The Irish Question – Again
The advent of war brought a halt to the moves towards home rule for Ireland. Indeed there was considerable unease that the rise of the republicans would slow or even stop volunteers from that country.
Feelings ran high and a number of events mark this as the most significant month in the drive for independence.
On 09 April Captain Karl Spindler set sail for Ireland with 20,000 rifles aboard the SS Aud (renamed from SS Libau to avoid British detection). On the 12th Roger Casement boarded submarine U12 at Wilmshaven bound for a reunion with the Aud at Tralee. Events moved apace between the 19th and the 22nd, Casement who landed near Tralee was captured . The Aud was also taken by the British navy but Captain Spindler scuttled the ship just off Daunts Rock. This prevented the cargo of rifles bound for the Easter Rising falling into British hands.
Stirring up even more fury, Alderman Kelly read a forged letter to the Dublin Corporation. The letter alleged that there were to be mass arrests of republicans to stop “the “Troubles”.
On the 24th came the “Easter Rising”. The Irish Volunteers and the Irish Liberation Army occupied the main Post Office in central Dublin. At the same time the Republican Brotherhood proclaimed a Republic. The victory was short lived after a bloody battle the Irish surrendered to the British Forces.
The “Easter Rising” became symbol and rallying slogan for independence. An interesting myth is that the “Black and Tans” were present at the fight. Not so, a brainchild of Winston Churchill they were recruited in 1918/19 from returning soldiers. “Black and Tan”, from the colour of their uniforms, khaki with dark green flashes. Protestant, almost to a man, they had a fearsome reputation for violence. They eventually became the Royal Ulster Constabulary. A significant element in the “Troubles” half a century later.
The comments are closed.