IRISH REBELS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1922, Page 5

IRISH REBELS.

DEMAND FOR REPUBLIC, CIVIL WAR INVOLVED. OPPOSED TO TREATY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received April 16, 5.5 p.m. London, April 15. O’Connor, commander of the republican forces, in an interview, stated that liis forces were independent of the de Valeriteai He said he would not recognise any agreement achieved by party leaders. His men stood for and were prepare,d to die for a republic and they would not permit any Government to replace the republic. The only means of averting civil war was to cancel the treaty, which he realised would mean war with England, but that must come sooner or later. Ireland’s chances now were better than they would be four or five years hence. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TROOPS CONCENTRATE. ACTIVITY IN DUBLIN. Received April 16, 5.5 p.m. New York, April 14. The Chicago Tribune’s London correspondent learns that a vast concentration of irregular troops was proceeding in Dublin over the week-end, detachments coming from Cork, Limerick and Tipperary, and also from. Glasgow and Manchester. Houses throughout the suburbs are being commandeered, and the irregulars seized buildings on the quays covering the entrance to the port. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AROUSING THE REBELS. DE VALERA SOWING TROUBLES. Received April 16, 11.5 p.m. London, April 15. De Valera has issued an Easter mes•%ge calling on the young men and women of Ireland to remain true to the republic. He says: “Beyond.all telling it is the destiny God has in mind for Ireland, the fair, the peerless one. You are the artificers of that destiny; yours is the faith that moves mountains, that confounds cowardly reason and its thousand misgivings. The goal is at last in sight. Steady! All together! Forward! Ireland is yours for the taking! Take it!” A DARING COUP. HIGH COURT SEIZED. London, April 14. The biggest coup yet effect**! by the anti-treaty Republicans was accomplished in Dublin at midnight. A force of four hundred seized the Four Courts, which is the seat of the High Court of Justice for Southern Ireland. The at--5 lackers marched in two forces and met with no opposition. > oral of the police were arrested, but later they were liberated. Meanwhile the Republicans seized the adjacent Four Courts ' Hotel, ejected the guests and fortified both buildings, filling the windows with sand-bags. I They forcibly requisitioned the services of those passing by for filling bags with sand and clay. These buildings were amongst the first public buildings which the rebels took in Easter, 1916. The gravest misgivings are felt. Two civilians, bakers, named Car michael and Cloan, were killed, and one wounded and four policemen wounded *n street fighting in Belfast early on Friday. Commandant-General Roderick O’Connor, who was in command of thte attackers on the court, says: “This is not a coup d’etat. There is not going to 'be a revolution. We want this place and are only going to use it as headquarters. That that no court work will be allowed nor any ordinary routine office work. We won’t damage the public property and we will preserve public documents.” Hitherto the headquarters of the army executive has been sitting in a strongly fortified building in Parnell Square.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. Received April 16, 11.5 p.m. London, April 15. The Irish re,publican army seized other public buildings in Dublin. ALLEGED MURDERERS. Received April 16, 11.40 p.m. London, April 16. The Sunday Express’ Dublin correspondent states the affidavits of several witnesses have been forwarded to the Ulster Premier identifying the murderers of the MaoMahons as members of the Ulster special police from Belfast barracks. The Southern Government has sent Sir James Craig an imperative demand for the arrest and trial of the accused men.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN ARMY. London, April 14. Mr. de Valera, interviewed, explains his objections to the present regime. He says the army of the Republic has now reverted definitely to its former independent status. Asked for an alternative to the present state of affairs, he suggested that the Dail, as Government of the Republic, should continue its functions until a vote was taken. In the interim an executive which would command respect from all could easily be selected and made responsible to the Dail. “I am definitely opposed to a centralised police force, which might be made . the instrument of a tyrannical executive and used for political purposes. 1 approve the suppression of the courts, as they have been superseded by the courts of the Republic, which still exist.”