The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-23

l6OEEE Tin
BELFAST, May 23.-It was off
cially stated at o'clock this after
noon that 800 Sim Feiners had been
taken prisoner by the Ulster author
tiles and that they would be interned.
BELFAST. May 23.-The greatest
raid In the recent history of Ireland
was carried out early today when
swarms of police swept through u
ster and rounded up 200 Sim Fem
ers. the majority of whom were Irish
Republican army officers.
The northern governments action
was taken, it was stated, in an effort
to suppress not only the Irish Repub-
lican army and the Irish Republican
brotherhood, but all other Sim Fein
organizations in the six-county areas
The governments move follows
swiftly upon Irish Republican army
raids and burning Of buildings in the
counties of Down and Antrim and the
intensified hostilities in Belfast re-
Gently. eliminating in the murder yes
terday of w. ]. Twaddell, member OF
the Ulster parliament
Every Town Visited
Nearly every town and village in
Ulster was visited, but the bulk of the
prisoners was taken in the country
districts from farmhouses. Compare
lively few captures were made in Bel
fast, as most of the Irish Republican
army men living in the Sim Fein
districts of Belfast, anticipating ac-
ton by the police as a result of the
Twaddell assassination, had gone ION
the run
The captures included Capal Healy,
member of the Fermanagh county
council and prominent Sim Fein lead
er in that district; Thomas Corrigan.
accountant for the Fermanagh county
council; Samuel Sheridan, chairman
of the recently dissolved Newry
board of guardians, and Eugene Nc
Gilligan, county councillor, who was
the Sim Fein candidate in North Der
ry at the last general election.
Reports Exaggerated
The early estimates of the number
of prisoners taken ran as high as
1.500. but these proved to be greatly
exaggerated, and officials expressed
belief that up to this noon the total
had not exceeded 200. In Belfast par
ticularly the number of Irish Republi-
can army men caught fell far below
the early estimate.
The big encircling movement was
begun at about four o'clock and the
work of visiting the various houses,
town and country, was rapidly carried
out Several hundred members of
the constabulary and large staff of
officers were on duty from midnight
completing the arrangements. Most
of those wanted were completely sur
prised and in nearly every instance
were aroused from sleep.
AS part of the comprehensive
scheme embracing all of Ulster the
special police were active in Ferma-
nagh during the night and early morn
ing. arresting every Sim Feiner
known to be an officer or to have au-
thority in the ranks of the Irish repub-
lican army. Only about sixty Irish
Republican army officers were cap
tured in Fermanagh, but it is learned
the authorities are making fairly
clean sweep of the men who exercised
influence in the ranks of the army in
that part of Ulster.
Leaders Arrested
Among those arrested in Enniskillen
were Capal Healey, a member of the
Fermanagh county council, and well
known leader of the Sim Fein party
In that district; w. J. Nethercot, a
member of the Enniskillen urban coun-
Gil and Thomas Corrigan. accountant
for the Fermanagh county council
While the raids were going on, tend
ers were busy conveying the special
police and their prisoners from the
outlying districts.
In Belfast, So were arrested bur
these did not include any well known
party leaders while the Falls road sec
ton, with its big republican popula-
| tion, was entirely unrepresented
| Absence of the republicans from
their homes is ascribed TO anticipation
of reprisals for the assassination oi
| w. ]. Traddell, member of the Ulster
! parliament.