The Lakeland evening telegram., 1922-05-23
Developments T o d a y
Are Said To Be the
Most Drastic of Any of
Recent Months and Are
So Important That 1t Is
Likely General Rebel
lion May Follow

Belfast, May 23.-(By the Associat-
ed Press. THE greatest lead in the
history of Ireland was carried out
early today when swarms of police
swept through Ulster and rounded up
200 Sim Feiners, the majority of
whom were Irish Republican army
officers. The Ulster governments ac-
tion was taken, it was understood, in
effort to suppress not only the Irish
Republican and the Irish Republican
Brotherhood but all other Sim Fein
organizations in five county areas. The
Ulster governments move follows
swiftly on Irish Republican army raids
and burning of buildings in counties
of Down and Antrim and the intensi-
fed hostilities in Belfast recently, cul-
minating in the murder yesterday of
w. J. Twaddle, member of the Ulster
parliament.
Near every town and village in Ul-
ster was visited, but the bulk of the
prisoners was taken in the country
districts, from farm houses. Compare
lively few captures were made in
Belfast and most of the Irish Repub-
lican army men living in the Sim
Fein districts of Belfast anticipating
action by the police as a result of
the Twaddell assassination, had gone
ION the run"
The captures include Capal Healey,
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
boards of guardians, and Eugene Nc
Gilligan, county councillor, who was
the Seinn Fein candidate in North
Derry in the last general election.
Estimates Of the number of prison
ers taken ran as high as 1900 but
these proved to be greatly exaggerat-
ed and officials expressed belief that
up to this noon the total had not ex-
ceeded 200. In Belfast particularly
the number of Irish Republican men
. fell far below the original estimate.
Agreement Ratified
Dublin, Ireland, May 23-(By the
Associated Press 1.-The Ard Fheis,
the national Sim Fein organization,
ratified at its meeting today the agree
ment reached last week b ythe fac
tions in the Dali Eireann regarding
the election and imposition of the gov
ernment. After voting it's approval
the session adjourned.
Republican Army Illegal
London, May 23-(By the Associat-
ed Press. AT today's meeting of the
parliament of North Ireland, Sir
James Craig, the premier, announced
the Irish Republican army had been
proclaimed an illegal assembly, says a
Central News dispatch from Belfast.
The parliament later adjourned as a
mark of respect to w. ]. Twaddell,
its murdered member.
Take Drastic Steps
Belfast, May 23.-(By the Associat-
ed ss.)-The Ulster authorities to-
day arrested every officer of the Irish
Republican army that could be found
! in the six counties of northern Ireland
hIundreds were seized in a surprise
q undup, most of them being taken
ON bed.
The Ulster government announced
tina members of the Irish republican
army, Irish Republican Brotherhood,
Irish Volunteers, the Sim Fein, Girl
Guides and Boy Scouts were liable to
arrest and prosecution.
The big encircling movement was
begun at about 4 o'clock and the work
of visiting the various houses, town
and county, was rapidly carried out
Several hundred members of the
constabulary and q large staff of Of
ficers 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 very comprehensive scheme en-
bracing all of Ulster the police were
active in Fermanagh during the night
and early morning arresting every
Sim Feiner or every officer in the
ranks of the republican army. Only
about 60 Irish republican army Off
GERS were ceptured at Fermanagh, but
1t is said the officers are making a
very clean sweep of the men who ex-
ercised influence in the ranks of the
army in that part of Ulster. In Bal
fast So were arrested but these did
not include any very well-known party
leaders, while the Falls Road section
with its big republican section, was
entirely unrepresented.
Absence of the republicans from
their homes Is ascribed to anticipation
of reprisals for the assassination of
w. ]. Twaddell, member Of the Ulster
parliament.
Number Increases
Belfast, May 23.-(By The Associa-
ted Press.)-It was officially report
ed at O'Clock this morning that 300
Sim Feiners had been taken to pris-
( on by the Ulster authorities and that
they would be interned.