Evening star., 1922-05-23
SWarms of Police Sweep
Down on Homes of Officers.
- All to Be Interned.
BRITISH CABINET TAKES
UP new IRISH CRISIS
Dublin Amazed by Big Belfast
nd-Up-Ard Fheis Adopts
Peace Pact.
BY the Associated Press.


BELFAST, May 23.-It was officially
stated at O'Clock this afternoon that
800 Sim Feiners had been taken pris-
oner by the Ulster authorities and
that they would be interned.
The greatest raid in the recent his
tory of Ireland was carried out early
today, when swarms of police swept
through Ulster, rounding up Sim
Feiners, the majority of whom were
Irish republican army officers.
The northern governments action
was taken, it was stated, in an ef-
fort to suppress not only the Irish
republican and the Irish republican
broth erhood, but all other Sim Fein
organizations in the SIX county
areas.
Raids Follow TwaddeH Murder.
The governments move follows
swiftly upon Irish republican army
raids and burnings of buildings in the
counties of Down and Antrim and the
intensified hostiIities in Belfast re-
Gently, eliminating in the murder
yesterday of W. J. Twadden. mem-
Nearly every town ard village in
Ulster was visited. but the bulk OF
the prisoners was taken in the couu-
try districts from farmhoUscs. Com
paratively few captures were made
in Belfast and most Of the irish re
publican army men living in the
Sim Fein districts of Belfast an
ticipating action by the police as a
result of the Twaddell assassination,
had gone ION the run"
The captures include Capal Healy.
member of the Fermanagh county
council and prominent rn se.a
leader in that district: Thomas Cor
county council; Samuel Sheridan.
chairman of the recently dissolved
Newry boards of guardians, and Eu-
gene McGilligan. county councillor.
who was the Sim Fein candidate in
North Derry at the last general cleo
tioA.
Early Estimates Too High.
The early estimates of the number
Of prisoners taken ran as high as
1900, but these proved to be greatly
belief that up to this noon the total
had not exceeded 200. In Belfast par
ticularly. the number of Irish repub-
lican army men caught fell far below
the early estimate
The big encircling movement was
begun at about o'clock. and the
work of visiting the various houses.
town and county. was rapidly carried
out. Several hundred members of the
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 a part of the comprehensive
scheme embracing all of Ulster, the
special police were active in Fer
managh during the night and early
morning. arresting every Sim Feiner
known to be an officer or to have au-
thority in the ranks of the Irish re-
publican army. Only about sixty Irish
republican army officers were cap
tured in Fermanagh, but il is learned
the authorities are making a fairly
clean sweep of the men who exercised
influence in the ranks of the army In
that part of Ulster.
Fifty-Two Arrests I'm Belfast.
Among those arrested in Enniskil-
len were Capal Healy. 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
council, and Thomas Corrigan, ac-
countant for the Fermanagh coonty
council.
While the raids were proceeding
tenders were busy conveying the spe-
cial police and their prisoners from
the outlying districts.
In Belfast fifty-two were arrested
but these did not include any well
known party leaders, while the Falls
road section. with its big republican
population, was entirely unrepresented.
Absence of the republicans from
their homes is ascribed to anticipation
of reprisal for the assassination of w
]. Twaddell, member of the Ulster
parliament.
In County Londonderry fourteen ar
rests were made, those taken includ-
ing several members of the irregular
forces operating in the eastern part
of County Donegal
Ulster OutraEes Continue.
Garron Tower, the County Antrim
mansion Of Lord londonderry, recent
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column 10