The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-11-26
AN IRISH REVOLT FEARED
Alarm Caused by tho Notice 10
Manufacturers Of Arms.
Statement That Weapons Are Being Sent
to ireland elm UnusuaI Quanti.
ties" Rsearded ~ siGnieeant.

London.-A short paragraph In the
Times has created one Of those period
ical scares In regard to the supposed
intention of the Irish Physical Force
party to renew Its activity.
The paragraph was headed ARMS
and Ammunition for Ireland" and
stated that. In consequence Of the con.
signment, in unusual quantities" OF
arms and ammunition 10 Ireland. the
Chief Constable Of Birmingham. which
Is the centre of the English arms In
dustry, had deemed il necessary to Is
sue q circular to the local manufacture
ers. calling their attention to the neces.
sity for the observation OF the terms OF
the Peace Preservation act OF 1881.
The circular stated:
I'm order to prevent arms and am
munition falling into the hands Of un.
authorized persons In Ireland who may
use them criminally. it has become
necessary to draw the attention OF
manufacturers and sellers of arms and
ammunition In Birmingham to the fact
that the Peace Preservation act Qre-
land), 1881, Is In force In various pro-
claimed districts In Ireland, which for
bids any persons having. carrying or
selling arms or ammunition In these
districts without having q license un-
der that act"
The Chief Constable then went on to
enumerate the proclaimed" districts,
and further pointed out that no arms
or ammunition could lawfully be con.
signed to any one In such district un.
less the person In question was licensed
to sell the articles so consigned or to
carry the same. The manufacturers
were directed that all shipments Of
arms and ammunition for ireland must
be distinctly labelled with the name
and address Of the consignee and with
the word "arms" or ammunition" as
the case might be. Before the consisn.
ment was sent written notice OF It
must be given to the Collector or other
principal Customs official at the place
Of consignment.
The last few lines In the statement
were perhaps the most significant OF
all. They were to the effect that am-
munition for sporting purposes. con.
signed to licensed persons, was except
ed from the provisions Of the Peace
Preservation net.
II the arms and ammunition which
are being sent to Ireland in unusual
quantities" are not for sporting pur.
poses. for what purpose are the con.
slgnments being made? This question
has naturally been asked by a large
number OF EnglIshmen. who have be.
come quite alarmed at this symptom OF
Irish unrest.
The Times described the notice OF
the Chief Constable Of Birmingham as
'signiacant and rather alarming" and
said It was tolerably clear that the
arms which had been consigned to Ire
land were military rifles, not sporting
guns. for which there could be no sud.
den demand.
Nationalist speakers and writer's
have recently been freely making
threats Of physical force. and have
been declaring that II the "Parliamen.
tary Party" fails to accomplish any.
thing other means Of destroying the
rule of the hated Saxon will be en-
ployed.
Altogether. It looks as though this
scare has rather more back Of 1t than
other recent alarms in regard to Irish
rebellion"