FIRES ON STEAMER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1939, Page 5

FIRES ON STEAMER

BELIEVED TO BE WORK OF I.R.A. SEVEN PERSONS ARRESTED. BOMB THROWN AT PORTSMOUTH POWER STATION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, February 11. Three fires, believed to be the work of the 1.R.A., broke out on the steamer* St David, after its arrival at Fishguard bringing 1000 Irish passengers, most of whom were attending the Rugby international. Fire balloons containing nitric acid had ignited magnesium flash powder placed under the seats in the thirdclass saloon. Detectives searched all passengers before the departure of the trains for London. The search was renewed at Paddington, where seven persons, including one woman, were detained. After a reported T.R.A. threat, troops are guarding the Colchester barracks. Detectives say that there is nothing at the moment to show that the I.R.A. was connected with a fire which gutted Manchester’s largest five storey, oneacre department store. Detectives are investigating a story that explosions were heard. A bomb fashioned from a cocoa tin was thrown over the wall at the Portsmouht Power Station. It missed the vital plant and exploded without damage.