The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-02
IRELAND ON VERGE OF LONG EXPECTED
 RESORT ID BATTLE
War Clouds Lowering as Sporadic Flashes Begin Giving Way to Assemb-
 lages of Men
By A,,oeiatsa Pre.s


 Dublin, July 31.-Fears that the Irish situation, which is daily growing more tense,
 may burst into a general con- flagration at any moment are
 expressed in responsible quar- ters here.
 ] At the present there is virtually no i civil law south of the Boyne river ex- l cept that administered by republican courts, but 1t is pointed out that each day finds the balance between military | and revolutionary rule growing more equal.
 It is estimated there are between 60,- | GOO and S0,000 fully equipped British | soldiers in Ireland, and they are be- | in.s reinforced daily by men arriving i from across the channel. AS result
 there are more frequent and mora stubborn battles between the troops and the republican volunteers. who, for time, had things much their own way. There have also been arrests for carrying arms and seditious literature, as reports to courts martial show. Ii l is expected the number of these arrests will increase if the government suc- ceeds in carrying it's drastic meas l ures" in the House of Commons next week.
 POLlCE AhOOSED Reprisals by policemen and soldiers on villages suspected of harboring men responsible for attacks against
 the armed forces of the crown are also expected here, the police being partic- ularly aroused over the attacks made | on their fellow members. In the mean time, the Sim Feiners, in carrying on their campangn, have virtually cleared tl.e country of barracks. They are now l turning their attention to country houses where military forces might be housed and a number of these have
 been burned during the last ten daye. Attacks on coast guard stations for the purpose of capturing explosives have been stopped it having been es- tablished that this practice was inn periling the lives of seamen, who could not be warned of marine dan gers except by the guards. Homes of coast guards are not Immune, how ever, and number of these have lats- ly received attentions in fact, 1t IS commented. nothing in Ireland is safe a present that might either be usei against the republican movement sr that might assist 1t.
 BANKS WANT GUARDS Irish banks which do business with the Bank of England. and necessarily make periodical shipments Of bullion to the latter institution. have called on the military authorities for hrmed guards for | the lorrics that move the bullion at nighe This has led to renorls that bank re-
 serves arc being moved to England In Dublin, crowds gather on the streets at night, impeding traffic and frighten- ing nervous persons on the slightest revocation, and the police stand idly by, seemingly realizing that interfer- ence might lead to something more se- rious Just before midnight, the curfew hour the orderly elements stream away to their homes. but long after this there are many stragglers about the streets. As a result a score or more are gath cred in each night for being out of thcir homes without permits. At street cor ners night or day can be seen numerous ''gunmen," representing both sides of the conflict. They are ready for acton ae a moments notice. Some of these have come from the United States and Canada Queenstown, Ireland. Aug f.-The White Star liner Celtic. due lAere SunoaS
 night with 800 passengers Tor thls ci's' 1 has been ordered to proceed direct to
 Liverpool
 Tt IS surInised the Baltic upon which Archbishop Mannix of Australia sailed from New York today, will be directed to take a similar course The press as- l sociation says neither White Star nor l Cunard liners will call at Queenstown 1 to disembark passengers until further l notice
 ! Dublin. Aug 1-Should Archbishop Mannix of Australia be 'orced to pro ceed direct to Liverpool. the question | arises here as to how the government l can prevent his coming to Ireland. tn- i til few months ago a permit was re auired to land in Ireland, but this regp- lation vas abolished. It Is suggested tnat 1 It might be revised as has been the rue regarding government search or passsh- gers baggage.
 Large numbers of Irish bishops ana | priests from Australia are at present 1 visiting Ireland, and intimation has been given that they will form bodyguaru for Archbishop Mannix if he IS permit 1 ted to land.
 The archbishop of Sydney, Australia
 who has been visiting Ireland, today
 preached a sermon sympathiizng Wi'a 1 the Sim Fen.
 l