ANXIOUS TIMES.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1922, Page 5

ANXIOUS TIMES.

FATE OF IRELAND. CONFERENCE DEADLOCK. WARFARE CONTINUES. ALARM OF THE PEOPLE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received May 30, 7.55 pm. London, May 30. There is seriotts disquiet in Parliamentary circles over the Irish situation, and members of the House of Commons are frankly discussing alternatives if the conference breaks down. The general view is that Cabinet will not be prepared to act without express authority from the country. The Irish election and the oath are the pointe holding up the negotiations. Sinn Feiners kidnapped a number of loyalists at Pettige Market, on the Fermanagh border, from which loyalists are fleeing. leaving everything behind them. The campaign of murder continues in Belfast. Two policemen and a civilian were talking at the door of the barracks, when three gunmen opened fire at 15 yards* range. The constable was hit in the stomach and the civilian wounded. Later Constable McGarity was shot dead. Firing continued in the neighborhood, two civilians being killed and several wounded. Forty arrests were made in the Falls district of Belfast this morning. Further incendiary fires broke out during the night. At a meeting of the Londonderry Corporation the Mayor warned the British authorities and the Northern Government that if the present policy of driving out Nationalists from the mother island and Londonderry was continued they would burn the city to the ground. Fighting between the Crown forces and Sinn Feiners on the border near Newry lasted over thirty hours, but has now ceased. Many casualties were inflicted on both sides. The rebels failed to capture the police barracks, and sought a truce, which was granted.

FIERCE FIGHTING.

ON DONEGAL FRONTIER.

London, May *29. Fierce spasmodic fighting occurred on the Donegal-Fermanagh border. Forty police went to Magheramena Castle, near Belleek, as reinforcements. While journeying they observed a party of the Irish Republican Army marching along the railway line, trying to reach a position dominating the Castle. After prolonged shooting the Irish Republican Army retired, leaving five killed. The police lost one killed and three wounded. PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS SITUATION. London. May 29. Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons, said he hoped to make a statement about Ireland to-morrow. He added: ‘Tn view of the gravity and urgency of the issues Parliament is entitled to the fullest information in order to discuss the situation before the Whitsuntide recess.