New Britain herald., 1921-07-06
Five Men Taken From Homes Near Belfast And Shot By Sim Fein- ers-Train Is Also Wrecked
Meanwhile Irish and British Officials Confer and Op- timism That Settlement May Be Near is Voiced.

Belfast, July 6.-Five men were taken from their homes in the district of Newry. A miles south of this city, this morning and were shot Their bodies were left in a heap by the road side by the men who had put them to death. school teacher, Miss Me- Anuff, was shot and killed yesterday at Newry, while attempting to shield her brother from an attack.
 Most Serious Disorder Yet.
 Two of the dead men were brothers, and were sons of former Sergeant of Police Reilly. This was the most seri- ous incident that has occurred in the Newry district since the disorders have begun in Ireland
 Two men snatched revolvers from the holsters of two constables on a street here this morning and shot the oficers. who were severely wounded. The men who made the attack escaped.
 Train Wrecked, Cars Burned.
 train on the way from Belfast to Londonderry was wrecked near Pome- roy, County Tyrone, last night, rails having been removed from the track. There were no casualties, but cars car- rying Belfast goods were burned.
 SlAleeu cars were destroyed together with all the mail matter on board the train, large quantities of petrol and paraffine being used.
 It is understood that the victims of the shooting at Newry were Sim Fein sympathizers.
 Snuts in Conference.
 London, July 6. (By Associated Press. )-Gen. Jan Christian Shuts. South African premier, upon his return from Ireland today conferred with Premier Lloyd George. Sir James Craig, the Ulster premier, and Earl Middleton, the southern Unionist leader.
 Gen. Shuts reported the result of his talks with the Sim Feiu leaders on the Irish situation.
 Session Is Secret,
 The conference was surrounded with the greatest secrecy, but 1t is under stood it primarily concerned. itself with conditions for the possible suspension of hostilities in Ireland.
 Official circles express belief that q cessation of active operations is almost indispensable as an aid to progress in the peace deliberations.
 The feeling generally was that to- days conference would have marked influence on the conversations to be resumed in Dublin Friday between Eamonn De Valera, and representative southern Irish Unionists.
 Premier Lloyd George presided over today's conference. Among the con- ferees were Sir Hamar Greenwood chief secretary for Ireland; Lord Birk- enhead, the lord high chancellor; Ed- ward Shortt, the secretary for home affairs and A. J. Balfour, lord presi- dent of the council.
 Announcement was made in Belfast yesterday that Sir James was coming to London on private business but 1t was believed probable he would take occa- sion to consult with officials here re- garding the situation.
 Optimism Is Shown.
 Gen. Jan Christian Shuts, premier of the Union of South Africa, met Irish leaders at Dublin yesterday, but those concerned in the discussions there were reticent as to the matters considered. Officials generally appear loath to talk on the Irish question, but there is a certain degree of optimism that the Irish situation may be on its way to solution.