IRISH AFFAIRS.

Grey River Argus, 15 July 1922, Page 5

IRISH AFFAIRS.

A “SUPREME” WAR COUNCIL. LONDON, July 13. Mr Michael Collins has been appointed Commandcr-in-Chief of the Army and with Mr Mulcahy, Minister of Defence, together with three others wil constitute the Supreme Irish War Council. National forceps arc sweeping ahead in West Ireland. The Irregulars have bem driven out of Galw: ytown, leaving large quantities of equipment and munitions. The Irregulars made elaborate preparations for a siege of Wexford, Newross and Gorey, hut evacuated them before the Nationalists arrived. DE VALERA MISSING. De Valera has been missing for more than a week. The Free State Government do not reg rd him as a fighting rebel. They say that he is a bankrupt statesman and still undischarged. ATTEMPT TO RELEASE REPUBLICANS. Dublin authorities discovered a plot to rescue some Republican prisoners from Mountjoy gaol. They raided houses twen-y yards from the walls, and arrested thirteen men. The men were found in a tunnel in course of construction between the house and the prison store. Tunnelling implements also were seized. REPUBLICANS RESENT A SURRENDER. A COPPER WARNING. (Rec. July 14. 5.5 p.m.) ‘ LONDON, July ±3. A fierce light occurred between some of the rebels at Timahoc. Following on an ultimatum by’ the Free State troops there that the rebels should •evacuate the police barracks in lit teen minutes, half oi the rebel garrison walked out. The other hall, however, immediately fired upon those surrendering. ihe latter Tien dropped to their knees, and returned the lire. The cxenangx.' ol shots lasted for two hours, when the rebels in the barracks were forced to retire. The Free bta.e troops, who had watched the engagement, then entered the barracks and round too men dead, and lour wounded. WOMEN REBELS. RAID RAILWAYS. LONDON, July 13. Five rebel women, aimed with rilles ru.ued the Churchill station near Derry City. They cieared the trucks of one tun of sugar, and aiso much food and tubacco, and rum. Their continuous ruling of the trains is resulting in famine conditions in the district. SEEKING BIG ARMY. IS FREE STATE SCARED? (Rec. July 14, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 13. The establishment of a Free State Army Council leads to the belief that large operations are imminent. The situation is regarded with some apprehension. It is recognised that the tasks of “cleaning up” the South and southwest of Ireland are growing more difficult than it was in Dublin. The first operations will probably be in Tullamore, where there are a thousand rebels, who arc cut off, and the Free Staters are enveloping the town. The rebels’ forces arc massing southward of Sligo, where a clash is inevitable.

Two hundred rebels ambushed a parly of Free Staters at Ballintogh-er, killing three, wounding ten, and capturing five. STIRRING REPUBLICAN MANIFESTO. ACCOUNT OF DUBLIN FIGHT. (Rec. July 14, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 14. The Irish Republicans in Cork have commandeered the “Cork Examiner” daily newspaper. In this the Rebels’ publicity’ department has published an account of the Four Courts’ battle in Dublin. The account is described as an amazing blasphemous version of the Four Courts battle. WHAT REPUBLICANS SAY. The account is as follows: —Out flag’s folds are emblematic of the varying and various aims and interests of our nation, which are united in their adhesion to the flagstaff, which typifies the unyielding, indominable spirit of determination that animates all of our soldiers. The three colours chosen arc emblematic of ihe Three Divine I Persons, in one God, to whom our cause is consecrated, and under Whose protection it has been placed. At tho ( moment of the attack on the Four Courts, when war was suddenly forced I upon us, the first thought of our brave defenders was to full on their knees in solemn prayer, consecrating themselves to their cause and their country, through the Blessed Virgin, to the Sacred Heart. They then manned th-e parapets, mid shot and shell, and continued to defy the might and main of an Empire’s attackers, until nothing was left to defend. Never was seen, even at Verdun sterner or braver defenders *s defense against sudden attack by overwhelming odds! Never was known greater dismay and consternation among the attackers’ AH their plans had hopelessly miscarried.” WILSON AND McCREADY. “Their lightening stroke, of tho budding Field-Marshals, planned by McCready, and approved by Wilson, before he took his departure from Ireland, were for evermore shattered before the desperate resistance of the true men of Ireland. Man proposes but God disposes!”