IRISH AFFAIRS

Grey River Argus, 17 July 1922, Page 5

IRISH AFFAIRS

AN UNLIKELY STORY ABOUT REPUBLICAN DESTRUCTION. [A. and N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, July 1-1. A Dublin official communique states: The National Army 's operations in the south and west have been materially hampered by the wanton \ destruction and seizure of private property by Irregulars. In many instances the civilian population suffered serious losses and endured great hardships and privations. The National troops found Wexford in actual want. According to latest reports from Limerick, the shops and the ships in harbour, have been looted. There is serious starvation in other parts. The destruction of bridges, railways, and the blockade of highways, seriously hampered the transport of foodstuffs. Wherever the Irregulars concentrated in strength, there is a fury of wholesale destruction. Following the advance of the National forces, the Irregulars vacated the hotels, seized in Waterford, and are retiring in large numbers to country districts. The Irregulars’ original idea was to hold a line from Newross to Limerick, but these ambitions and plans are crumbling with the loss of their hold on Wexford County. Their present positions in Waterford, Car rick-on-Suir, Clonmel and Tipperary are wholly defensive and in the event of an advance by the Nationalists they will probably retreat to the Comeragh mountains. FIGHTING IN SLIGO. LONDON, July 15. Sligo is experiencing a reign of terror and bloodshed. There has been continuous fighting for ten days. The Nationalists, under AlcCeon, captured Collooney after a fierce strug gle. DE VALERA IN CORK. De Valera has reached Cork, which is now the biggest rebel stronghold. The Rebels are holding the A ittoria military barracks and dominate the city, commandeering wholesale.

A party of Nationalists returning from Sligo was ambushed and seven killed. IN DUBLIN. Two thousand have enlisted in the first Dublin Brigade, including many ex-soldiers and first aid workers and doctors. Claims lodged with the Town Clerk, Dublin, on account of the destruction of property during the recent fighting, amount already to one and a half millions sterling. Three Irregulars have been arrested in connection with the death of Captain Browne, a Free State officer, who was shot in the abdomen while rounding up Irregulars in Kilderry. They will be arraigned on a capital charge. A RAID ON THE FISH. LONDON, July 15. When a British fishing vessel had to seek shelter at Dunmore, Irish rebels, boarded the ship, and seized a portion of the fish at the point of the revolver. REPUBLICANS TACTICS. BUSINESS WIDELY UPSET. (Rec. July 16, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 15. Owing to wholesale destruction of means of communication, business is stagnant in many parts of Ireland, and in some places there are people on the verge of starvation, through being unable to obtain food supplies. In Limerick the conditions are the most serious. The Irregulars and the Nationals are entrenched in different parts of the town. They have been fighting for four days without decisive results. The Nationals hold all the strategical points round Limerick. The situation in the country resembles the end of the Boer war, as Guerilla tactics have been adopted by the rebels, who are ambushing the Nationals, and they disperse when the defence becomes too strong.