A BRITISH OFFER.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17498, 5 July 1922, Page 9

A BRITISH OFFER.

SIR N. MACREADT AS MILITARY ADVISER. (Received July 4th, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 3. The services of Sir Nevil Macready as Military Advisei have been offered to the Free State Government, which has not yet accepted. [General Sir Nevil Macready, who wns Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police 1918-20, has been Comman-der-in-Chief of the British Forces in Ireland since 1920.] DUNDALK GAOL HOLD-UP. PRISONERS RELEASED. (Eouter's Telegrams.) LONDON, July 2. A remarkable story of the seizure of n gaol by two men is reported from Dundalk. \ Two men arrived at Dundalk on Saturday evening on a light engine from Drogheda, and proceeded to the prison, where one guarded the gate while the other, whom his companion addressed as "Commandant," held up the warders with a revolver in each hand. A warder, under threat of being shot, was compelled to release three prisoners—prominent Irregulars, whom the Free State forces had captured at Drogheda on Monday. Leaving the warders locked up in a room, the armed men and the released men departed oh {ho engine without opposition. INSURRECTION A FIASCO. REPUBLICAN LEADERS' LOST PRESTIGE. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received July 4th, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jmy 4. The "Daily Chronicle's" Dublin correspondent, in an outspoken despatch, says:—"Less than 1000 men, or, rather, boys, have caused all this din and disturbance. It is quite. clear that the last stand in O'Connell street was made by lesß than 200, of whom many were mere children, and' many mere roughs. All Dublin knows this. The O'Connell street affair is merely a demonatratioi that the 'heroes' who were to die 'fighting for the Republic' will eventualiy surrender, like their comrades elsewhere. "From first to last the insurrection has been a fiasco. All its leaders have lost their prestige irretrievably. Mr de Valera will never recover his lost position, and Rory O'Connor has become a jest, and is nicknamed 'Rory of the Hills.'

"The restraint of the Free State troops is understood and approved, and their skill is manifest. The rebels have shown no reluctance to kill. They have not merely pursued their inhuman game of sniping and bombing in the streets, but' they have used diabolical methods, such as leaving hidden mines to be exploded after they have surrendered under the white flag. "This struggle might Have brought Ireland into irremediable anarchy, but the Government's wisdom has made it a foolish, wicked fiasco. It will always be remembered as a discredit to the rebel leaders." VIOLENCE PLANNED IN ENGLAND. (Received Julv 4th, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON. July 4. Documents found upon Wrigley, a olork in a Kensington post office, who was arrested during the police enquiries in connexion with Sir Henry Wilson's assassination, indicate that a' movement was on foot to organise a force to commit violence in England.