The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1922-01-27
IRISH AT LAST
RULE IRELAND
Lord Lieutenant FitzaIan Turns
Functions Over to the Pro-
viSionaI Government.
COLLINS INSTALLED AS HEAD
Irish Issue ProcIamation-Annou
Government Has Entered Upon Its
Duties and Give Directions for
Administration-Che Leaders.

Dublin.-The governmental powers
for Ireland, as vested in the British
authorities at Dublin Castle, was
turned over to the provisional gov
ernment of Ireland, as constituted
under the Anglo Irish treaty. The
transfer was made by Viscount Fitza-
Ian, the lord lieutenant, in the privy
council.
The viceroy awaited a telephone
message in the viceregal lodge an
nouncing that the new ministry had ar
rived at the castle. The cheers Of the
crowd outside announced the arrival
Of Michael Collins, Professor John
MacNeill, P. J. Hogan, Joseph Nc
Grath, Kevin O'Higgins and William
Cosgrave, who drove up in taxicabs.
Immediately afterward Viscount Fitz-
alan, with two aides, arrived In a
motor car and they all proceeded to
the privy council chamber, where the
transfer of powers was effected.
From an early hour all approaches
to the castle were blocked by good
humored crowds watching for what
was described as the 'fall of Dublin
Castle" The lower castle yard was
an animated scene of visitors, journal
it's and photographers. The metro
politan police dealt in friendly man
ner with all comers, and the auxil-
iaries in uniform watched the proceed
ings from their old quarters, where
they had examined so many arrested
Sim Feiners.
Workmen were engaged in dis
mantling the wire screens erected for
the protection of the castle from at
tack. Ashes of burning documents
were sprinkled over the spectators
outside. In the upper castle yard,
outside the yiceregal apartments, a
detachment of the Cornwall Regiment,
on guard for the last time, went
through their rifle drill. This was ex-
pected to be the final appearance Of
a British regiment, and the troops
were duly cinematographed as they
marched off.
Post office clerks came to take over
from the soldiers the management Of
the castles telegraph wires.
The actual transfer of the admin
istration to the provisional govern
ment occupied two hours.
The official announcement issued at
the castle merely said the viceroy was
receiving the Irish ministers for the
installation of the provisional govern
ment, and that the necessary further
steps would be taken with the British
Government to complete the ma
chinery Of transfer.
The only untoward incident oc-
Cured at 4 o'clock p. m, when a
lorry drove out of the castle grounds
flying a union jack from the hood. A
crowd rushed forward and seized and
tried to burn the flag, whereupon six
auxiliaries, armed with bars, dashed
from the castle yards to recapture it,
and scuffle ensued, in which a girl
was injured and taken to a hospital.
The members of the republican
army and the republican police and
Crown forces in the street did not par
llCIpdtc TIE SSuhIC, "IilSIi lIlCy dAu
the majority Of the crowd seemed to
look upon as good-humored incident.
Otherwise the historic ceremony
which marked the passing of British
power in Ireland passed off with en-
tire smoothness.
A statement issued at the castle
said: "In the council chamber of the
castle this afternoon the Lord Lieu
tenant received Michael Collins rs
head of the provisional government
provided for in Article XVII Of the
treaty Of December 6. Mr.. Collins
handed the Lord Lieutenant a copy of
the treaty, on which acceptance of its
provisions by himself and his col
leagues had been indorsed, and the
other members Of the provisional gov
ernment were then introduced.
"The Lord Lieutenant congratulated
Mr.. Collins and his colleagues, and in
formed them that they were now duly
;pstaI1ado -