IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1922, Page 5

IRELAND.

WAR AGAINST TRADERS. REBELS RAID TRAINS. TROOPS FOR BELFAST, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received March 30, 7.25 p.m. London, March 30. The rebels are pursuing a most intense operation against Belfast traders, and further attacks have been made on trains. One south-bound train laden with Belfast goods was captured at Drogheda station. The waggons were opened and the merchandise scattered far and wide. The Great Northern Railway has suspended all night goods trains. Sir James Craig has successfully appealed for the retention of four Irish battalions at Belfast. Republican sympathisers at the Benmore barracks ordered Free Staters to leave, and two hundred were deported, leaving their arms. Mr. Duggan took over the barracks on behalf of the Republic, and will use it as a training centre for rebels.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DISORDERS CONTINUE. A TRAIN DERAILED. London, March 22. A mixed mail and goods tram from Belfast to Dublin was derailed near Adavoyle, then a force of armed men surrounded the train, set fire to the wagons, and destroyed all the goods from Belfast. The postal van was also destroyed. A train from Enniskillen to Sligo was also held up and goods from Northern Ireland were burned. A large force from the Free State captured the Belcoo police barracks, in County Fermanagh, and carried off 15 police. CONFERENCE OPENS. NAMES OF THE DELEGATES. London. March 29. The Irish Conference has opened at the Colonial Office. The British delegates are: Mr. Winston Churchill, Sir L. Worthington Evans, Lord Peel, Sir Hamar Greenwood and Lord Birkenhead. Ulster is represented by Sir James Craig, Mr. E. M. Archdale (Minister of Agriculture and Commerce), and Lord Londonderry (Minister of Education). Southern Ireland is represented by Messrs. Griffiths, Collins, Duggan and Higgins. R.I.C. CLERKS STRIKE. London, March 29. Two hundred and fifty clerks in* the Royal Irish Constabulary Pensions Office, Dublin, announced a strike to-day unless the British Government grants immediate demobilisation with one year’s salary. They declare their lives are not safe in Southern Ireland, and they wish to leave with the means to establish homes elsewhere. POLICE PATROL AMBUSHED. London, March 29. A police patrol was ambushed near Crossmaglen, Armagh. Two constables were killed and one wounded. Mr. Chamberlain announced in the House of Commons that in view of the Irish Conference consideration of the Lords’ amendments to the Irish Free State Bill had been postponed till tomorrow. THE LILA. SPLIT. RAID ON A BANK. Received March 30, 5.5 p.m. London, March 29. Mr. Duffy, Free State Chief-of-Staff, has issued a manifesto relieving all officers and men of the I.R.A. of the responsibility of obeying orders from any superior officer who lias severed his connection with the I.R.A. by attending the Army Convention. The manifesto is a reply to the order by the executive of the convention depriving Mr. Mulcaly, the Dail Eireann’s Minister of Defence, of control of the army and makes the split in the I.R.A. complete. Three undisguised armed men entered the Ulster Bank at Ballycastle, Antrim, locked up the manager and the cashier, and decamped with a large sum, after stating that the money was for Catholic boycotted workers in Belfast and the bank would be recouped.