IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1922, Page 5

IRELAND.

PANDEMONIUM BREAKS OUT MR. COLLINS’ TRYING TIME. PANDIMONIUM BREAKS OUT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received April 4, 10.50 p.m. London, April 4. A sensation occurred at Mr. Collins’ meeting at Castlebar. His opponents wrecked the railway line in two places to prevent his supporters reaching the town. They barricaded the streets, held up automobiles, and cut the telegraph linesMr. Collins eventually reached the platform and attempted to speak, when pandemonium broke out. Revolvers were brandished and fired. One woman was wounded, while others wept hysterically and fainted. The crowd finally ejected Mr. Collins and his party, searched them, and then despatched them back to Dublin.

ATTACK ON MR. COLLINS. ■ A NARROW ESCAPE. Received April 4, 5.5 p.m. London, April 3. Mr. Michael Collins had a narrow escape at Castlebar, mentioned earlier. A crowd of 2000, mostly hostile, rushed the platform, but friends drew their revolvers and formed a circle. Shots were fired, one woman was wounded and others fainted and were trampled on. Mr. Collins left by special train. Prior to the meeting all the roads were blocked, the railway was torn up and telegraph wires cut. —United Service.

BOAT FULL OF MUNITIONS. CAPTURED BY REPUBLICANS“DISHONORABLE BREACH OF TRUCE.” Received April 4, 5.5 p.m. London, April 3. Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons, said the tug captured at Queenstown contained 400 rifles, 700 revolvers, 39 ma-, chine guns, and half a million rounds of rifle ammunition. The rebel Republicans captured the tug on the high seas and took her to a bay near-by, and landed arms in a hundred motor cars, which were commandeered at Cork. When the destroyer Heather reached the bay it found the populace looting the tug. The incident was a dishonorable breach of the truce entered into, not by the provisional Government, but by the elected representatives of the Irish people. The Admiralty is holding an inquiry. Future movements of munitions will be guarded.—Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ULSTER BUSINESS MEN. TO PUT ULSTER’S CASE BEFORE WORLD. Received April 4, 7.30 p.m. London, April 3. A meeting of 3000 representative business men at Belfast formed an association to work for peace and take steps to put Ulster’s case and difficulties more clearly to the world than hitherto had been done, because it was felt that Ulster’s enemies’ propaganda was damaging her reputation. Sir James Craig privately addressed the meeting, which pledged itself t o support his efforts to subvert external and internal enemies and suppress crime.—Aus.-N.Z-Cable Assn.

REPUBLICANS IN BARRACKS. London, April 3. A detachment of 250 Free State troops arriving at Mullingar, en route to Athlone, marched to the local barracks, where Republican troops refused them admission. The Free Staters returned to the station.