The Washington times., 1921-08-31
RELIGIOUS
FACTIONS
IN DAT TIE.
Fury Of Fighting Stuns Whole
city-King's Troops Rebuked'
For Delinquency.
BY International News Service.

BELFAST, Aug. 31.-Exhaus-
tion brought about a lull this af-
ternoon in the savage fighting
that has ragged in the Catholic cen
ter of this city and that had been
virtually continuous for three days
aud two nights. The toll AZ can
vasssd at noon totafed fourteen
killed and at least seventy
wounded.
Terror UnequAled.
Not even in the bitterest phases OF
the Sim Fein-Ulster warfare was
there such unrestrained play of pas
sions as marked the terror that the
people Of Belfast have just passed
through. Religious fervor bordering
on fanaticism was displayed by men
and women.
The night was marked by panic
stampedes, in which women were
trampled, while Orangemen and Cath
olics fought in bitter band-to-hand
struggles in various sections. of the
city.
At one place party OF men
equipped with new rifles, apparently
issued only recently, lay in the street
and fired volleys into passing crowds.
Creeds were strictly observed even
in the shadow of wholesale murder.
The only ones who were left unaffect-
ed by the fanatical fury of the fight
ers were Sisters of Mercy. Protestant
nurses succored Catholic victims, and
Catholic sisters were seen bending
over Orangemen giving them first aid.
he pA1e Oh hat ~,
ammunition for the attack on the
Catholics was supplied by the Ulster
special police. The Northern Whig
warned Sir James Craig, Premier of
Ulster. that the government must
act" and that there is a rising tide OF
anger against the rioters"
Rioting OF the most intense char
acter ragged this morning. The snip
ing and shooting was spread over "A
wide area Of the city. Hundreds Of
men were prevented from going to
work.
Soldiers Criticized.
. Disorders spread this morning to
Royal avenue, with sniping and stone
throwing by the Sim F'einers and
Unlonists. Royal avenue is the chief
thorbughfare of the city and heavy
property damage was done.
The mayor addressed com
munication to the military authorities
protesting against the inactivity of
the soldiers and appealing to them to
protect the citizens Of the city.
In response to the mayors appeal.
the military authorities today sent
troops into the areas where fighting
was going on, with orders to take con-
troll OF the situation. The steel-he
meted men charged down the streets
with fixed bayonets. Armored cars
were sent out to patrol the thorough
fares. Special deputies were sum-
moned to reinforce the police.
Large sections OF Belfast are a mo
mans land" wherein the populace,
lowering behind barred doors. is panic
stricken. In scores Of cases doors are
being battered down by the infuriated
fanatics, who then attack the inmates.
The latter, forced to fight against
odds, scurry for refuge elsewhere and
are made the target for snipers.
Woven and children are shifted about
by the rowing battle front.
The latest heart of the conflict was
at York street. There garden walls
were demolished and form the bull
wark OF trenches. which were thrown
up hastily. Gunmen may be seen rest
ing their rifles on the tumbled down
bricks, and seated on stools, sniping
at luckless refugees. Many of the
snipers arerequipped with field glasses
to spy out opposition snipers.
DUBLIN, Aug. 31.-R. c. Barton
and Joseph MacGrath were scheduled
TO arrive at London at p. M today
with the reply of Eamon de Valera.
president of the Irish Republic. to
tho last note of Premier Lloyd George
relative to a settlement OF the Irish
question.