HC Deb 05 March 1918 vol 103 cc1851-2W
Major NEWMAN

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a party of twenty-eight men were recently discovered at a house in Dublin receiving instruction on the methods of blowing up railway bridges and the use of high explo- sives for similar purposes; and that in defence it was stated that, as soldiers of the Irish republic, the accused were entitled to train themselves in the use of arms, and that they intended soon to throw the invader out of their country; and whether the Irish Government are taking the necessary steps to safeguard the railways from the sabotage?

Mr. SAMUELS

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The men were arrested and most of them are undergoing imprisonment in default of giving bail for their future good behaviour. The necessary steps to safeguard the railways and bridges were being and are still being taken.