already posted. Dublin reports state that the most prominent Nationalist journal* denouncp the raids as indefensible, though they condemn the belated announcement that the Derry prison murderers have been reprieved? The Irish Times says the shootings and seizures in Fermanagh and the kidnappings in Sligo are heart-breaking acts of folly and wickedness. The Provisional Government must try to appreciate Ulster’s feelings of anger and resentment and t Sir James Craig must make every possible allowance for the Provisional Government’s difficulties. It has worked hard in many directions, but ha* not yet been able ’to establish real authority and has not had time to replace the British machinery of law xith effective machinery of its own.

THE IRISH LEADERS. VIEWS ON THE SITUATION. A PLEA FOR PATIENCE. Received Feb. 10, 7.25 p.m. London, Feb. 9. Mr. Arthur .Griffith (leader of the Dail Eireann). interviewed, said he was satisfied the British Government was sincerely determined to give the treaty full effect, and he was confident that with patience and on both aides the so-called Ulster question could be amicably settled on a basis of a unified Ireland. The Provisional Government did not possess full governmental powers at present, but may be relied on to take every action within its circumscribed powers to prevent illegalities and disorders. Mr. Michael Collins (head of the Provisional Government), in an interview, referring to a statement issued by Mr. de Valera that Mr. Lloyd Ueorge’s policy was once more to trick the Irish people and to deal with Mr. Griffith and Mr. Collins as he dealt with Mr. Redmond and Mr. Dillon, stated: “Our position is different. We make our decision and decide how we are to deal with Mr. Lloyd George.*’—Aus.-N-Z. Cable Assn.

BIG ATTACK PLANNED. FOUR THOUSAND ARMED REBELS. Received Feb. 10, 7.25 p.m. London, Feb. 9. Four thousand armed Sinn Feiners, with three hundred motor cars, assembled in the valley of Donegal on Tuesday night ready to advance on Derry. They dispersed when news of tl|* prisoners release arrived.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FORCES MOBILISING. ON THE FRONTIER. Received Feb. 9, 8.45 pjit. London. Feb. 9. Mr. Churchill, before the adjournment oi the House of Commons, questioned as tn the latest news from Ireland, said ne was con fident the lives of the kidnapped men would not be endangered. The Northern Government was mobilising a considerable force of special constables on the frontier, and the British ’ Government had promised the fullest sunport in the -maintenance of law and order. REBEL LEADER’S THREAT. TROUBLE OVER PRISONERS. London, Feb. 9. The Star’s Belfast correspondent states that O'Duffy, Chief of Staff of the RepubArmy, made a statement: ‘Tbe patic c? of our people in Ulster has been soreL tried lately by continuous raids, anssta

and torture committed by agents of the Northern Government.” O’Duffy admits that the men captured acted by his orders to save life and property from Orange mobs. He declares that the culminating point was the evident intention of the Northern Government to hang the Derry gaol prisoners. This was evidenced by the erection of a scaffold and the arrival of the hangman. O’Duffy concludes: “There can be peace in Ulster when the Northern Government wills it. There will not be peace while SMQ are in custody.”