HOSTILE IRISH.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1922, Page 5

HOSTILE IRISH.

continues. FREE STATE OPPOSED DE VALERA’S INFLUENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, April 6. The Dublin correspondent of the Daily Mail states that, though the combined efforts of the Ulster and the Free State Provisional Governments are a hopeful sign, the position in Ireland is critical, owing to the actions of a hostile minority of disappointed extremists. The followers of de Valera openly threaten to prevent free and independent voting by bullet and bayonet. There is clear evidence that the country desires the Free State. It is understood the Provisional Government intends to take early steps to prevent intimidation which would plunge the country into further chaos.

The Daily Mail, in a leader headed “Kerensky in Irish,” warns Mr. Collins that the next few days may decide whether his fate will be the same as that of Kerensky at Lenin’s hands. Britain placed the South of Ireland in his keeping, relying on his good faith and strength of character. It appeals to him to prove that he deserves the great trust and will not allow himself to be openly challenged or defied.

FURTHER OUTRAGES. The de Valerites, with increasing boldness, attempted two daylight attacks on Free State soldiers in Dublin without success. A party in Galway held up .Captain Hurley. commander of the Loyalists in Limerick, demanded the keys of the stores and commandeered the barracks. He refused and was shot in the thigh. He attempted to draw his revolver, but a rebel placed his revolver on his wrist and fired. His wrist was shattered. The hitherto peaceful county of Mayo has witnessed an attack on two demobilised members of the Royal Irish Constabulary. Two motor car loads of armed men stormed a house at Ballyhaunis and shot the ex-constables as they lay in bed. One is dead and the other seriously wounded. The widening of the breach between the Free Staters and the rebels was exemplified by an affair at Bray, when a hidden gang ambushed a motor conveying Free State officers, who escaped scathless. The Bishop of Loughrea, in ar address in the cathedral, condemned the' so-called de Valerite executive outrigh*. He said: “They may call themselves what they please- They are not a national army; they are a military junta and its oath is not a binding obligation.” Meanwhile the task of establishing a joint committee of Protestants and Catholics in Ulster under the treaty is practically complete. The Ulster Government awaits the names of the Catholics. A TOWN TERRORISED. There were terrifying scenes at Swineford, following the refusal of farmers and traders to suspend business. Armed men entered the market and made a house-to-house visit and at the point of the revolver Ordered business to cease. The streets were cleared in ten minutes. This marks an extension of the trouble to the west of Ireland which, for several years, has enjoyed comparative peacefulness. The usual gang of armed youths arrived when the farmers and traders refused to suspend operations and fired revolvers into the air witfi a view to terrorising the crowd. They returned later, strongly reinforced by hundreds of others, and ordered the shops to be dosed and wrecked those whose owners refused They gave orders to the district judge and maltreated him when he refused to obey.

The ostensible pretext for the ruffianism was the fact that the Republican revolters had arranged to re-inter the body of a man, who was killed while ambushing British forces, and decreed a cessation of business as a sign of mourning. THE TAXATION QUESTION. In reply to a question in the House of Commons, Sir Robert Horne said that the Irish Provisional Government could not impose new taxation till the constitution had been established. The Irish Free Staters ambushed a police patrol at Belcoo, near the Fermanagh frontier. Three constables were wounded and sent to hospital. One is missing and his fate is unknown. Reinforcements have been dispatched to the scene. FREE STATE RECRUITS. CAPTURED BY REBELS. WHILE JOURNEYING TO ENLIST. Received April 7, 8.40 p.m. London, April 6. Hundreds of recruits, who were going from Kerry to Dublin to enlist in the Free State army, were taken in custody by a force of armed rebels at Mallow station. County Cork. The rebels boarded the train and shot one recruit after he had been taken prisoner, because he shouted: “Up with the Free State.” The recruit was taken to the hospital seriously wounded, and the captives were taken to the Buttevant barracks under a strong escort.—Aus.-N-Z. Cable Assn. ROYAL IRISH CONSTABLES. FURTHER MURDERS. Received April 7, 8.5 p.m. London. April 7. As the result of a deputation of members of the House of Commons, Cabinet has telegraphed General Macready to take special measures to protect* the disbanded Royal Irish constables. A telegram announcing the murder of two more constables at Tralee arrived while Mr. Chamberlain was receiving the deputation. Cabinet also decided that the disbanded men who care to come to England will be granted separation allowances. — Aua.-N-Z. Cable Assn. WOMAN HOLDS UP TRAINS. DE VALERA’S RECRUITING. Received April 7, 8.40 p.m. London, April 7. The casualties at Belfaet include a nine-year-old boy. An armed woman held up two trains in County Donegal. She seized and burned the newspapers. The Republicans have urged the army to abandon allegiance to the Free State, which is believed to be the beginning of de Valera recruiting campaign, which js growing stronger daily.— Cable Amu.