New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-02
Belfast a City
OfRllnors, but
Fighting Ebbs
Populace Watches Feverish.
'ly for Carnage Around
the Corner, but Window
Smashing Only Is Seen
Death Roll Stands at p
Sectarian Bitterness Makes
Renewal of Rioting Pos
sible at ANY Moment
By Frank Getty
Special Cable to The Trtoun


Copyright. 1920. New York Tribune Inc.
BELFAST, Sept. 1.-Belfaat is q
city Of rumors, Of sporadic window
smashing and Of suspense. Little
knots Of idlers stand at street corners,
gazing constantly down cross streets,
usually at nothing whatever, waiting
and watching, it might almost be said
hoping, for trouble. They are con-
stantly on the alert and ready to run
toward any reported disturbance if it
seems sufficiently distant, or in the
other direction if it is insuficiently
distant.
There IS always something doing
around the next corner" and, true
enough, there are idlsrs in the next
block. intently watching something.
But when one goes to see what. It
turns out to be nothing save a similar
group at the next corner and so on.
Ono is led to believe that half the city
IS watching the other half around cor
ncrs.
Finds Discretion Overdone
The Midland Railway brings one to
York Street, one Of the main thorough
fares that was the scene of fighting
Monday. Not chauffeur at the sta
10 che center OF the city, mot for ten
pounds" one declared. Yet for
penny I made the trip on a tramcsr
and after traversing the much avoided
area twice on foot without seeing
anything more dangerous than q small
boy. .maliciously breaking windows.
decided that the dangers in the situa-
ton are by no means minimized.
The Falls Road district, a National
lst stronghold, it was reported, could
not be approached. Divis Road. lead
Is lined with Unionists, all staring
toward the enemy's headquarters and
many lurking in doorways, as il thew
expected hail Of bullets to sweep the
streets at any minute. Yet walked
the entire length and entered the Ma
e1onalist area undisturbed. Some peo-
pie were working, some shops were
opea, but the majority Of the latter
we're "s boarded up and the people, it was
OBVIOUS, anticipated further trouble.
Indeed, there seems to be no reason
why this anticipation should not be
:ratified almost indefinitely, for sec
tarlan warfare has reached such O
state that no known Catholic is safe in
the Protestant quarter and vice versa.
Sectarian Battle at Docks
A sectarian battle, with steel rivets
and revolvers as weapons, took place
IN Garmoyle Street, near the docks, to-
day. The lockers are all Catholics
and the shipyard workers now all Prot
estants. One decker was shot dead
.Reinforcements Joined both sides. and
a considerable battle ensued until the
military III armored cars interviewed.
Up to noon to-day the death roll
since the outbreak Of trouble stood at
twenty-seven,, while ESQ wounded had
been attended in hospitals Buildings
destroyed by fire aggregated PA.
. stu, were 1t not for this incessant
gazing. life in the city in general
way might be said to be going on about
as usual.
One incident this morning shows the
condition of affairs in ireland pener-
ally. The porter who took INV BAG
said:
You have to go through the Gus
toms, sir"
Customs" I repeated. There can't
De any customs. Ireland is not a re-
public"
Nevertheless, there they were. tvpi-
cal customs officials with red-banded
caps, and every one had to open his
bags.
We are looking for arms and am.
munitIon," one of them confided.