The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-16
IRISH SITUATION
 BELIEVED CRITICAL
Both Republicans and Ulstermen Claim to Be Right in Array Satur- day, When Four Unionists. One
 Sim Feiner are Killed.

Dublin, Feb. 13.-The evacuation of the British troops and other military forces from Dublin was unexpectedly
 suspended today. The sailing ef the steamers due to leave for Holyhead and Liverpool with contingents on board was cancelled. It was thought the suspension might be due to the events in Ulster.
 Officials at military general head quarters said they were unable to give any information on the subject, while Dublin castle officials stated they had nothing to do with the evac- uation.
 High Hopes Are Dashed. London, Feb. 13.-The situation in
 Ireland, which has seemed to be im- proving under the apparent efforts of Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins to
 obtain the release of the kidnapped Ul- stermen, has become acutely danger
 ous as the result of the Clones affray on Saturday.
 The Times Dublin correspondent says dismay follows the news of the clash in which four special Ulster con stables were killed; eight wounded and six made prisoners, and the leader of
 the Sim Feiners, Matthew Fitzpatrick
 shot dead. The provisional govern
 ment was perturbed, as the affair dashed the high hopes based upon it's l amnesty proclamation and the British decision to release all prisoners held for offenses committed in England from Irish political motives prior to the truce in Ireland. Developments
 are awaited with the utmost anxiety. Sought Ulstermens Arrest. There is some conflict in the &C.,
 counts of how the shooting was pre- cipitated. Irish Republican army men
 at Clones and their sympathizers take the stand that armed and uniformed | Ulstermen had no right to enter free
 state territory and subjected them selves to arrest by so doing. It is pointed out that the Gaelic football | players now in the Derry jail were ar- rested for a similar reason by the Ul-
 sterites.
 The account of the shooting from
 the same source is that Fitzpatrick approached the Ulster constables and ordered them to raise their hands promising no violence if they surren-
 dered. The only reply to this demand 1t is said, was the shooting and kill. ing of Fitzpatrick and then the Re. publican army men fired
 In Belfast, on the other hand, it is contended that the rights of southern | Ireland were not infringed by send ing the police from Belfast to Ennis 1 killen by train, altho the line passes
 for few miles thru the free state | territory. Northern police are declar-
 ed to have travelled that route on
 Thursday and Friday without moles- tation or protest either locally or from
 the provisional government.
 De yaleraites Are On Top. Against this it is maintained by the Irish Republican army supporters
 that, knowing the state of tension on the frontier, the Belfast authorities should have ordered the police to de- train before reaching the border, f. nishing their journey by road, and it is intimated similar incidents will be risked if northern forces again enter the free state.
 Regarding the kidnapped ulstermen, the Times Dublin correspondent re- iterates that the provisional govern ment is doing it's utmost to procure their release, but says it seems to have met with flat defiance from the
 Irish Republican army in County Monaghan, which will only agree to exchange these unionists for the foot ball players in Berry
 The Morning Posts Dublin core spondent while declaring that Grif- filth and Collins mean well. and if they got the chance would do we'll, says their difficulties are overcoming them and that they are steadily losing
 ground to the Republicans.
 Irish public opinion, always un- stable" he asserts, "has decided the de Valeraites are on top and already is making up it's mind to be on the winning side"