IRELAND'S REVOLT

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1922, Page 7

IRELAND'S REVOLT

DEATH ROLL IN DUBLIN.

SEVENTY-TWO KILLED.

SEVEN HUNDRED PRISONERS.

PIERCE FIGHT AT UFFORD.

CATHAL BRtTGHA DEAD. (By Cable.—Press Association.— Copyright.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONIX>N, July 7. The total number of casualties in the fighting in Dublin, so far as is known, was 72, while the Free State troops have taken 700 prisoners. Cathal Brugha, who was shot by the Free State troops on his refusal to surrender when the last of the rebel strongholds fell, has died from his wounds.

A hundred and fifty rebels attacked the Free State barracks at Lifford, on the- Donegal-Tyrone border, with rifles and machine guns. The garrison of 50 put up a fierce tight ior four hours, when the rebels retired. The garrieon has since been reinforced. — (A. and N.Z.) ENCIRCLING DUBLIN HOLS. ADVANCE FROM SIX POINTS. A RAPID RETREAT. (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 7. - Nationals have dislodged the rebeU from all their strongholds at Boyle after three days' fighting. Over a thousand Free State troops were engaged in encircling Dublin Hills. They advanced from six points, well equipped with machine-guns and bombs. From the first contact the irregulars began rapidly to retreat in the direction of Blessington, many abandoning their arms. Whether de Valera ■was at Blessington is not clear. Stack is reported to be with de Valera in charge of the rebel column. Irregulars attacked the Lifford police barracks, wnich were defended by fifty Free State troops, but withdrew after four hours' fighting. A number of

■women fought with the irregulars. Free State reinforcements were hurried from Drumboe Castle. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.) DAMAGE IN DUBXJN. OVER THREE MHXIOITS. BATTLE IN THE MIDLANDS. LONDON, July 7. The fires in Sackville Street, Dublin, •lave been extinguished. Little remains of the row of structures between Findlater's and Cathedral Streets. Also several premises' on the opposite side have been destroyed. The total damage since the fighting began is estimated at between £3,000,000 and £4,000,000. There are many rumours as to the manner in which de Valera escaped. The most prevalent is that he was disguised as a hearee driver. The Dublin correspondent of the "Evening News," describing the surrender of-Cathal Brugha's party, says: "After two nurses had emerged from the burning building the cry of 'the white* flag , was raised. The officers ordered their men to cease fire. A blackened face appeared in the doorway. The bearer of the flag was Art O'Connor, an ex-member of the Daii. He emerged, followed by six others. As they were surrounded by the regulars the men continued to cry, "We did all we could and fought to the last."

A few moments later Brugha made his dash, flourishing a revolver. A doctor urged him to desist, but., refusing, he ■was shot down. O'Connor jubilantly told everybody: "There were only 16 of us. No men could have done more." Asked where was de Valera, O'Connor replied; "All these people escaped three days ago." When a regular officer said it "was time to be going, O'Connor shouted: "Soldiers, fall in." The regular officer replied: "Soldiers of the republic, you are prisoners." It is believed that de Valera, Stack, and Barton escaped on Tuesday night. The whereabouts of the two former are unknown. Barton was found in Erskine Childer's house. Reports have been received of fierce fiffhtins in THie Irish Midlands. It is estimated that at least 20 people were killed and 100 wounded in a fisrht lasting several days at Carrick-on-Shannon. Rpmiblicans at Tyrrell's Pass. Westmeath. were beaten off in a desperate attempt tn take the barracks from the National forces. The Republicans at Enniscorthv have taken possession of the hotel, the schools, and several houses. The roads have been blocked and -nrires rut. . Several cases of looting have occurred. hosiervwortW £-innn Tiavinp- been looted OTIO atnrr T>"» f i-"on= =hot one looter dead.—iA. and N.Z. Cable.) Cathal Brusha, or Cashel Bur-ess to give him his English name, has been

associated with the trouble in Ireland for many venrs. He fte-1 to America after the Easter rebellion of 1916, but returned when the general amnesty was announced. He was elected to the Dail and joined the first Ministry, but he has been a consistent opponent of the treaty ever since its adoption, and he was one of the first to join de Valera in his opposition to the pact.