New Britain herald., 1917-11-01
AMERICAN SAILORS
STONED IN STREETS
Neither They Nor English Sailors
Allowed to Visit Cork


COSTING MERCHANTS MONEY
Miss lynch says "What Political Wis
dom Could Bring the Most Brain
less, Thoughtlcss Youth in Cork to
Insult the Men From America"
Cork, ireland, Oct 31.-The Sim
Fein Is keeping $4,000 a week from
the hands Of the Cork merchants.
That amount was spent each week for
four months by American naval OFF,
GERS and sailors, It ceased when the
Sim Feiners began to attack the
American .blue-jackets and it will not
be resumed until the streets of Cork
are, again made safe for the Amer
lean. At present no naval man below
the rank Of q destroyer commander
may visit Cork without laying himself
open to a general court martial. Tne
same rule applies to the British naval
forces
Indignant over this loss of revenue.
the tradesmen have urged Mayor But
terfield to use his good offices to have
the ban lifted. But the mayor Is
powerless in the face of the decision
Of the American and British naval
authorities not to allow their men
to visit Cork until they are absolutely
certain that trouble will not follow.
The local newspapers publish the
following letter from Richard Blair
head Of the local business mems as
sociation.
II suggest, in the interest Of the
business men, taxpayers and hotel
keepers Of our city, who find 1t
hard to carry on in these times, that
the sailors of the United States may
be invited to come to the city as for
merly, before 1t is too late and they
are removed altogether to some for-
eign station, to be replaced by the
sailors from another Allied power not
nearly so opulent as the U. 5. "A.
There are many bonds and ties be-
tween our folk and the people or the
great republic. who used to flock to
our shores as tourists before the war.
Their places are taken in large
measure by the officers and men OF
the United States navy, to the bene-
At Of all traders" e.
Another appeal for the return OF
American sailors is made by Miss
Marie Lynch who, as head of the
poor league guardians" made an off,
cial investigation of the various
charges made by Sim Fein leaders.
What political wisdom could bring
even the most brainless thoughtless
youth in Cork to insult the repre-
sentatives of the great people whose
land has made welcome the op-
pressed from every clime.. but In
particular and special manner the
exiles of Erin.
MANY wild stories, improved by
any specific facts, were spread
throughout the city regarding the
conduct of some American sailors. It
was mentioned that the Cork union
could produce evidence to bear out
the allegations. Upon investigation
there 1 found there was not the
slightest proof.
The Cork county Eagle, in an edi-
torial account of the anti-American
demonstrations which preceded the
American decision to put Cork out Of
bounds, says:
Many strange things have hap
pened in the city of Cork from time
to time, though none more discredit-
able than the wanton, blackguard at
tack made there on the sailors of the
United States navy on Monday night.
To the cries of up the Huns hun
dTeds Of young men of the city, bear
ing Slim Fein flag in front, not only
Kissed and jeered American sailors
whom they chanced to meet. but dis
played their hospitality in more de-
cided fashion by stoning some unfor-
tunate young men who had taken
shelter from the rowdyism. and whose
only offense was that they wore the
uniform of the American navy.
Try to picture what America will
think of the people not content with
their cries of up the Huns must
emphasize that admiration by hunt
ing, as if they were wild beasts,
through the streets of their city, the
men who are facing the deadly pcrils
of the Atlantic that these wanton
scoundrels who attacked them on
Monday night. might have American
flour to keep them from starvation.
THE Cork republicans salute the
greatest of the worlds republics with
paving stones. Let us at least take
this poor consolation to heart, we
can never go lower than this exhibit
ton Of Monday evening"