BELFAST PANIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1922, Page 5

BELFAST PANIC.

ATROCIOUS CRIMES. BATTLE IN THE CITY. FAMILIES IN FLIGITi, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received June 2, 8.40 p.m. London, June 1. The shooting in Belfast has been marked by most atrocious crimes. Many have been killed in their houses, where rival factions pursued them. Houses in which the corpses lay were set on fire, the bodies being rescued just in time to prevent cremation. In some instances the firemen’s hoses were played over themselves. Bayonet charges by the military dispelled the mobs, who joined in an appalling battle. The situation is still grave. Entire families are fleeing in panic. The situation in Belfast continues to be of the gravest character. The Opera House lias been closed and picture palaces and music halls are doing so little business, owing to Sinn Fein threats to blow them up, that they contemplate closing down immediately. There were numerous attempts at murders and burnings during the afternoon. Fouteen were killed in the Millfield areas in twenty-four hours. The military are doing- their best to isolate the Sinn Fein gunmen and their machine guns are raking the streets, but the Sinn .'Feiners are well concealed. The machine gunners are inexpert and the machine guns finally jammed, after several civilians, some of whom were Roman Catholics, were killed and wounded.

After a bomb was thrown at a t»amcar a loyalist mob got out of hand and burned several houses in the Catholic area, but the gunmen were always able to escape. Pedestrians meanwhile went to work at the risk of their lives, and. several were killed and wounded who were taking no part in the conflict, including a boy going to school and an old blind beggar selling laces. In one case Sinn Feiners stopped a man driving a motor lorry and brutally murdered him, and then drove off with the lorry, throwing the body in the roadway.

During the day the Belfast fire brigade answered twenty-six calls. There were many cases of looting, including spirit shops. Boys ran about offering bottles to passers-by, hiding when the police came in view. London, June 1.

There was considerable firing in the Grosvenor Road district of Belfast to-day, the Crown forces vigorously replying to snipers. An eleven-year-old lad was killed and several persons injured. Bombs were thrown at tramcars last night. The gunmen’s firing is said to be the most extensive that has ever occurred. The truce declared in Strabane and Lifford has so far been honorably observed. Road traffic has been resumed.