NO SHAM FIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 1, 1 July 1922, Page 7

NO SHAM FIGHT

COMMENTS ON THE STRUGGLE.

. ■: , ; '■ '.;ItONpqN,; 30th"June..'. ,_ The Dublin people, -who at first wereinclined to regard the 'military operations as^ a side-show, now realise the1 grave character of the trouble. Manyhundreds are fleeing to England. A "woman told.a pressman to-night, "People are afraid to--go' to church, and; are praying in their homes for hours for the success of. the. Free .State., troops, llany of us Irish are ambitious for a republic and absolute freedom, but the price may be too; heavy.; That is what de VaJera's and'Rory O'Connor's price is. People say the Dublin fighting is mere camouflage to satisfy the English clamour. ■ Only those who do not know the titter factional hatreds in Dublin, would repeat such an absurdity." .- On ■ this point; Mr. Churchill, in the, House of Commons, angrily deprecated a suggestion that a sham fight - was. going on in Dublin. He pointed: out that people dp not ..get. killed in ah .sham fight. The Irish Provisional G6v-,i eminent troops were loyally carrying" out the' Treaty, and they were" suffering.: It was true there was little orJltnisation_ on either side^ but this was notj a time to mock at those who weie* striking a blow for freedom and order.

Lord Olanearty, who has ariyed in Holyhead; said the firing of the attack-. ing Free State troops : was very poor and ineffective, at thei.rate. of one shot every fotrr ..minutes. '■' -'•■. « ' .■.