Category: 100 Years Ago

19 FEBRUARY 1923

The Free State of Ireland’s amnesty for the Irregulars to surrender passed, with reports that many had taken the opportunity to hand themselves in.

A clash took place between the Irregulars and the troops of the Irish Government at the base of the Galtee Mountains, with fourteen members of the Irregulars captured and one killed. One member of the national troops was killed along with a boy from a local farm who was caught in the crossfire.

The Dublin home of Alexander McCabe, an Irish politician, was blown up. There was also an arson attack entirely destroying the home and property of Senator Thomas Linehan.

The mail train from Dublin to Galway was wrecked by the Irregulars with a bridge also destroyed.

The Killaloe railway station near Limerick in Ireland was destroyed by the Irregulars who poured petrol within the building and set it alight.

18 FEBRUARY 1923

A spokesperson for the Railway Companies’ Association, the co-ordinating body for the four large rail companies, said that they were looking to change ticketing prices so that return fares would be twice the single fare rate. They added though that the rail companies were trying to reduce railway excursion charges to “nearer pre-war rates than ever before”.

William Thomas Cosgrave, the President of the Irish Executive Council, said that it was the final day of the amnesty that was being offered to members of the Irregulars to surrender. He said that “the Free State Government is prepared to put down this revolt regardless of cost. Let no man be deceived, there is no going back”.

It was announced at a conference of the National Training School that a poison gas that could penetrate any mask had been discovered.

17 FEBRUARY 1923

Arthur Griffith-Boscawen, the Minister of Health, said that the Government’s housing policy including rent restrictions and also a state subsidy to the builders of working men’s homes.

The Labour amendment to the Loyal Address was defeated by 277 votes to 180.

Éamon de Valera stated that he wanted an agreement which would lead to peace in Ireland, but he said that it was essential that “the cause is the threat by England which resulted in the Irish delegates signing an agreement which could in no way by regarded as a settlement in accordance with Irish aspirations”.

It was announced that the inner chamber of the Luxor Tomb had been opened for the first time.

16 FEBRUARY 1923

Annie McSwiney, the Irish Republican activist, was arrested in Cork along with thirty other women and were being sent by the authorities to Dublin.

Despite threats by the French authorities to turn off the electricity in Essen, part of the territory they had occupied in the Ruhr Valley, they decided against plunging the area into darkness. French troops were also issuing sanctions against German shops who refused to serve them by stealing their goods and forcing them to close.

15 FEBRUARY 1923

Three British sailors from HMS Dublin were attacked by a number of Portuguese men in Lourenço Marques, now Maputo, causing serious injury. A Portuguese senator managed to prevent further injury before police and more sailors came to the defence of the attacked men.

The date of the Darlington by-election was set as 28 February 1923.

The situation in the Ruhr Valley, occupied by French troops, worsened and tensions were inflamed across Germany about the actions taken by the French Government. Members of the French occupying army had been threatened and it was reported in the media that there was a growing danger to their lives as armed opposition increased.

14 FEBRUARY 1923

Andrew Bonar Law, the Prime Minister, speaking in support of the King’s Speech laid out the differences between the French and the British on the German reparations policy and the occupation of the Ruhr Valley by the French.

Harry Gosling and Arthur Henderson took their seats in the Commons for the first time.

The customs houses of Wesel and Emmerich in Germany were taken over by Belgian troops.

13 FEBRUARY 1923

King George V opened Parliament following the recess.

The National Liberals unanimously agreed to re-elect David Lloyd as their leader in a meeting at the House of Commons.

A by-election was called in Mitcham following the resignation of Sir Thomas Cato Worsfold who had held the seat since 1918. The by-election date was announced for 3 March 1923.

Thomas O’Higgins, the father of the Irish Cabinet member Kevin O’Higgins was assassinated by the Irregulars at his home in Stradbally.

12 FEBRUARY 1923

Liam Lynch, the Chief of the Republican Staff, issued a proclamation in Dublin saying that the war in Ireland would continue until the country’s independence was fully recognised. There was though a limited voluntary surrender of members of the Irregulars in County Cork.

Catholic bishops in Ireland called for an end to the violence in the country and criticised the tactics of the Irregulars.

The US House of Representatives ratified the war repayment debt agreement between the UK and the US by a majority of 191 to 44.

11 FEBRUARY 1923

Belfast police announced that they had arrested the ringleaders, including two brothers, of a campaign to destroy every civic and Government office in the city.

Discussions continued for a loan from the Bank of England to Austria to assist them in their current financial turbulence. The loan would be guaranteed equally by the French, British, Italian and Czech Governments.

The French occupation of the Ruhr was causing severe shortages of coal across Germany, despite the import of coal from the UK. A number of schools were closed and plans were drawn up to produce a rationing system for members of the public.

10 FEBRUARY 1923

Liam Deasy, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the IRA, who had his death sentence exchanged for being able to influence a surrender of the Irregulars had his efforts rebuffed by Eamon de Valera. Liam Lynch, the Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army, said that “Deasy’s action has brought about no real change in the Republicans’ position, the fight will go on, even if there are only 30 men left to conduct it”.

Two members of the Irregulars were shot dead by the National Troops following their raid of a Post Office in Poleberry.

Archbishop Georges, the Head of the Polish Orthodox Church, was assassinated in Warsaw and his murderer arrested.

The German Minister of Finance said that the French occupation of the Ruhr Valley meant that was now more difficult than ever to present a budget that had any real value. The mark was currently at 40,000 to one pound, with inflation running rampant in Germany and with few signs of being able to bring it under control.