Ireland The peace that has long prevailed in Ireland was
rudely disturbed in the past week by fanatical outbreaks on either side of the Free State border. On Wednesday, August 12, a body of men said to belong to the " Irish Republican Army " entered Cootehill, Cavan, cut the railway and telegraph wires and occupied the Orange Hall, to prevent the Orangemen from celebrating the relief of Londonderry in 1689. They withdrew before the Free State troops appeared. By way-of retaliation armed Orangemen on Saturday, August 15th, took similar measures to stop a meeting of the Ancient Order of Hibernians at Armagh. There, too, the railway was blocked and the telegraph wires cut, and some rioting followed in Armagh, Lisburn and other towns. The Hibernians, however, held their meeting under • the protection of the Northern Ireland police. The old religious feuds, sharpened by political differences, still smoulder, and are not yet extinct. Opponents of Mr. Cosgrave's Government, it is to be feared, are not above taking advantage of the fact.
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