New-York tribune., 1922-02-21
British Officer
Dies i'm Aml,,lsI,
Outside Dublin
Another MortalIy Wounded
When Motor Carrying a
Party of Soldiers Is Fired
On as Sinn Fcin Gathers
Debate on Treaty day
Free Siatcrs and Aids of Dc
Valera Both Claim Major
ity Among the Delegates
By Arthur S. Draper
Special cobic to The Tribune

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Copyright 1872. New York Tribune lnc)
DUBLIN, Feb. 90 While delegates
from every Sim Fcin club in Ireland
were arriving to-day for meeting to-
morrow to decide the policy of the or
Eanization toward the Anglo-Irish
treaty in the forthcoming election. a
motor containing party Of British
troops was Ambushcd outside this city
and one officer was killed and another
mortally wounded.
Aside from the lawlcssncss Of the
attack, this is bound to have great po-
litical Significance and incline the
British to keep troops in Ireland. The
victims Of the attack had been ordered
to leave for home in a few days The
slain officer was Lieutenant Mead Ap-
parently the ambushers made mis-
take, believing they were firing upon
others. According to official reports, a
tender broke down outside Of Dublin,
and the ambushers hid behind walls.
expecting others to come to its assist
ancc. When Lieutenant Mead came
along he halted. and was fired upon as
soon as he alighted.
Delegates numbering 5000 are com
ing for to-morrow's meeting. Includ-
ing those in the six northern counties
there are 1853 Sim Fcin clubs and
each is represented by two delegates.
Final Vote Set for Tonight
Fortunately both sides have agreed
night, or the debate might run for
weeks. Though the Free Staters and
the irreconcilablc republicans both
claim an easy victory the truth is that
nobody knows whether Arthur Griffith
or Eamon de Valera will win.
Among the delegates there is big
block which is uninstructcd and will
not decide until after the debate.
Michael Collins, for the Free Staters.
will move a resolution that the Sim
Fein funds be divided according to the
proportlonate strength of the two sides
as determined tomorrow, but if the
republicans win they will try to defeat
the motion.
One of the principal causes of the
trouble along the Ulster border was
removed to-day when Sim Fcin foot
ball players who had been arrested by
the Ulster constabulary. we're released
from Londonderry prison British
troops conveyed them in motors across
the border, and during the remainder
OF their journey they had local COM
mandant Of the Irish republican army
as an escort. 1t is said that the re-
naming Ulster prisoners in the hands
of the republicans will be released
Immediately. Although both these steps
are calculated to relieve the situation
conside rably, the scctarian war in the
northern capital remains extremely
bitter.
Forty Catholics Killed
With the last ten days forty Cath
olics have been killed and three times
that number wounded in Belfast for
practically no other reason than that
they had different religious views than
their assailants. Orangemen declare
that most Of the violence is due to the
operations of band Of desperate gun
men, but The facts do not bear them
out
1t should be SAID to the credit of the
northern Cabinet that it is making
every effort to end this fanatical war
fare and is receiving full assistance
from the British troops, especially
since a bomb was hurled among a
group of Catholic children.
Over the week end there has been a
distinct Improvement in the situation
in Belfast, but it is still full of peril,
despite the fact that armed soldiers are
still patrolng the streets. SO long as
the troops remain the gunmen will be
held in check. Along the border itself
there is distinct improvements
The Dublin City Council to- day de-
cided to give preference in employment
to members of the republican army who
joined before the truce. Unemployment
is acute in many parts Of Ireland, espe-
cially here, and the provisional govern
ment is anxious TO ease the situation
by starting national and municipal un-
0prtatir0c