The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-15
(By the Associated Press.)


Belfast. Feb. 15.-After a period of
quiet lasting several hours, disorders
again broke out in this city at o clock
this afternoon, when shooting began
in the Stanhope street area near
the Victoria barracks. The military
promptly opened fire.
The afternoon raiders entered the
offices of the New Northern Spinning
company on the Falls road and shot
and killed William Duffin. the as
sistant mana ger, and wounded a clerk.
At noon today Belfast was reported
absolutely quiet, the presence of troops
on the streets having had the effect
of checking the operations of the gun
men, which since the beginning of the
present series of disorders have re-
suited in twenty-five deaths.
Conditions on the border where
force of north and south Ireland are
facing each other, as the result of the
tension created by the recent kidnap-
ing of Ulster unionists, are also re-
ported quiet.
Five men were shot to death be-
tween midnight and IL o'clock. Two
were killed in the Bloomfield district
and one in Springfield avenue. All
had evidently been shot by snfpers. a
number of others were wounded.
terror with sniping and bombing in
many of the streets, Hundreds of
civilians have barricaded their homes
and are afraid to venture outside the
doors. Large forces of soldiers and
police are pstroling the streets.
1t Is Private War.
At midnight a man was found dead
in one of the bullet-swept streets. He
had been shot to death and then his
head had been beaten to pulp. A
workman who had been fatally
wounded while repairing street car
lines died in the hospital.
Street railway men and mill work
ers were fired upon indiscriminately
by the terrorists, who are apparently
affiliated neither with the Sim Fein
nor the Orangemen but are carrying
on a private war of their own against
everybody.
London, Feb. 15.-Michael Collins
minister Of finance of the Irish free
state, has obtained the release of fif-
teen of the Ulster men kidnapped re-
Gently. Winston Churchill, colonial
secretary. announced in the house OF
commons this afternoon. The remain
der probably will be released late to-
day. Churchill said.
Mr.. Churchill said at his suggestion
Premier Craig of Ulster and Mr.. Col
Inns had agreed to the appointment OF
impartial commissions. who would &c
to the border area, ascertain the facts
and keep in close touch with each
other in order TO allay, If possible
the great apprehension existing OF
both sides of the border at the action
being taken on the other side.
Evacuation of British troops from
Ireland will be resumed tonight after
a temporary suspension, it was learned
from a semi-official source this af-
ternoon.
The press here agrees that Collins
is facing a supreme crisis and that
not only civil war, but anarchy threat
ems Ireland If there is a false move
1t was understood that Collins chief
argument for continued evacuation OF
, British troops is that their continued
presence in South Ireland or their
transfer to Ulster might undermine
the power of the provisional govern
ment.
The extremist republicans who are
, working for the overthrow of the Dub
, lin government. would be in a posi-
tion to make political capital from the
circumstances if the British troops
are maintained in Ireland.
Collins Demands Power.
Dublin dispatches say that there
must be Immediate evacuation. by the
British military forces or danger OF
the overturn of the provisional gov
ernment by it's enemy will increase -
complete evacuation or complete
reconquest is necessary" said the
Dublin correspondent of the Daily
News
Collins wants the free state bill
rushed thru so that the Dublin gov
ernment can see its standing army
(tlle Irish republican army to keep
order and put down any attempted
revolutionary outbreaks.