TRAGIC IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 November 1922, Page 5

TRAGIC IRELAND.

THE WAR DRAGS ON. CHAOS AND MISERY. LAND WITHOUT SMILES. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Nov. 26. •Apparently a tragedy such as that of Childers was needed to rouse England to a realisation of the true condition of the Irish Free State, which does not seem to be appreciated, throughout Ireland. on personal grounds, the death of a man like Child* ters id widely deplored, but it is pointed out that Childers’ brain was the motive power of the rebellion. The Dublin correspondent of The Times says that Childers, and not de Valera, really inspired the armed ref Ais conspicuous execution has resulted In ehedding more light on the condition of Ireland than has been Available in the monotonous narratives >f internectine bloodshed. For instance, the Evening Standard pictures Dublin as it is to-day, and says ma-chine-guns are on the roofs, and the ?ontinual tapping of snipers’ rifles is going on night after night, slowly blotting out the smiles and wearing out the nerves of the inhabitants. Members of the Government are taking their lives in their hands hourly, not knowing When they may be victims of a violent death.

“Ask yourself,” says the Standard, there a place in Europe outside Russia where darker pessimism reigns?’ The Observer depicts the Free State generally* in the same sombre tones. It lays the Government in Ireland is very Sear a breakdown. Security does not Heist, trade te undermined, railways and foads blocked cr only intermittently apen. The guerilla war drags on. and lide- by side with the wanton destruction in innumerable instances there is inhumanly spiteful cruelty, arid petty victimisation continually comes to light. Childers may possibly be pitied a« a romantic martyr, but the real martyrs are the women and children. There is still no indication of the effect of the execution on the Irish public. A number of public bodies have protested, and Childers’ friends complain that the date and hour of the execution were repeatedly changed. There is apprehension as to what will happen in Dublin on Sunday, when the women rebels assemble. These women frustrated the peace effort yesterday. when a meeting was held in Dublin to form a Peace League. The organisers tried to conduct it on nonparty lines, but the women would not have it, and shouted and denounced the Government for slaying their own people at the bidding of the British Government. Tlren the regular troops entered and searched a number of the audience for arms. De Valera’s latest bulletin doee not illude to Childers, but is in strict legal ?hraseologv. It ordains the suppression i>f the Irish Courts. Anyone aiding or abetting them will be deemed enemies of the Republic. Such language, the Evening News remarks, may strike Englishmen as futile, but there will be anxiety in some districts where the rebels are ttrong. However, there are those mho think the Government, in executing Childers, has struck a mortal blow it de Valera's organisation.

HOW CHILDERS DIED. CALM, RESIGNED, CHEERFUL. London, Nov. 26. The Dublin correspondent of the Daily Chronicle states that the Mr. Waller. Protestant Dean of Kildare, sayfl that Childers, like the brave man he" was, made a request to see two Catholic priests, but only Mr. Waller, who knew him as a schoolboy, was allowed to be present at the end. The execution took place in beggar»» Bnsh Barracks. It was postponed from Tuesday till Friday. Childere read a book of devotions which has since been sent to his wife. He seldom or never referred to politics. From the moment the finding of the court-martial became known he had no expectation of reprieve, only pressure in high quarters made them consent to the nabeas corpus proceeding. “I sat with Childers while he breakfasted in the guardroom on the morning he died. He was quite calm and resigned, even cheerful. The execution was fixed for 7 o’clock, but, as it was still dark, it was some time after that hour when he marched out with steady step and head on high to the spot where the firing squad was lined up. Before I heard the report of the rifles he had fallen. He was buried in the grave which had already been prepared nearby. I read the service, as Childers was a Protestant.” CHILDER’S EXECUTION. ALL RESPONSIBLE MUST ANSWER. STATEMENT BY DE VALERA. Received Nov. 27, 9.30 pjn. London, Nov. 27. The week-end passed quietly in Dublin, except for a noisy meeting of two thousand people in O’Connell Street protesting against the execution of Childers. De Valera has issued the following statement: “For the honor of Irelanu, in whose name this horrible crime has been committed, no person who is in any way responsible must be allowed to evade his responsibility” The statement includes the names of Ministers and all the members of the Provisional Parliament who voted for the establishment of military courts. THE CONSTITUTION BILL. London, Nov. 26. The text has been issued of the Irish Free State Constitution Bill, which ratifies the Constitution under tne jtreaty as approved by the Dail Eireann. Another Bill issued modifies the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, and provides for the appointment of a Governor over Northern Ireland at a salary of £BOOO, and temporarily fixes the contribution of Northern Ireland towards Imperial liabilities at £7,920.000 per year.

PRISONERS UNDER ESCORT. London, Nov. 26. Four hundred political prisoners have been removed from the gaol in Limerick and conveyed to the docks amder heavy escort and placed on board a steamer which departed for an unknown destination. PUBLIC OPINION DISTURBED. London, Nov. 25. Mr. Stephen Gwynn, who has arrived from Dublin, states that public opinion is much disturbed. So far aK opinion in Ireland expresses itself it objects to the execution of Irishmen by Irishmen under favour of the law, but does not raise any objection i against Irishmen killing one another in anv other way. This is the situation ’the Irish "Government has to handle. IRISH PRIEST’S DEATH. Received Nov. 27, 7.40 p.m. London, Nov. 26. The death is announced of Father Dominic, formerly chaplain to Terence MacSwiney and later prominent in Dublin battles. He departed for America at the orders of his ecclesiastical superiors.