THE DUBLIN CONFLICT

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 235, 30 June 1922, Page 5

THE DUBLIN CONFLICT

BY TBLIGBAfcH.—PMBB ABJOCIATIOIT —Copyright. \ London, June 28. The of the rebel forces of tho Irish Republican Army, in the ' Four Courts, Dublin, is being besieged by Fred" State troops, and a vigorous battle is in progress. The- Free State troops have issued «n ultimatum to the defenders of tho Four Courts, giving a time limit of an hour. Eighteen-poundej-s have i been placed ip position, and Free • ' State troops occupy all the surrounding buildings. The iMlitary control- , led the telegraphs and telephones on Southern Ireland early this morning. Therfl was intense excitement when a thousand Free State troops attacked the Four Courts and the Fowler Memorial Hall. The Irregulars,-expect-ing the attack, had dug trenches across the quays. Ambulances are dashing in all directions, j The neighbourhood is cut off and civilians/are not permitted to pass the cordon Hundreds of spectators line the quays and streets adjacent to the affected nrea,y<ind business is suspended. Passengers arriving by trains a-e carefully searched by troops at tho various termini. Referring to the conflict, Mr. Winston Churchill,'' in the House of Commons, said the Provisional Government was solely responsible for tha .onerations now proceeding in Dublin. The Government had declined all assistance from the Imperial forces, except as far as equipment was concerned. Air. Churchill added/ that there was no trustworthy information in regard to carnalities. No definite result had yet been achieved, and heavy fighting was in progress. — !Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn. OPENING OF THE ATTACK REINFORCEMENTS FOR FREE STATE TROOPS t-' r : > .. ■ .■> London, Juno, 28. The attack on the Four .Courts op,'fined at .4 o’clock this morning. , Ths Win of the firing awakened the popuilace, and thousands risked the flying bullets and hastened to occupy vantage points to watch the fight. The first ■victim among the Government troops was Private Long, who was shot in Clianoery Street. One onlooker, a woman, was also killed by a stray bullet. The intensity of the firing varied in the early hours, but it increased in violence at 9 o’clock. Red Cross ambulances were stationed near the Castle gates in readiness for their grim work. The rattle of rifle and machinegun fire was occasionally punctuated by tho heavy concussion of high explosives. ■ The Free State troops at the outset were about 800 strong, and were using at least one 12-pounder gun, mounted on rtn amoured car. General Ennis is commander of the investing forces. Tile besiegers’ fire has slackened, possibly because they are conserving their ammunition. Fourteen casualties aro reported among the Free State forces. During the attack' on the Fowler Memorial Hall rumours were current that Rory O’Connor was wounded. It is reported that some trouble occurred with a number of Free Staters who refused to fire' on" their brother Irishmen. These men were placed under, , arrest. I ' The rebels seized Barry’s Hotel and the Women’s Trade Union Club and the Orange Hall. The regulars invested both places. ' '' The fire brigade did excellent work When the Fowler Memorial Hall caught fire at noon, and managed to quell the outbreak/ , Free State reinforcements are ariving in the city steadily. During the fighting a force of British troops, in full kit, passed through the city unconcernedly on the way to their camp at'" Phoenix Park.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REBELS EVACUATE FOWLER HALL 1 SNIPING WIDESPREAD IN DUBLIN (Rec. June 29, 8.30 p.m.) London, June 28. In connection with the Four Courts fighting, a tbig gun was in action every fifteen minutes. The death-roll at 2 o’clock was estimated at fifteen. The number of wounded is not known. Many men have been injured at far distant spots through stray bullets. Artillery fired at two hundred yards range, using high explosive to reduce the risk of fire, as tho Courts contain priceless legal documents. Residents in the battle area have been removed, but many are huddled in the basements of [tepbment houses, terrified by the noise of the battle. Mr. Collins sent■ an ultimatum to Rory O’Connor, giving him an hour in which to surrender Major-General O’Connell, who was kidnapped as a hostage. The first shot was fired by the rebels at Free State armoured cars. This was .the signal for the beginning of hostilities. Although the fighting has been mainly confined to the Four Courts area, sniping is extending afield. The Independent Workers of the World and other Communists, who have a hall behind Fowler Hall, are co-operating with the" irregulars, and have fortified .their hall. An urgent message has been issued to the Republican forces - to rally to tho defence of their various positions. Mr. de Valera declines to make a statement regarding the situation. The rebels sot fire to Fowler Hall before evacuating the building. It is reported that a pi-iost was shot dead. Tho gates at the main entrance of Four Courts hare now bean blown Sown, and tha walls of the main build-

FREE STATE TROOPS BESIEGE FOUR COURTS REPUBLICANS STILL IN OCCUPATION t * _ ■ . . - 's -i - 1 r ii BATTLE ARE A EXTENDED , The Republicans are stubbornly defending Four Courts, Dublin, against the Free State troops, and Rory O’Connor declares they will fight to the endThe battle area has been extended, and sniping has become general throughout the city. Mr. Churchill states that the attack on Four Courts did not arise out of the debate in the House of Commons, but was the result of action by the insurgents.-

ing have been badly smashed by artillery, more of which has been brought into action. The rebels on evacuating Fowler Hall retreated to Moran’s Hotel and barricaded themselves in. Tho affected area has thus been extended, and .sniping is general throughout tho city, /through which the rebels seem to be scattered. Rory O’Connor sent . a message: "We received the Government’s - demand for- our surrender by 4 a.m., when they would attack with rifles, machine-guns, and field-pieces. Our boys are glorious, and will fight for the republic to the end. J How long wilt our misguided former comrades outside attack those who' stand for Ireland alone? We have three slight casualties so far. Fathers Albert and Dominic are with us. Our love to all comrades outside and to the brave boys of the Dublin Brigade.” There were several ambushes of Free State troops while passing through streets in open lorries. Men in civilian clothes waited at the corners with rifles and bandoliers, a'nd these fired whenever they got a chance. One lorry carrying wounded was fired on when it arrived at the hospital, but none of the occupants were hit. A civilian, however, was shot dead. A lorry carrying Free State officers was ambushed, bombed, and smashed in .Leeson Street. All the occupants were badly wounded and two are not likely to recover. As the day wore on the Free State troops were reinforced, and more fieldguns brought. Ten lorry loads of troops came from Germanstown. It is believed that 1 several hundred irregulars are trying to get to Dublin to reinforce Rory O’Connor. The roads are guarded, and all the stations are being watched.;—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A GRAVE DANGER GELIGNITE IN FOUR COURTS (Rec. June 29, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 28. A motor-car from Kildare, with four rebels, ran into tho zone 6f action, and opened fire on the Free State troops, who replied, fatally wounding one. There are great fears for the safety of civilians living in the Four Courts uied,; as the stronghold is known to contain a huge quantity of gelignite, which the shells may explode at any moment. Irregulars from Fowler Hall occupied Hughes’s Hotel, in Lower Gardner Street, creating another danger zone in the heart of the city. Free State troops occupy the roof of the Hank _of Ireland, while the National Bank, commanding one of the entrances to Parnell Square, has been seized, but whether by Free State troops or rebels is not known. Rebels, however, have occupied the Clarence Hotel, opposite Four Courts. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. GARAGE SEIZED BY REBELS BUT SURRENDERED ON 1 ' DEMAND (Rec. June 29, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 28. Irregulars took possession of a Belfast firm’s garage in Dublin, and commandeered fourteen motor-cars which were driven off and damaged. Free State troops, in armoured cars, surrounded the gar age and demanded the surrender of the irregulars, and the ,return of the cars before 6 o’clock. The door was opened a few minutes before 0 o’clock, and the Free State troops marched in.—Reuter. TASK OF REDUCING FORTRESS MUCH ARTILLERY NEEDED 1 (Rec. June 29, 8.30 p.m.) London, June 29. Four Courts and the other buildings were still in rebel occupation at midnight, when fighting was proceeding in many districts, snipers, machineguns, and field guns operating intermittently. ‘ The "Daily Chronicle’s” special correspondent aeroplaned to and from Dublin. He understands that the County Dublin Republican regiments are mobilising for the purpose of re--1 lieving the Four Courts garrison. Thg Free State troops’ task of reducing the fortress demands much artillery, of which two guns are available. It will thus take a long time to accomplish' the task. Rory O’Connor somehow .contrives to issue inflaming bulletins describing the fight and appealing to passion. It is recognised that the Government’s authority depends upon tonight’s events. Anxiety centres around the Free State troops, who are loyal and courageous, but lack experience. The general belief is that O’Connor will not surender till Four Courts have been battered and demolished.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PROVISIONAiT’GOVERNMENT’S MANIFESTO REASON FOR TAKING ACTION (Rec. June 29, 5.5 p.m.) f London, June 28... The Provisional Government has issued a statement dealing with the action taken to protect and secure the Irish people against further molestation or interference with their liberty. It says: “Against a direct challenge to its authority, tho Government has ordered the army to take action.” Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commona, said the attack on Four Courts

in no way arose out of the Irish debate, or in consequence of the Imperial Government declarations. It arose as the result of further action of Rory O’Connor and tho insurgents. The Provisional Government’s manifesto declares that on. Saturday last two Dublin firms received demands in the name of tho leader of the irregular forces to pay. certain moneys by Tuesday. Forty-eight hours later the Government received nows of a raid by the same forces on a. motor garage, and arrested the culprits. Then camo the kidnapping of Major-General O’Connell. The manifesto concludes: "None but Irish forces, with the cooperation of tho citizens,' are engaged in putting down the disorderly elements who are attempting to tyrannise thp people and defy their will.” Aus.-N.Z. dablo Assn. HEAVY FIRING ALL NIGHT O’CONNOR HOLDING OUT (Rec. June 29, 11.20 p.m.) London, Juno 29. Heavy firing continued all night in Dublin, O’Connor holding out. . Colonel Moudenville and Captain Vaughan, of the Free State forces, were ambushed and fatally wounded this raornivg.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STATEMENT BY DE VALERA ENGLISH BLAMED FOR < OUTBREAK (Rec. June 29, 9.10 p.m.) London, June 29. Mr. de Valera, in a statement at the last meeting of the Dail Eireann, said an agreement had been ratified which if faithfully observed and given an opportunity of working, would produce internal peace, and make the n a Y°n strong against tho only enemy it had to fear outside. The agreement had been broken at the bidding of the English, and Irishmen to-day were shooting in the streets of the capital their brother' Irishmen, old comrade - in-arms and companions in the struggle of Ireland for independence and its embodiment of a republic. English propaganda would strive to blame Irishmen for this war. The world outside must not be deceived. in the face of England’s threat some of our countrymen have yielded. lhe men now being attacked by the forces of the Provisional Government refused to yield, preferring to die. They are the best and bravest of the nation, and are unwilling that Irish independence should he abandoned under the lash of an alien Government.”—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. “WHOLESALE MASSACRE ARRANGED” STATEMENT OF A REBEL’S ‘ * WIDOW (Re< June 29, 9.10 p.m.) Paris, June 28.1 "La Petite Gironde,” a Bordeaux newspaper, publishes an interview <i?h Mrs. Mcßride, widow of Mcßride, who was executed in the Dublin .rebellion. She declares that the Protestants in Belfast have arranged for the wholesale massacre of Roman Catholics on July 12 —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.