IRELAND

Evening Star, Issue 17534, 14 December 1920, Page 6

IRELAND

THE CORK OUTRAGES. CADETS AMBUSHED. A DASTARDLY DEED. BOMBS THROWN OVER A WALL. DREADFUL INJURIES INFLECTED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, December 13. The cadets were ambushed in the evening .at a sharp corner where the lorry was obliged to go slowly, and the Sinn Feiners were able to throw the bombs, over a wall into the lorry. The first intimation of the attack was a series of explosions. The people nearby hurried to> the spot, and found the cadets writhing in agony, horribly injured, and an operation was necessary in several cases. A number of arrests were made from neighboring houses. Half an hour later parties of auxiliaries, with special constables, began to clear the streets, which were crowded with shoppers anxious to get home before curfew at 10 o'clock. The auxiliaries held up all males and lined them up against the walls and searched them, but allowed the women and girls to go unchallenged. PANIC-STRICKEN PEOPLE. A NIGHT IN THE. FIELDS. LONDON, December 13. When the news of the ambush spread the people in Cork were stricken with fear. In the district where the outrage took place they fled from their homes and spent the night in the fields, some in the scantiest of clothing. About this time lorries began to da3h through the city, and explosions were heard. Then the fires commenced. The identity of the authors of the fires is still doubtful. WHOLESALE DESTRUCTION. LONDON, December 13. The ' Daily Telegraph' correspondent, who was an eye-witness, says that he saw 50 men, attired in'all kinds of raiment and armed with rifles, burning buildings. They succeeded in evading the curfew troops when these passed by. Men armed with rifles fired shots into the windows of_ houses and continued to work destruction. The ' Daily Chronicle' -and ' Morning Post' assert that there is no evidence thai the fires were due to the soldie'.s cr tc the police.—A. and N.Z. 'Cable. DAMAGE OVER £3,000,000. 450 HOUSES DESTROYED. LONDON, December 12 Four hundred and fifty houses were destroyed in Cork, the damage being estimated at £3,000,000. The city presents a spectacle worse than Dublin after the rebellion.—A. and N.Z. . Cable. CITY'S MOST DEPOSING BLOCKS GONE. MILITARY IN CONTROL. LONDON, December 13 It is still impossible to assess the damage at Cork, but the destruction includes some of the most imposing blocks in the city. The entire area of Patrick street for a quarter of a mile and to a depth of 100 yards was razed to the ground. The military now control the streets, pickets with machine guns now being stationed at the principal points. This was done at the request of the townsfolk. The most hopeful factor is the pronouncement by Bishop Cohalan at the Cathedral intimating that he will excommunicate any persons participating in ambushes. An authoritative act like this might restore peace, which the people ardently desire.—A. and N.Z. Cable. GUN-PLAY IN THE CITY. PEOPLE SEARCHED AND BEATEN. LONDON, December 12. Follo%ving. the ambushing of the cadets, there was an outbreak of revolver fire all over the city. People were dragged from trams and searched and beaten. The streets were deserted at 9 o'clock, but the firing was unabated an hour later. The centre of the city was illuminated by the burning buildings. Several persons connected with the destroyed buildings , are reported to be missing.—A. and N.Z. Cable. NOT DUE TO REPRISALS. ANARCHIST ELEMENT SUSPECTED. LONDON, December 13. The 'Morning Post' says it is impossible that the vast fires could have started on the spur of the moment as a reprisal. It was evident that the fires were due to an anarchist element who were concerned only in the break-up of the Empire. Th 'Daily News' says that the fire started in a small shop near whore the ambush occurred. The shop owner, an old lady, appealed to the men who set the place on fire, and they helped to extinguish it before much damage was done. Another fire burned itself out. The houses of two prominent Sinn Feiners were then burned, though the men who caused the fires worked hard to prevent them from spreading to the adjoining premises. Meanwhile fires were commenced in the centre of the city.—A. and N.Z. Cable. SINN FEINERS ATTACK POLICE BARRACKS. FIERCE FIGHTING. LOSS OF LIFE REPORTED. LONDON, December 13. (Received December 14, at 9.15 a.m.) Sinn Feiners attacked Oamlough police barracks on Sunday night. A fierce fight ensued. It is reported that a number were killed. The wires were cut, so that details are not available. The Sinn Feiners sniped the military (who were proceeding to the scene in a motor lorry) from a railway viaduct.—A. and N.Z. Cable, A NIGHT OF AGONY. CIVILIANS CHASED THROUGH THE STREETS. PEOPLE BURNT ALIVE. LONDON, December 12. (Received December 13, at 8.40 a.m.) The Cork correspondent of ' The Times' states that the fires in Cork were systematically carried out. The occupants were warned, and the furniture was soaked with petrol. A'building occupied by Sinn Feiners was set fire to, while others 'were left untouohed. The incendiaries took command of the city. Then ensued an awful night of terror. Yelling gangs chased civilians through the streets. The night resounded with revolver cracks and bomb explosions. It is feared that several people were burnt alive in the destroyed buildings. 'Times.' BISHOP DENOUNCES AMBUSCADES. THREATENS EXCOMMUNICATION. LONDON. December 12. * A Roman Catholic bishop, preaching in the Cathedral, stated that they would issue a decree excommunicating everybodv identified with the ambush of Crown forces.—A. and N.Z. Cable. TWO BROTHERS SHOT. LONDON, December 12. Two bothers named Delaney were shot In their beds in Cork. One was killed and the other is not expected to recover.—A. «id N.2. Cable.

FURTHER AMBUSHES. LONDON, December 13. Two other ambushes of troops took place yesterday, including one at Garry Spellaii, County Limerick, where several Smn Feiners are reported to have been and N.2. Cable. AUSTRALIAN PRIEST'S OPINION. SYDNEY, December 14. (Received December 14, at a.m..) O'Donnell/ who arrived by the Niagara, said there was no hope of a solution of the Irish question so long as Mr Lloyd George's Government was- in power.