there was even a suggestion that the attacks were a plot to prevent a peaceful settlement to the border question. Timeline During the campaign there were 300 explosions/acts of sabotage, 10 deaths and 96 injuries. 1939 January 16 January – Five bombs exploded in London, while three exploded in Manchester. According to The Times (on 18 January), one targeted Hams Hall Power Station and two of the principal water mains supplying the station. A porter was killed in Manchester. During the campaign Richard Goss was the IRA's Operations Officer in Manchester. 17 January In Barton-upon-Irwell, an attempt was made to bomb an electricity pylon stretching across the Manchester Ship Canal. The bag of dynamite and gelignite failed to explode due to a faulty timer. In Great Barr, a bomb exploded at an electricity pylon, cutting off the supply for a number of hours In Coleshill there were explosions at Hams Hall Power Station, the main source of Birmingham's electricity supply. In London a bomb exploded at Williams Deacons Bank; gas mains were damaged. The British Government sought to improve security of infrastructure in England. All power stations, gas works, telephone exchanges, and the Droitwich transmitting station were put under police protection. Police patrols around the government buildings at Whitehall were strongly reinforced and all ships from Ireland arriving at Holyhead, Fishguard and Liverpool were closely inspected. 18 January The Times reported a total of nine explosions designed to "cripple electricity services" since 16 January. 14 arrests were made in connection with the attacks; 7 in Manchester and 7 in London. Each of the men was charged under Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883. Eight 1cwt barrels of potassium chlorate, a large quantity of powdered charcoal, and 40 sticks of gelignite were uncovered. 19 January – In Tralee, County Kerry a small bomb concealed in a tobacco tin exploded in the yard of Hawneys Hotel. Francis Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister's only son, had been staying there during a shooting holiday. The police discovered the bomb but it went off before it could be defused. 20 January Seán Russell had a notice printed in the Dublin newspapers in which he dissociated himself from the Hawneys Hotel attack the previous day. It stated "IRA Headquarters had no knowledge of this attack, nor would it order or countenance such an action". This unsanctioned action is assumed to have been carried by