FIERCE FIGHTING IN BELFAST STREETS.

SANDBAGGED ROADS. MENACING SITUATION. FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. BELFAST, Monday.

The situation in Belfast this evening is menacing. Feeling runs high, and no one knows where the next outbreak will be. The Lord Mayor, the Commissioner of Police, and General Carter-campbell had a conference today, and afterwards met Sir James Craig, whose Government is still powerless in the matter, because they have not yet been handed over control by the Imperial authorities. This matter was raised in the Northern Parliament this afternoon, when Mr Lynn asked whether the Prime Minister was aware that during the last two months large quantities of arms and ammunition had been brought into Northern Ireland by Sinn Feiners, whether he was aware that the Sinn Feiners were constantly engaged in drilling, and whether he could state if the Government would approach the Imperial Government and bring those facts to their notice with the object of re-establishing law and order in Northern Ireland. Sir James Craig replied: According to the information received by my Government from trustworthy sources, the reply to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. My Government have again had under review the existing state of affairs, and had a conference with the military, the police, and the Lord Mayor of Belfast this morning, when it was decided to remobilise the special constabulary in certain parts of Northern Ireland. It must be understood that in such areas as are under military control the special constables will be under the military for all practical purposes. I appeal to all law-abiding citizens to assist the military and police in the arduous and dangerous duty of restoring and maintaining law and order, and in protecting life and property in the city. If further military are required they will be available. Last night’s bomb outrage at the Newtownards Road, when two loyalists were killed and 34 injured, has left a bitter impression, and was followed today by a form of reprisals. Many of the injured were shipyard workers, and today a number of men proceeded to the new Queen’s Island recreation grounds, and chased all the Nationalists there. One was shot and two others were badly beaten. In the storm centre at Ballymacarrett troops were on patrol, and at all street comers in the area bounded by Newtownards Road, Mount Pottinger Road, Bryson Street, and Beechfield Street, sandbag defences were erected on the street. Additional armoured cars have arrived in the city, and the military are taking special measures to cope with any disorder.

A BOMB EXPLOSION.

Later details of the fighting in the Ballymacarrett district on Sunday night add to the evidence of the very dangerous state of affairs in the city. Sinn Fein gunmen fired volley after volley into Newtownards Road, where the Unionists were standing about. The strife continued for a couple of hours, with occasional lulls, during which the Sinn Feiners replenished their supplies, being assisted by their womenfolk. Two bombs were flung and burst harmlessly. The Unionist crowd retaliated with one which failed to explode. There was an ominous lull for a few minutes, after which stones began to roll down the roof of a house on Newtownards-road into the street. These were thrown by the Sinn Feiners at the back, with the object of attracting a crowd. The ruse succeeded, and soon a large party of Unionists collected underneath. In a few seconds a large bomb was thrown over. The missile fell near the tram lines, and there was a terrific explosion. The bomb burst just in the crowd. Scenes of indescribable confusion followed the explosion. The groans of the injured mingled with the shrieks of frightened women and the cries of children. The success of the bomb exploit was made the occasion for an outburst of jubilation on the part of the Sinn Feiners, who cheered, and continued to shout even when the wounded were being put into the ambulance.