Vol. 2 No. 22
To ask the Minister for Defence if he is aware that the following notice was posted on the bridge in Athlone and on the walls of Fitzgerald's public-house in Connaught Street, Athlone:—
"Any person or persons found speaking to ‘Bolshies' shall be shot at sight.
"Signed on behalf of
"The Military Headquarters, Athlone."
And will the Minister see that this pseudo-military order is officially repudiated.
I am not aware that a notice as quoted was posted up, and I presume that it is thoroughly understood that it was not authorised.
I take that answer as satisfactory. It was on behalf of the people of Athlone. I asked the question. I was in Athlone, and saw the notice posted up, and as long as it is not authorised by this Government I am satisfied.
Surely no reasonable public person could consider that a notice worded in the way that notice was would come from any responsible officer or any responsible soldier of any rank.
It ought not.
