The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-08
S|NN FE|N YACHT
USED BY De VALERA
Irish President Landed in Erin
Secretly After SeapIane
Journey.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

lea on December 81 and 30, accord nG
to the information. He was taken i'll
on the voyage across, but recovered
after four days and was in splendid
spirits when he was put on shore at
Mutton Island. The afternoon of De
cember 90, his yacht was met by a
seaplane at a point twenty miles di-
rectly west Of Mutton Island. 1t had
been his intention to fly direct to the
Clare coast, but an unforeseen hitch
developed.
A few minutes after the Irish Pres
dennt was transferred from the yacht
to the plane. engine trouble developed
For a time De Valera was on the point
of going back to tho yacht ne had
Just left. but so long as the engine
kept running he felt II would be safer
to keep going.
dusk Had fallen and II bccam"
doubtful. the President said. whether
he would be able TO reach kilmUrr!'
the point just inland from the Clare
coast, where leaders of the Repub
lican movement had gathered TO well
come him. These men did not know
al exactly what hour De Valera would
arrive, but they had been sent word
to be at the meeting place December
20 and so.
At times the seaplane was forced TO
descend to the surface of the ocean.
Finally the engine commenced work
ing with more precision and it was not
long after that the pilot told the irish
president they were short distance
off Mutton Island. De Valera was
taken ashore to the island IN d small
boat, il was stated.
Landing, he found himself greeted
by four men who had been waiting
two days. He was wet and hungry,
But his friends feared to kindle fire
lest the flames bring the British down
on them. He was forced to be salts
fed with temporary sustenance. which
consisted of pieces of bread and water.
ARMED GUARD ARRIVES.
Through a channel of communica-
ton which the Sim Feiners had main
tanned hourly with the Irish main
land. word was sent to house near
Kilmurry that De Valera had landed
Later in the night an armed party
came to the place where the President
and his bodyguard were waiting.
These men included officials OF the
Irish Republic and officers and SOL
diers Of the republican army.
Shortly before dawn, when word
came through that the British patrols
had been lured from the vicinity or
kilmurry by a false message sent
there, De Valera and his party went
to another part Of Mutton Island.
There they embarked in smat'
boats for the mainland. The landing
was difficult and two boats capslZcd
in shallow water DE Nalera's boat.
however, suffered no mishap. He was
lifted on the shoulders of his friends
and transferred to the shore. lie was
then rushed to the house Of friend.
AGAINST COMPROMISE.
All day December 80 De Valera re-
NAMED in this homo. In the early
hours that morning word was sent
back to America. just how Is kept Sc
cret. that he had landed. That night
he moved to another house. twenty
miles away, it is sal
Attic .Azh word spread like wlldhrc
throur. southern ireland that the
Irish Resident had returned TO take
up a ain the reins of gov eminent he
has DIT once been in any real danger
of apprehension, II Is said.
He has moved frequently usually
at night. and has always been escort
ed during these transfers by armed
forces sufficiently large to protect
him in case the British military
should appear. II Is understood.
He has told friends in Ireland lie
has no intention OF returning to tho
United States until his people win
their fight for independence. lie he's
also sent word here that reports OF a
compromise with the English govern.
ment originate from that government
and are not sanctioned by him.
The exact date on which dc Valera
left the United States is not known
However. the official who related the
story OF his trip said he left either
December 81 or December %.
The Irish President withdrew from
public activity here about December
| 10. Between that date and the time
| OF his departure he worked on re.
ports to submit TO the lrish pBrlia-
ment and prepared farewell mes
sage to the people OF America.
! lie also made speeches inT phouo
| graphic reproduction and tho r""nrJs
: Of these are to b. sent out sCor.
DE Valera also sent word he was M
| excellent health and added that lac
did not expect to be captured.