New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-08-15
De VALERA Ck ).
BEFORE MAKING Sfs+ssa
Republican Leader in Ire
land Taken by Troops
at Political Rally
By The Associated Press.

| By The Associated Press.
Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, Aug
15.-Eamonn De Valera, the republi
can leader was arrested by Free State
troops here today on his appearance
to address a republican meeting in the
election campaign.
The arrest was made under sensa-
/ tional circumstances. De Valera was
addressing meeting of electors in the
| Market Square when Free State troops
came on the scene and fired severa
volleys over the heads of the crowd
A stampede occurred and several ar
rests were made.
The troops then surrounded the
platform and took the republican
leader into custody.
When De Valera appeared on the
scene there were many thousands of
people around the flatform and he was
given tumultuous welcome.
Then voice was heard shouting,
"the soldiers are corning and i'm
mediateIy large body of military
with armored cars surrounded the
platform. ...
The crowd stampeded in all direc-
tions. The soldiers fired volley after
volley over the platform and over the
heads of the crowd.
The great gathering became more
panic-stricken, as the shots were fired.
Women shrieked and tainted and
some of them were seriously injured
in the confusion. 1t was reported a
number of people were wounded.
De Valera was taken to the county
Jail
At the first volley De Valera was
seen to fall on the platform and his
collapse added to the excitement He
was unhurt, however, and his fall was
ascribed by those nearby to his dodg-
ing at the sound of the shots but the
people on the outskirts of the crowd
believed him to be wounded.
De Valera at the outset was sur
rounded on the platform by men and
women supporters but soon after the
first volley the square, which had con-
tanned thousands of men, women and
children, was practically deserted Ad-
ditional shots were fired however and
the few civilians who still fingered
were turned away at the point of the
bayonet.
After a lapse of ten minutes De
Valera was brought down from the
platform and found to be uninjured.
He was promptly surrounded by the
military and plain clothes men armed
with revolvers. Hundreds of person
who had fed at the firing rushed out
of houses along O'Connell street,
pressed through the ranks of the SOL
diers and shook hands with the cap
tured leader. 1t was with difficulty
that the troops made their way to the
barracks with their captive, who was
wildly cheered en- route.
Intense excitement prevails in En-
mis-.
The arrest of Eamonn De Valera
comes as dramatic climax to the re-
publican leaders persistent opposition
10 the Anglo-Irish treaty and the Free
State government set up under it.
The first armed opposition by his |
party to the Free State regime was |
n the seizure of the Four Courts and |
several buildings in sackville street,
Dublin in July. 1922. These strong
holds being taken by the government
roops after heavy fighting, he fed
o the country and for several months
vas "on the run"
One by one his chief lieutenants. in
luding Austin Stack, Erskine Childers
nd Rory O'Connor. were captured,
nd it was even asserted in some
uarters that De Valera himself re-
1ained at liberty only because his ar
est would cause the government en-
arrassp1ent by making him appear as
martyr. He was several times re-
orted to have escaped searching
arties bt the narrowest of margins.
The search for him apparently end
with his proclamation of April 27
lst. ordering cessation of hostilities.
lis appearance in Ennis today was in
ursuance of his announcement that
e would contest the elections with
inn Fein candidates standing for
the republic as constitutionally pro-
aimed in 1919"
De Valera came into the omen for (
he first time since he has been ION
ne run" when he addressed the meet {
lg. He is the republican candidate !
tContlnued on Eleventh Page.l