The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-15

Dublin, Ireland, Feb. 15.-By AS
sociated Press. ELEVEN of the kid
naped Ulster Unionists were releas
ed tonight Seven were released
last night and eight this morning,
it was announced here this evening
London, Feb. 15.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press) - Michael Collins,
head of the Irish provisional gov
ernment, has obtained the release
of Is of the Ulster UniOnists recent
| Iy kidnapped, it was announced in
! the house of commons today by
/ Winston Churchill, secretary for
/ the colonies.
| MIR. Churchill said that at his
suggestion Premier Craig of Ulster
and Mr.. Collins had agreed to the
appointment OF an impartial COM
mission who would go to the bor-
der area, ascertain the facts and
keep in close touch with each other
in order to aIlay if possible, the
/ great apprehension existing on both
sides of the border at the action
being taken on the other side.
Belfast, ireland, Feb. 15.-(By
today Belfast was reported quiet,
presence of troops on the streets
having had the desired effect of
checking the operations of the gun
men.
Conditions on the border where
forces of north and south Ireland
are facing each other as the re-
suit of the tension created by the
recent kidnapping of Ulster Union
lists, also was reported quiet.
| Arrangements for the evacuation
of the British troops from South
ern ireland were resumed today
after a suspension lasting two
days. At Dublin preparations
were being made for the embar-
kation of 400 men.
Shooting In Early Hours.
Belfast. Ireland. Feb. 15.-(By
the Associated Press s.)-Shootin
was resumed in the early hours OF
the morning in West Belfast after
temporary lull at midnight.
| Shooting also occurred today or
the east side of the city, a section
that has been relatively immune
| Shots were fired into several private
houses, and the door of Father
tO'Brien's house was smashed with
Bullets.
Two men were reported killeC
and a number of men and one wo
man wounded. The total deaths II
the present series of outbreaks i:
now placed at 25.
"Critical PERIOD
London, Feb. 15.-(By the Asso
, ciated Press. s.)-Twenty-four hours
of calm on the Ulster frontier
where forces of the north anC
, south are facing each other. have
; brought some relief in the tension
, of the Irish situation.
The statement by Lord Higf
!, Chancellor Birkenhead yesterday
, however, that lin the next few
weeks we are going through th'
most grave and critical periot
probably in living memory" is gen
orally regarded as not particular!
overdrawn.
Michael Collins assertion that h
is in a position to obtain the re
lease of a number of the KIDNAPPED
Unionists was received here will
relief. but it is evident that tn,
feeling in Ulster will not moderate
until all the captives are freed.
De Valera Silent.
: The report current in Belfas
Yesterday that AZ of the captive
Unionists had applied to the Ulste
government for release of tn,
Gaelic football players held in tn,
: Derry Jail is unconfirmed and ha
t been denied by Lieutenant Colone
5 w. B. Spender, secretary to tn
/ Ulster cabinet.
Eamonn de Valera has maintain
: ed silence concerning Mr.. Collins
} charges of a republican plot agains
the provisional government. ant
Mr.. Collins has. added nothing t
thir original statement