As Twitchy has reported, detainees at Alligator Alcatraz are talking to journalists, claiming they're being treated like animals. As our own Warren Squire reported Tuesday, the illegal immigrants detained

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The Plantation of Ulster was a major colonial enterprise that transformed a formerly rebellious province into a stronghold for the British Crown in Ireland. The process of how Ulster became Protestant saw the native Gaelic Irish population being evicted in favor of English and Scottish settlers while large tracts of land were also granted to merchants, soldiers, and nobles. The resulting demographic changes have directly impacted the political landscape of the British Isles, with six counties of Ulster remaining part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland.Ireland in the Early 17th CenturyBattle between English and Gaelic forces in The Image of Irelande by John Derrick, 1581. Source: Edinburgh University LibraryThe 16th century was one of great change for Ireland. The religious violence of the continent arrived on the island after the Tudors had embraced the Reformation while the native Irish largely remained with the Catholic faith. Warfare also intensified on the island. At the start of the 1500s, both sides had preferred bows but by the end of the century firearms were predominant in both English and Irish armies.Numerous wars had raged across the island and the Desmond Wars devastated the southern half of the country during the second half of the 1500s. These were followed by the cataclysmic Nine Years War which saw the end of the Gaelic order and the establishment of English rule over the entire island. During this period Ireland experienced famine, war, and disease, as well as foreign armies landing on her shores after the island was dragged into larger-scale conflicts such as the Anglo-Spanish War.The Nine Years War had devastated the country, no area left untouched by the violence. Although the Gaelic nobility had submitted, there remained the potential for the outbreak of further hostilities. The conflict had nearly bankrupted the Crown and the new king, James I, was eager to ensure there would not be another one. James had a prejudiced view of Gaels, both in Ireland and Scotland. He resolved to revive a popular tactic of colonial control, plantation, seeking to civilize the more moderate Gaels while removing or destroying those he saw as barbarians.The Process of Plantation17th Century Plantation of Ulster. Source: Ulster Historical FoundationPlantation was a process where the native Gaelic or Irish population was evicted and their land was granted to incoming English and Scottish settlers. The land chosen was typically of great economic or strategic value, while the original Gaelic occupants were evicted to upland areas full of bogs and hills. Planters had to abide by certain conditions to take this offer, and many were forbidden from having Gaelic tenants on their land. In practice this did not always happen and it took decades in some cases for planters to finally clear their lands of Gaelic Irish families.Plantations had been attempted before in counties such as Laois and Offaly and most of the province of Munster. A failure to attract settlers and subsequent rebellions led to their failure. Ulster was to be the most successful and long lasting of the plantations. Settlers had been outnumbered, with a hostile native population surrounding them. Ireland was extremely forested at this time and rebels would use the woods as cover for ambushes and raids on the English settlements. Similarly, in Scotland, protracted resistance in the Highlands and Islands could impede or ruin an English colony. The Flight of the Earls removed any prospect of organized resistance in Ulster.Incoming settlers generally took the land under certain conditions, often serving the role of a supplementary garrison to regular armed forces. They were required to own weapons and towns were fortified with even villages boasting a small fort or stronghold. Planter settlements were intermixed with Irish ones in order to civilize them by converting them to Protestantism and compelling them to abandon their native Gaelic tongue for English.The PlantersMap of Northern Irelands Catholic Population based on 2001 census data by Dr Sunil Prasannan of Imperial College London, 2001. Source: Ulster UniversityThe settlers who took advantage of the Ulster Plantation came from diverse backgrounds. Early attempts at settlement in the province had been undertaken by Scots from the Highlands and Islands who, sharing a common language with the Gaelic Irish (Scottish and Irish Gaelic being related dialects) had encountered much less hostility as both sides had intermarried and alternately warred and traded with each other. Those coming across in the early 1600s were cut from a much different cloth. They tended to be from England or the English-speaking Scottish Lowlands.The first type were referred to as undertakers as they undertook to plant British settlers on the confiscated lands. Undertakers were generally wealthy English or Scottish who were required to bring across at least ten families for every 1,000 acres they took. They were also required to fortify their holdings and maintain an armed militia. Another type were servitors, generally ex-soldiers or officials who had served in Ireland. They received smaller estates but unlike undertakers could have both Irish and British tenants on their land.Other settlers included Protestant clerics, wealthy merchants, and most surprisingly of all, some Gaelic Irish lords. These were typically supporters of the Crown during the war and were rewarded with land for their loyalty. However they were subject to the highest rents in order to keep them from growing too powerful. Land grants to native Irishmen were also generally smaller than those to planters from Britain.Impact on the Gaelic IrishTyrone in 1609 prior to plantation. Source: Public Record Office of Northern IrelandDespite James grim design, the act of plantation in Ulster (and across Ireland) proved hard to implement. It would take some decades for the process to be completed. In Laois only 289 families could be evicted over four years as the local English garrison lacked the manpower to enforce the policy. Many undertakers also initially disobeyed the prohibitions against employing local Irish as they had no wish to leave much of their land unworked. A decade on from the start of the plantation, a surveyor was horrified to find only 866 British families on a Tyrone undertakers land alongside some 1,200 Irish families.This casual attitude in the quiet years after the war was to have ramifications in 1641 when a new conflict broke out in Ireland. Until then, little violence was offered as the Gaelic population had been devastated in the Nine Years War. Troublemakers were also regularly exiled from the island. 6,000 Irish were shipped off to fight for Charles IX in Sweden in his wars with Poland and Russia, with 1,300 itinerant swordsmen alone transported in 1609.Although some Irish retained their land, there was a noticeable cluster of Gaelic settlement on poorer land of higher altitude, generally with 500 feet above sea level as the dividing line between Irish lands above and British lands below. Even where mixed settlement was tolerated, the Irish were segregated by allocating them the poorer, more isolated land. Pressure was also put on Irish tenants to convert to Protestantism and speak English instead of Irish, part of the kings civilizing mission.Expansion and GrowthCity plan of Derry (Londonderry) by Thomas Philips, 1836. Source: Public Record Office of Northern IrelandMany towns in Ulster on both sides of the border date from the time of the plantations. By 1660, nearly 90% of British settlers lived within five miles of a market center. Derry was rebuilt in 1618 by the London merchants with walls that made it the envy of any fortress in Ireland. Coleraine and Carrickfergus received similar fortifications. Smaller settlements were based on a triangular or irregularly shaped green (known as diamonds) with houses constructed around them, usually with a fort or castle nearby. Settlements also would have a church.There was an English/Scottish border influence in the design of some settlements as some planters originated from the Border Reivers, clans of marauders who prior to the unification of England and Scotland had made a living by raiding their neighbors. Transplanted to Ulster, they were ideal as settlers. Their fortified homes were designed like a mini castle, not designed for a fully fledged siege but enough to withstand raids.As settlement expanded, the economic exploitation of the region began. Prior to the Tudor conquest, Gaelic Ireland had a localized redistributive economy. Some surplus would find its way to the market but foreign trade was predominantly from the Anglo-Irish towns. Exports increased dramatically as the plantations grew. Wool exports to Chester had only been around 1,000 kilograms in the late 1580s but by 1639 over 40,000 kilograms of wool was being exported annually. Land prices also dramatically increased from seven or eight times the annual rent to nearly twenty times by the 1630s.Effects Still Felt TodayWar on the Home Front by Don McCullin, 1971. Source: National Galleries of ScotlandAlthough Ireland in the 21st century is a modern nation with many cultures, the effects of the plantations, particularly the Ulster plantation are still visible and felt today. Ulster (three counties in Ireland with another six in Northern Ireland) still has a much higher percentage of Protestants than the rest of the island. The Protestant minority in the other provinces also tend to be from other denominations while Presbyterianism continues to be the predominant denomination within Northern Ireland.This cultural conflict was to cause much violence over the next centuries. When Ireland erupted into violence in 1641 as part of the wider Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Ulster was the site of conflict between Irish Confederates, Scottish Covenanters, and English Parliamentarians and Royalists. Similarly, the Williamite War in 1689 saw much violence in Ulster. The descendants of planters sided with William of Orange and some still celebrate his victory at the Battle of the Boyne. During the Rebellion of 1798, Ulster was the site of further conflict as the United Irishmen were active in counties Antrim and Down.The presence of a large ethnically and religiously distinct minority in the northeast of the island influenced the 1921 partition of Ireland after the Anglo-Irish War of 1919-1921. Perhaps the most well known struggle arising from the Plantation of Ulster has been the 20th century Troubles, a sustained period of sectarian conflict over three decades which continues to impact the British Isles to this day. The Plantation of Ulster four centuries ago has left obvious marks in the language, religion, and even in the very landscape of the region.

Among martial arts enthusiasts and certain internet circles, a fierce debate rages: between the knightly longsword and the Japanese katana, which is the better sword? Both two-handed swords were used by a warrior-noble class as their sidearm, both depicted at various times as the ultimate close combat weapon. They were briefly contemporaries, albeit used by cultures on opposite sides of the known world.Katana vs LongswordKatana and Tsuba, Edo Period. Source: British MuseumDespite these surface similarities, the two weapons are intended for use in different contexts, and comparing them can be a case of apples and oranges. We can analyze the tendencies of each sword, but before we do so, lets specify what type of longsword and katana we are using for comparison.The katana, as we know it, made its widespread appearance in the 1300s after the Mongol invasions of Japan, and remained in use until the abolishment of the samurai class during the 1867 Meiji reforms. Our hypothetical katana for this discussion will be a 28-inch blade with tori-zori (centered) curvature and an o-kissaki (long tip) that was typical of the period. The longsword, meanwhile, saw its heyday in the 1300s and 1400s, and for our purposes, well use a 36-inch Oakeshott XVIa-style blade. The hilts of both swords will measure 9 inches.Context of UseLongsword. Source: Wikimedia CommonsVarious theories abound as to the evolution of the longsword, but one of the most prevailing ones is that it evolved from the single-handed knightly arming sword, with the extra length granting extra range and leverage. It was not often used as an everyday carry weapon, mainly being relegated to the role of sidearm during field engagements, but there were judicial duels in which the combatants would use long swords.The katana, meanwhile, was one of the weapons carried every day by samurai as part of the set of daisho, or the katana and wakizashi. It was as much an indicator of status as it was a weapon. The shorter blade of the katana was derived from the earlier tachi, which was the long, deeply curved sword used on horseback. Worn edge-up in the obi, the katana was easy to draw and use in tight spaces at a seconds notice, and also saw some use on the battlefields of feudal Japan.Cutting47 Ronin, Sadayuki, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, circa 1850. Source: Ukiyo-e.orgThe longsword in question likely would have a hexagonal cross-section and a moderate profile taper starting from midway up the sword. This would provide a balance between cutting and thrusting ability and maintaining the swords rigidity, which is important especially when dealing with an armored foe. However, because it is straight, it has an inherent disadvantage when compared with a curved sword in the cut.The katana, meanwhile, has a cross-section that is wedge-shaped with slightly rounded sides coming to the edge. The blade is sharpened to a razors edge all the way to the tip. The curvature of the katana means that the force of a cut is concentrated on a smaller area, and if you think of the sword as a combination of a wedge and a lever, you can understand that the wider base of a wedge transfers more energy than a narrower one. Moreover, the katana is noticeably tip-heavy, and the ideal cutting portion of a katanas blade is near the tip. This means that yet more momentum carries through the sword when wielded properly.ThrustingPicture of Schielhau, by Peter von Danzig, c. 1452. Source: WiktenauerThe narrower, more tapered point of the longsword, along with the straightness of the blade, allows the wielder to thrust more effectively because of the momentum of the swords mass, and the kinetic chain of the body will be lined up directly behind the tip. It is thinner and more likely to flex than the katana, but half-sword techniques help to stiffen the sword and to provide more leverage and control. When dealing with the gaps in plate armor, this tactic was an essential tool.Meanwhile, the katana has an almost chisel-like tip in comparison. It is therefore stiffer in the thrust. The kissaki, designed to be longer and narrower than average, is better suited for armored combat, but it is more of an extension of the edge, designed for shallower snipping cuts if that part of the sword made contact.VersatilityFencers in full HEMA protective gear. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe myth of a longsword being a glorified metal club has largely been dispelled in recent years thanks to the spread of HEMA (historical European martial arts). The presence of the pommel counterbalances the extra length and serves as a bludgeoning implement, while the crossguard protects the wielders hands and can also be used to strike the foe.Using the half-sword grip, wherein one hand remains on the hilt and the other grasps the blade halfway, lets the longsword become a lever that can be used to trap, throw, or restrain an enemy. Grasping the blade with both hands turns the sword into a makeshift warhammer. The longsword, being double-edged, has the advantage of false-edge cuts. If one needs to cut at an upward angle, they can simply lift the sword along its previous path without needing to turn the wrists.The katana is mostly used as a single-edged cutting weapon for infantry or cavalry engagements. That being said, half-sword techniques exist, but rather than gripping the blade, the user braces their palm against the spine to add leverage to a cut or a parry. Some pommel strikes exist, as well as trapping an enemys sword on the inside of the curve. Where the katana excels is in quick-draw cutting. It is short enough to clear the saya with ease, and the curve follows the natural movement of the arm.Ease of UseMSKK5012 manuscript showing the Zornhau, by Peter Falkner, c. 1490s. Source: Wikimedia CommonsAlthough the longsword is heavier than the katana, it does not feel as heavy because the pommel counterbalances the blade (which, remember, is tapered to a thin point) and makes it more controllable and nimble than you might expect from initial appearance. However, it is thinner, therefore less forgiving of poor edge alignment: the edge must be in line with the direction the sword is moving to perform a proper cut, or the impact will damage the sword. The typical hewing cut of a longsword involves the wielder using something resembling a throwing or punching motion with the dominant arm, and pulling on the pommel to create a snap at the end of the cut, bringing the point on line with the target. The Zornhau (Wrath Hew) in German longsword exemplifies this motion and is described as the motion that comes easiest to a wrathful person.The katana, by contrast, feels more tip-heavy despite being lighter overall than the longsword, but its thicker spine adds more mass behind the cut and helps to self-correct poor edge alignment, but only to an extent. The proper technique to cutting with a katana is similar at first glance, but it involves more rotation of the hips and torso and snapping the wrists out to full extension at the apex of the cuts arc, twisting both wrists inward to stop the sword instead of carrying it through.Is There an Overall Better Sword?Armored Fencing in the Veldenz Manuscript, by Joachim Meyer, 1561. Source: WiktenauerNow that weve compared the two weapons, is there an unquestionably better one? Short answer: no.Long answer: each sword is designed for the best possible use in its specific contextif it didnt work well, it would not have been used. Each weapon has its pros and cons, as outlined above. In a more battlefield-oriented scenario where one would likely face heavy armor, the longsword will have more of an advantage. Against lighter armor or in close quarters, this same advantage will likely go to the katana.It also depends on the dimensions of the person in question: a shorter person might find a katana easier to wield than a longsword, and vice versa for a taller person. Ultimately, the better sword between these two iconic weapons is a matter of the specific circumstances and personal preference.

Although World War II history often focuses on the more dominant players, such as England and Germany, the contributions of Australia and its people cannot be underestimated. Nearly one million Australian men and women served in the conflict. The war even came to Australia itself, and the mainland would come under attack for the first time. One of these barrages took place in the historic town of Darwin, whose place in history would become even more cemented with its role in the viscera of war.Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this story may contain and provide links to images and names of deceased persons.Establishing DarwinDarwins coast. Source: CunardThe first people to live in the area that would become Darwin were the aboriginal Larrakia people. The Larrakia traditionally called the area from Cox Peninsula in the west to the Adelaide River in the East their home. The tribe interacted with other groups in the area, establishing trade routes that they used to barter with the Tiwi, Wagait, and Wulna people, along with fishermen who visited from the region near Indonesia.Larrakia dancers performing in Darwin in 2016 at a celebration of a land claim handover ceremony, Stefan Postles photo. Source: LifegateIn 1839, an English ship, the HMS Beagle, entered the harbor near the future town of Darwin. Lieutenant John Lort Stokes was aboard the ship and named the harbor for his former traveling companion, Charles Darwin. Though Darwin himself never visited the area, the harbor and later the town came to bear his name.An 1890 illustration of the HMS Beagle from the Bettmann Archive. Source: ForbesHowever, the first name of the town adjacent to the harbor was Palmerston, which was established in 1869. Despite the Palmerston moniker, the city port was always known as Port Darwin. The settlement was then officially renamed in 1911.Growth & DevelopmentAn annual gold panning championship still takes place at Pine Creek. Source: ABC NewsNot long after its founding, Darwin began to grow rapidly. In 1871, gold was discovered near Darwin, and expansion accelerated. The Northern Territory has a deep history of gold production, and Pine Creek, the area where gold was discovered in Darwin, is one of the three main goldfields still in operation today.Infrastructure began to rise up around the town. Government House, the home of the territory administrator, was completed in 1883. Today, it is the oldest surviving continually occupied built structure in the Northern Territory. In 1959, Darwins growth was such that it was granted status as a city. It was made the capital city and today remains the largest population center in the Northern Territory.Aboriginal RelationsMany Aboriginal children were removed from their families and forced into assimilation programs. Source: Australians TogetherThe Larrakia people welcomed the white settlers, providing the earliest inhabitants with food and other support. The Larrakia and other Aboriginal people were part of Darwins infrastructure and society throughout its growth and development. However, assimilation policies resulted in segregation, forcible movement of children from their homes, and other tactics designed to disrupt Indigenous culture. As the white population increased, Aboriginal Australians found more of their rights and land taken away from them. Children with one white parent and one Aboriginal parent were known as half caste and subjected to societal restrictions and shunning.Indigenous Australian children at a church school in 1893. Source: State Library of New South WalesIn 1910, a law known as the Northern Territory Aboriginals Act was passed. With this act, the position of Chief Protector was created, and this person was appointed the legal guardian of every aboriginal and every half-caste child up to the age of 18 years, illustrating the power that white society held.Compounds, similar to the American reservation system, were created, and many Aboriginals were forcibly moved to them, where they suffered from overcrowded conditions and forced assimilation. Nevertheless, the Larrakia and other Aboriginal people persisted and remained essential contributors to Darwins history.John McEwen by Alexander Page, 1969. Source: Parliament of AustraliaIn 1939, federal Minister for the Interior John McEwen was appointed. He was shocked at the conditions in Darwins compounds and soon announced a New Deal policy in regard to Aboriginals. Though it was still assimilation-based and had a long way to go toward equality, the policy increased funding for many of the compounds and improved educational standards.However, the outlook for McEwens New Deal was cut short with the arrival of World War II on Australias shores. Segregation persisted, and Aboriginal people were prevented from enlisting in Australias armed forces.Australia in World War IIAustralian troops disembarking in Singapore, 1941. Source: National Museum AustraliaAlthough Australia had become a self-governing dominion in 1901, it was still considered a part of the British Empire in 1939. Though domestic affairs were largely self-governed, Britain still dictated Australias relations in terms of international affairs. As a result, when the United Kingdom declared war on Nazi Germany in the autumn of 1939, Australia followed suit.As a member of the Allied forces, Australia also declared war on Italy and Japan. Close to one million Australians, both men and women, fought in Europe and North Africa. Thirty-nine thousand Australians died in the war, with another 30,000 taken prisoner. Darwins military presence was enlarged during the war, with airfields developed and other infrastructure created to support the war effort. It became a launch point for the deployment of forces to the Pacific.Female troops made significant contributions to Australias war effort. Source: Australia War Museum LondonWorld War II was the first time war had come to the Australian mainland and included air raids and sea attacks from Japan. Australias proximity to the Japanese Empire caused some trepidation about possible attacks from the moment the war began. That fear would be realized just two months after the US suffered attacks at Pearl Harbor.Horror By AirA view of Darwins harbor during the attack. Source: Library & Archives, Northern TerritoryJust before 10 AM on February 19, 1942, Australias first wartime attack occurred when Japanese planes executed two consecutive attacks over Darwin and its harbor. Two hundred sixty Japanese aircraft, launched from carriers in the ocean, were involved in the attack. The first attack lasted about 40 minutes, and the second attack, which started an hour later, was about 25 minutes in length.Just over 250 people were killed in the direct attack, which targeted not only Darwins military and government buildings but also ships and planes. Around 400 people were injured in addition to those who died, 23 aircraft were lost, and eight ships were destroyed. The attack aimed to put a dent in Australias military capabilities, in addition to stopping the flow of Allied supplies and traffic moving through the area. This was temporarily successful, as many survivors quickly moved out of the area, though just for a short period. Most of Darwins infrastructure was completely destroyed, with only a few buildings surviving.Matthias Ulungura, photographed in 1942. Source: Library & Archives Northern TerritoryThe Japanese lost four planes in the attack, including one that crash-landed on a nearby island. The pilot survived and was taken prisoner by an Aboriginal man, Matthias Ulungura, becoming the first World War II prisoner of war taken on Aussie soil. Ulungura, a member of the Tiwi tribe, was honored with a commemorative statue in 2016.More to Come?Soldiers work with an anti-aircraft gun in Darwin, Northern Territory Library Forces Collection. Source: Australian Defence Business ReviewThe immediate worry in Darwin was that the attack was a precursor to a land invasion of the city by the Japanese. About half of the civilian population fled immediately, and the city became rife with looting and confusion. However, this was not Japans intention, as they were instead looking to invade Timor, northwest of Australia.The disruption in Darwin would not only damage the military operations in the area but also prevent a timely Allied response to Timors invasion. Still, Japan would go on to hit Darwin and other Australian locations with air raids multiple times over the next year. After 64 raids of varying sizes, the final Japanese attack on Darwin took place on November 12, 1943. Thanks to the rebuilding efforts undertaken in Darwin, none of these attacks would be as devastating as the initial onslaught, which became known as Australias Pearl Harbor.RebuildingBuildings destroyed in the initial bombing. Source: Library & Archives Northern TerritoryAlthough the initial response by many was to flee, others stood fast. Within a few months of the initial attack, Darwin had initialized rebuilding, and was well on its way to creating a stronger defense than ever. Coordinated response efforts were planned and implemented using tools such as radar and searchlights.Additional troops, anti-aircraft guns, and new fighter planes were sent to Darwin in the months following the attack, with several new airfields constructed to house the new additions. Furthermore, the attack on Darwin encouraged the country as a whole to bolster its defenses, altering Australias war strategy and forcing it to focus more on home defense measures and strengthening its military.The remains of the Darwin post office, where all nine workers were killed, 1942. Source: Returned Services League AustraliaWith the help of Allied partners, notably the United States and the Netherlands, counterstrikes against the enemy began to develop and were deployed in future attacks. While Japan was able to invade Timor the day after the first bombing in Darwin and successfully took it on February 23rd, by the end of the year, they were losing ground and being pushed back from the areas they had taken in this region.Haunting MemoriesThe Darwin Cenotaph, 2017. Source: TripadvisorThe tragic recollections of the citys World War II experiences are still memorialized in modern Darwin. Memorials celebrating those who were killed or showed heroics in the attack can be found around the city and the surrounding areas.The Darwin Cenotaph, located where the first shots were fired in defense of Darwin by the 14th Anti-Aircraft Battery during the initial attack, is considered the center point of commemoration for those who suffered and died in the bombing. It bears the names of all Australian servicemen and women from the Northern Territory who sacrificed their lives for their city and country. At 9:58 AM on February 19 every year, Darwins air raid siren sounds in continued remembrance of the tragedy that befell its people in 1942.