IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1922, Page 5

IRELAND.

SESSIONS HELD UP. BOND STORES RAIDED. CONTENTS RUN TO WASTE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received April 9, 5.5 pm. London, April 7. Mr. De Valera, speaking at Dunlaeghaire, said the Irish people would always oppose the treaty, and, if wise, they would remove it by the roots. The Provisional Government would not be obeyed and would not functionThree members of the secessionist section of the Republican Army forced the registrar at the revolver’s point to send a telegram to County Court Judge Fleming as follows: ‘’Don’t come to Mullingar sessions to-morrow. You do so at your peril. The Republicans will arrest you.” Judge Fleming had adjourned the Moate sessions on the previous day, as a result of intervention by three men, whom the regular Irish Republicans have since arrested. A large number of rebels, armed with rifles, revolvers and machine guns, invaded Middleton, County Cork, in motor cars. They entered the principal shops and ordered the employees into the streets. During last night three hundred men entered the bonded stores at Dublin Cus-toms-house and knocked in the heads of casks of whisky and wine belonging to Belfast firms. The wine and spirits flowed in all directions. It is estimated that the damage will amount to at least £lOO,OOO. At the beginning of the raid armed men seized the police on duty in the vicinity of the Customs-house; then some who were carrying heavy sledge-hammers broke into the building and destroyed 6000 casks, containing half a million gallons of whisky, mostly belonging to Dunville and Co., of whieh Sir James Craig is chairman. The loss of revenue represents several million sterling. The outrage is part of the rebel boycott of Belfast goodsThe vaults are lighted by gas, but, owing to the danger of explosion, the raiders worked with flashlights. They continued their work of destruction for five hours. When the spirit formed great pools, in which the raiders waded knee-deep, they tore up the floor at many points in order that the liquor might sink into the ground. Nevertheless, this morning the whisky still formed miniature lakes in places, and workmen were employed all day carrying it in buckets and pouring it down the sewers.

BANKS ROBBED. OFFICER SHOT DEAD. Received April 9, 5.5 p.m. London, April 8. Armed men raided the Northern Bank at Lanesborough. They escaped in motor cars, after shooting dead Captain Cox, of the Free State Guard, who was protecting the bank. Others raided the Ulster Bank at Castlexea and stole £2OOCHURCHILL’S PHILOSOPHY. LET HAPPEN WHAT WILL. Received April 9, 5.5 p.m. London, April 8. When speaking at Dundee, Mr. Churchill said the situation in Ireland was the gravest possible, and would become worse before improving. Possibly some classes of Irishmen would kill each other over the treaty. “If Irishmen choose to cut off their own noses to spite their faces we cannot prevent them, and will not try. They are responsible, not we. Nothing in the nature of a republic in Ireland will be accepted in Britain. I believe the Irish nation is now in the position where it ought to look forward, not to brood over the past ” REPUBLICAN ORDERS. TO IRISH NEWSPAPER. Received April 9, 11.30 p.m. London, April 9. The Irish Republican Army has notified Irish newspapers forbidding the publication of items regarding the Irish Republican Army unless sanctioned by the army’s publicity department. This means that f • republican section of the Irish Republican Army forbids the publication of notices issued from the Free State army’s headquarters. A MILITARY APPOINTMENT. London. April 6. Major-General Arthur Solly-Flood has been appointed military adviser to the North Irish Government. His duties comprise plans to repel invasion and suppress Irish Republican Army activities in six counties.—Reuter. RAID ON A CUSTOM HOUSE. London. April 7. Sinn Feiners destroyed half a million gallons of whisky during a raid on a custom house. The damage is estimated at several millions.