MACROOM BATTLE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 50, 28 February 1921, Page 7

MACROOM BATTLE

BIGGEST FIGHT IN

IRELAND

AUXILIARIES IN A DEATH TRAP

ATTACKERS RETIRE TO THE HILLS. (BNIISD JBISS ASSOCIATION.—C9PTRI9HT.) (AtSTRAUAN - NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 25th February. The ambush at Macrocm, which is one of the worst centres of the revolutionary movement, is described as the biggest ■battle that has yet occurred in Ireland. It commenced early in the morning and continued until 2 o'clock in tie afternoon, and covered five miles of country. The auxiliaries were ca-ught in wild- and craggy country. At first, they advanced, followed by the cars, until three explosions in rapid succession were the signal that the auxiliaries were in a regular death trap, and that the road had been mined. The first two cars were already disabled. The killed included a Sinn .•Fein hostage in the first car. Intense rifle and revolver fire from behind boulders followed. The auxiliaries attacked, but failed to dislodge the rebels. One car, however, escaped, and reached Macrooni, where reinforcements were called up.

In the meantime tile auxiliaries were retreating, the rebels • continuing a hot, running fire as they drove the police back towards Maeroom.. .The auxiliaries here out-manoeuvred the Sinn Feiners and prevented the latter surrounding them, though the rebels were~continUally getting nearer and nearer. Maeroom was now in a state of great alarm, h^sinesa was suspended, and the inhabitants ordered indoors. A wifeless call to Cork resulted in large reinforcements of troops being' sent,, with a Hotchkiss gun, rifles. and aeroplanes. The Republicans, however, immediately relinquished the attack and fled to the hills." LONDON, 2Qlh February. An'official Dublin communique states that following upon the ambush of auxiliaries at Maeroom, Royal Fusiliers . carried out a running fight lasting for •two hours against the rebels, but were forced to relinquish the pursuit owing to the fact that the rebels occupied high ground behind the military. Two civilians were taken "prisoner, and one was captured. The military suffered no cacualties. Constable Keane, who was wounded at Maeroom, ha-s died.