The Washington herald., 1922-07-09
Threats, Snipers' Bullets
And Bombing Cause
Families to Flee.
EMBITTERED BY
3 YEARS OF STRIFE
Ulster Unionist Secretary
Tells of Results of
Religious Feud.

BELFAST, July s.-The chaos and
anarchy of the reign of terror in
northern ireland is resulting in
constant stream of emigration from
the six counties. many families Civ
ing up their homes Of a lifetime
ana leaving for America where
5000 Obstetrics already have gone
since the beginning of the year.
Refugees from the north and west
are arriving in Belfast daily en-
route to America. England or Scot
land. having been forced out by the
burning and bombing of their
homes or the Irish republican
arniy's seizure of their property.
A. w. HunCerford. secretary Of
the Ulster Unionfst. today told of
the religious feud waged through
out the north where in some dis
tricts little pockets of Protestant
families are entirely surrounded by
Catholics. while in other districts
Catholic pockets are surrounded by
Protestants- The years of strife
nave embittered both parties until
man living among neighbors of
the opposite creed finds life un-
tenabIe
city hall building which is guarded
by three armed constables to pre-
vent bombing, Hungerford said:
Human life has ceased to have
any value. Protestant farmers liv-
ing in Catholic districts along the
border are constantly terrOrized and
are. receiving threatening letters
ordering them to quit their homes
\ by certain date. otherwise they
viii be plugged or done in" Un-
less a man packs up and goes he is
constantly sniped at or his home
burned or bombed. In some cases
the feudists dig mans grave in
his front yard, telling him he will
NIL il unless he leaves the village
by morning. Terrified, the Protes-
tant families fee from their homes
and flock here.
The same situation exists in
Belfast where Protestant families
living in Catholic areas are receiv-
ing threatening letters signed by
a black hand. Many come to US
asking that we supply them with
new homes or military protection.
About 1900 Protestants have
been driven from their homes in
Belfast alone during the feud Two
huhdred have been murdered-ws
have buried seventy-eight whose
impoverished families were not able
to pay for the funeral. We are
now contributing to the support Of
500 destitute dependents of Protes-
tant victims of the fighting.
"A typical case recently when a
grdup of men entered factory work
room and said. II there are any Cath
ola
Six men hurriedly left whereat gun
men drew their revolvers and shot
the remaining three Protestants
dead"
In York street area-a waterfront
district--the houses are bullet
Clipped, the windows covered by wire
netting broken by bullets. and the
people keep indoors to avoid snipers.
In Pilot street. the center of the fight
ing zone. Father Murphy. tall
young, red checked Belfast prelate,
told about his dwindling flock.
"war of DETERMINATION,
1T is war of determination
against US" he said. "A year ago
had 5000 in my parish, now 1900
have fed. terrOrized and driven from
their homes About $50 Of them were
either burned out or bombed out
the rest receiving threatening letters
signed with a skull and cross bones.
or a pictured coffin. or the Red Hand
OF Ulster threatening them with
death anless they left the neighbor-
hood.
''Forty-two Of my parish have been
murdered since the beginning OF the
fighting. The trouble usually starts
when a crowd Of Ulstermen collects
at the head Of a Catholic street and
fires shots down the thoroughfare.
When the special constables arrive,
the Ulsterites say. a shot came from
a Catholic house The specials starr
a search. and the mob follows them.
starting trouble at once. / have even
had Ulster crowds assemble and hoot
and jeer while l presided at the
funeral of one of their victims"
Equally to Blame.
The statements of the two men
show the irreconcilability of the fac
tions and also show that both sides
are equally to blame for Belfast's s
terror reign. The leaders of both
sides desire peace. but the lower
classes continue their feuds. seeking
vengeance for their dead. The COM
plicated situation involves more than
religion The solution lies in the
wiping out of any suggestion or even
mention Of religious discrimination in
the north. but even more in adjusting
Englands relationship with all Ire
land and the restoration of co-opera-
ton between the north and the south.
Behind the whole tragedy Is the
specter of unemployment and misery
which turned the workless and reck-
less youths into gunmen-'play
boys" bad 'uns"-who are carry
ing on their vendetta through blood
lust whether religion or politics IS
the motive
Employment and prosperity would
wipe out much of listers anarchy.