IRELAND

Evening Star, Issue 18021, 15 July 1922, Page 4

IRELAND

A STATE OF CIVIL WAR. FREE* STATE PREPARATIONS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 14. The establishment of tho Free State Army Council leads to the belief that large operations are imminent, and the situation is regarded with some apprehension. It is recognised that the task of dealing up tho South and South-west of Ireland is more difficult than was the case in Dublin. Tho first operations will probably be in Tullamoro (lung’s County), whore 1,000 rebels are cut off and tho Free Staters are enveloping the town. The rebels are massing southward of Sligo, where a clash is inevitable. Two hundred rebels ambushed a party of Free Staters at Ballintogher (near tho town of Sligo), killing three, wounding ten, and capturing five.—A. and N.Z. Cable. REBELS FALL OUT. A BRISK FIGHT. v "LONDON, July 15. A fierce fight occurred among rebels at Timahoo (Tipperary), following an ultimatum by the Free State troops that the rebels should evacuate the police barracks in fifteen minutes. Half tho rebel garrison walked out, and the other half immediately fired upon those surrendering. The later dropped to their knees and returned tho fire. An exchange of shots lasted for two hours, at the end of which time tho rebels in the barracks were forced to retire. The Free State troops, who had watched the engagement, then entered the barracks. They tound two men dead and four wounded. —A, and N.Z. Cable.

A REBEL PROCLAMATION,

FOUR COURTS- A CURIOUS COMPARISON. AN 0 IT IE R~U ERD UN. LONDON, July 14. The Irish Rebel ■ Publicity Department has published in a commandeered newspaper (tho Cork | Examiner’) an amazing blasphemous version of the Four Courts' battle, as follows: “ Oiir flag’s folds aro emblematic of the varying aims and into rests of the nation, unified in their adhesion to a flagstaff which typifies tho unyielding, indomitable spirit of determination in our soldiers. Tho three colors chosen are emblematic of the three Divine persons in the one God to whom our cause is consecrated, and under whoso protection it has been placed. At the moment of the attack on the Four Courts, when war was suddenly forced upon us, the first thought pi our bravo defenders was to fall on their knees in solemn prayer, consecrating tnemselyes to their cause and country through the blessed Virgin of the Sacred Heart, I hey then manned the parapets, mid shot and shell, and continued to defy the might and main of the Empire attackers until nothing was left to defend. Never was seen, oven at Verdun, a sterner and braver defence against sudden attack by overwhelming odds. Never was known greater dismay and consternation among the attackers. All their plans had hopelessly miscarried. The lightning stroke of budding field-marshals, planned by Macready and approved by Wilson, before took his departure from Ireland, were for evermore shattered before the desperate resistance of the true men of Ireland. Man proposes, but God disposes.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. REBEL EXCESSES. FURY OP DESTRUCTION. STARVATION IK MANY PARTS. LONDON, July 14. (Received July 15, at 9.40 a.m.) A Dublin official communique states: Tho National army’s operations in tho South and West "have been materially hampered by the ivanton destruction and seizure of private property by the Irregulars. In many instances tho civilian population suffered serious losses and endured great hardships and privations. The National troops found Wexford in actual want. According to the latest reports from Limerick, tho shops and the ships in the harbor have been looted. There is serious starvation in other parts. The destruction of bridges and railways and the blockade of the highways has seriously hampered the transport of foodstuffs. Wherever the Irregulars are concentrated in strength there is a fury of wholesale destruction. Following the advance of the National forces, the Irregulars vacated the hotels which were seized in Waterford, and are retiring in large numbers to the country districts, Tho Irregulars’ original idea was to hold a line from New Ross (Wexford) to Limerick. These ambitions and plans are crumpling, with loss of their hold on Wexford County. Their present positions in Waterford, Carrick-on-Shiir, Clonmel, and Tipperary aro wholly defensive, and in the event, of an advance by tho Nationalsthey will probably retreat to the Comeragh Mountains (in the northern part of County Waterford).