The Washington herald., 1921-10-04
OFFICER SLAIN
IN CLASH WITH
SINN FEINERS
Bitter Feeling in Galway
Breaks Out in Gun
Fight at Dance.
THREE CUT WAY .
OUT OF PRISON
British Position in Arms
Farley Depends on
Peace With Erin.

DUBLIN, Oct. 3-Bitter feeling be-
tween Republican and crown forces.
which the truce has hitherto held in
check in the west Of Ireland, came to
a head in Galway tonight. In a gun
fight outside the Galway town hall,
where a Sim Fein dance was in
progress. an army lieutenant was
killed and constable seriously
wounded Republican losses were not
known.
Sim Feiners attending the dance re-
sented the presence near the hall OF
armed British troops and black and
tans. and a quarrel started in which
revolvers were freely used on both
sides.
Three Escape Prison Camp.
Cutting through barbed-wire en-,
tanglements and iron fences. and
burrowing like moles beneath heavily
guarded blockhouse, three interned
Sim Fein prisoners made daring
and successful escape from the prison
camp at Curragh tonight.
They have Med into the open coun
try. and the restrictions of the truce
have prevented the Brisish from re,
capturing them.
The prisoners had been locked in a
guardhouse, about which the guard of
crown forces had been materially
strengthened owing to recent escapes
With implements smuggled to them by
other interned Sim Feiners, they cut
an opening through the corrugated
iron wall Of the guardhouse. clipped
their way through two rows OF
barbed-wire entanglements piled high
to prevent just such an attempt, and
finished their trip to freedom by going
down under ground. scraping. and bur-
rowing a tunnel through which they
finally dragged themselves.
In the dark of night they eluded
the few guards posted outside the en-.
campment and made good their escape.
Peace Would Aid Britain.
LONDON. Oct. 3.-Great Britain
seeks a successful Irish solution to
strengthen her position at the forth.
coming limitation of arnaments con-
ference in Washington. How closely
this government has linked the Irish
situation and the conference called by
President Harding is now apparent.
Information from reliable sources
indicate that Lloyd Georges govern.
ment has long felt that a breakdown
in the negotiations with Sim Feir
would dangerously prejudice Britain's
position at Washington. This has beer
one Of the secrets of the moderation
and desire for settlement displayed by
the premier IN his exchange Of note.
with Eamonn de Valera.
E...- uo.xsI;x- t. n
Even now, when the prospects Of
peace with Sim Fein have taken or
brighter aspect as result Of DE-
Valera's agreement to send delegate:
to a conference in London, it is recog
nized that Britain's success in making
fer viewpoint regarding limitation o.
armaments and the problem of thu
Pacific felt at Washington may b.
pend in no small degree upon success
| full progress of the Irish negotiations
| Lloyd Georges insistence in avoid
| ing sending anything in the natur'
Of an ultimatum to Sim Fein wa
| due to his anxiety to avoid arousinl
| a hostile Irish-American sentimen
| toward England near the conclave. HI
| Is said to have feared certain element
| in America would attempt to take ad
vantage of a breakdown in the Irisl
negotiations to weaken, IL not t
nullify, British claims regarding arma
ments in the Pacific.
May Come to Washington.
1t is believed here now that the sue
cessful arranging of a conference witt
Sim Fein plenipotentiaries has ma
terially. strengthened England's posi-
ton. n Lloyd George succeeds il
starting the pourparlers at Downini
Street auspiciously and with fair pros
poets of success. he will go to Wash
ington, for a short period at least
relying upon his record for Irish cor
ciliation to aid him greatly as