FIERCE BATTLE IN DUBLIN

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 234, 29 June 1922, Page 7

FIERCE BATTLE IN DUBLIN

FIGHT FOR POSSESSION OF FOUR COURTS MANY CASUALTIES REPORTED ARMOURED CARS, MORTARS, AND MACHINE GUNS IN ACTION Quickly following on M r. Churchill’s warning that an end must bo put to the o ccupation, by a section of > the Irish Republican Army, oßFour Courts in Dublin, “this nest of anarchy and t reason,” comes news that a fierce battle for possessio n of the building is raging. Many casualties are reported. BY TBLJtOBAPH—PMBS ASSOCIATION. (Roo. June 28, 9.55 p.m.) London, June 27. The Irish Provisional Government is heeding Mr. Winston Churchill’s warning as regards the rebel occupation of Four Courts in Dublin. Th® garrison, of whom there are 800, are" building a stronghold elaborately sandbagged, wired, and barricaded with Jaw books. All approaches are covered by loopholes, and machine-guns are placed on the roof. It is not believed that Free State regulars will directly /assault the position, but that they will render the buildings untenable by cutting off the supply of water. The authorities are embarrassed by the fact that Four Courts contains the national records. The mutineers possess high explosives, pud it would not 'bo difficult for them to destroy the buildings. Measures against Four Courts would inevitably provoke trouble in the provinces, where the main strength of the Republicans lies. The Government’s task, therefore, is not an easy one. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. > [During his speech on the Irish situation in the House of Commons, Mr. Churchill said that the occupation of Four Courts in Dublin by the Irish Republican Army was an affront, and from this nest of anarchy and treason murderous outrages were stimulated and encouraged. There would, he declared, be a request to the Irish Government to end this. If it 'did not do so, the Imperial Government-wou Id regard the treaty As formally violated, and take the necessary action to safeguard rights and interests.}' i -— —- OUTBREAK OF FIERCE FIGHTING z , (Rec. Juno 28, 10.45 p.m.) London, June 28. Since dawn a fierce battle ha® been raging in Dublin between Dail Eireann troops and irregulars for thg possession of Four Courts. Many casualties are reported. / Armoured cars, trench mortars, and machine-guns are in action. A loud explosion preceded thg firing about Four Courts. The garrison in the Fowler Memorial Hall refused to surrender. The copper dome of Four Courts has been blown in. The battle is expected to last all day.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

‘‘OUTRAGES MUST CEASE” MEASURES TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC SAFETY (Rec. June 28, 7.50 p.m.) i Dublin, June 27. The Provisional Government has issued a statement in which it says: As the result of the general election, the will of the people of Ireland was ascertained; l y Further grave acts against the security of persons and property have been committed in Dublin and other parts of Ireland by persons pretending to act with authority. It is the duty of the Government to which the people have entrusted their defence and the conduct of their affairs to protect and secure all law-respecting citizens without distinction. That duty the Government.-frill resolutely perform. Outrages against the nation and Government must cease at once and for ever. For months all classes of business have suffered severely through the feeling of insecurity engendered by the reckless and wicked acts which have tarnished the reputation of Ireland abroad. The Government is determined that the country shall no longer be held up from the) ' pursuit of its normal life and the re-establishment ofi its free national institutions. The Government, therefore, calls upon citizens to co-operate actively with it in measures which the. Government is taking to ensure public safety and l to secure Ireland for the Irish people. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REPLY TO MR. CHURCHILL (Reo. June 28, 7.50 p.m.) London, June 27. Mr. Michael Collins announces that he is reserving his remarks on Mr. ■Winston Churchill’s epeech in the House of Commons until the assembly of the new Dail Eireann.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ARREST OF I.R.A. LEADER DIRECTOR OF BOYCOTT London, June 27. Commandant Michael Henderson, one of the Irish Republican Army leaders controlling tha Four Courts Building, has been arrested In Dublin by the order of Mr. Michael Collins. Tho Publicity Department at Four Courts issued a statement that Henderson was director of tha boycott. In pursuance of instructions from headquarters at Four Courts to enforce the Belfast boycott, he raided Ferguson’s premises in Baggot Street. While so engaged, members of the Oriel House force appeared. Subsequently a strong force of Beggar Bush State troops arrived with two armoured cars. An undertaking having been given by the Beggars Bush force that no arrests would be effected, Henderson returned to Four Courts and acquainted his superiors with the state of, affairs. On returning to Ferguson’s, Henderson was arrested by Thornton. After receipt of a dispatch by .the latter from Beggars Bush, Henderson was removed to Mountjoy Gaol.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , A HOSTAGE TAKEN (Rec. June 28, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 27. Major-General O’Connell, Assistant Sef of Staff at Beggars Bush, Dubhas b«en kidnapped by tho Four

Courts Garrison and held as a hostage for the release of Henderson.—AusN.Z. Cable Assn. MURDERS IN SOUTH IRELAND PUNISHMENT OF CULPRITS London, June 26. In the House of Commons, Mr. Churchill said that fifty-three Britishers, chiefly members and ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary* had beon murdered in South Ireland since the signing of the treaty. The Government did not intend to let a single case drop. He thought that as the Provisional Government became an established, ordered Government, our pressure on them to punish the culprits would become more effective. —Reuter. ! MILITARY MAIL SEIZED London, June 27. The Irish Republican Army at Carrigan held up a train from Dublin to Derry; and demanded the Belfast mailbag. Failing to secure this, they seized the British military mailbag and decamped. Official letters were returned censored. Three hours later all were sent on by the next train. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SUPPLY OF SMALL ARMS VOTE TO ORGANISATION IN DUBLIN (Rec. June 28, 7.50 p.m.) London, June 27. Mr. C. B. Stanton, Coalition-Labour member of the, House of Commons, and supporter of a trades union measure designed to prevent union funds being used for other than trade purposes, informed the “Daily Express’’ that he personally had seen the balance-sheet of a Welsh miners’ union lodge which disclosed a money vote to the “Dublin small arms organisation.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NORTH TO END PROPORTIONAL RERESENTATION London, June 27. The Northern Parliament has read a second time the Local Government of Northern Ireland Bill, the primary object of which is the abolition of proportional representation at elections in six counties.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.