NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 21 January 1923

21 JANUARY 1923

Businesses in Essen struggled to open following the French invasion of the Ruhr Valley and the seizing of Reichsbank premises. Other banks also closed, saying that they were unable to open because they were reliant on the Reichsbank infrastructure, whilst German staff refused to work in the now French controlled bank. It was also announced by the French authorities that the Director of Postal Services in Essen had been arrested for failing to comply with French military orders.

At the annual general meeting of the National Farmers’ Union it was complained that the population wasn’t drinking enough milk and that there should be efforts to reduce its price to make it more affordable. It was also reported that milk was being poured down drains in a bid to keep the price up and some farmers who tried to reduce their charges were met with opposition from suppliers of other services.

Army Headquarters in Dublin announced that they had discovered a 70 foot long tunnel which was being constructed in a bid to help prisoners escape from Mountjoy Prison. Individuals arrested for their involvement with the tunnel construction included Michael Doyle, Arthur Ring, John Daly, Michael McCann, Thomas Carne and Donal O’Donnell.