THE TIPPERARY BATTLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17661, 23 December 1920, Page 7

THE TIPPERARY BATTLE.

CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS. EVIDENCE OF FIERCE FIGHT. CASUALTIES NOT KNOWN. Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 11.30 p.m.) A. and X Z. LONDON. Dec. 21. Official accounts of the fighting between Crown forces and Irish Republican Volunteers at Tipperary are of the scantiest character. Unofficial details state that the fighting really consisted of three ambushes. Some military escaping from the first ambush summoned reinforcements. These also were waylaid on two roads. The military acted with great vigour and speedily dispersed their assailants. The latest reports state that the Crown forces lost only one killed. Another accounts states that from 10 to 15 soldiers and 8 police were killed One lorry got through and sent a message for reinforcement*. These were also waylaid. They then dismounted and a fierce fight resulted. Suddenly a dozen R.I.C. Auxiliaries in another lorry dashed into the midst of the firing, tore through a hail of bullets, and took cover. Simultaneously additional reinforcements from another direction ran into the ambush, and a heavy encounter followed. CORK POST OFFICE JtAID. FOILED BY THE POLICE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 12 30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 21. A daring but unsuccessful attempt to raid the Cork General Post Office was made by a party of armed and masked men. They entered the building, shut the doors, rounded up the staff, and secured the keys of the safes. Two police on duty in the parcels office intervened. A raider wounded one, who replied by killing the raider. Two civilians were wounded. SINN FEIN. HOSTAGES. DENUNCIATION IN COMMONS. Australian Etnd N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed- 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 21. Speaking in the House of Commons, Sir Hamar Greenwood, Chief Secretary for Ireland, said that since the proclamation of martial law, 20 civilians had been killed, of whom 11 were shot in an ambush, three were murdered by persons unknown, four were shot dead when attempting escape, and two were shot dead on refusing to halt when challenged. Except the three murdered by other civilians, all who were killed were Sinn Feiners, who were attacking' the forces of the Crown or evading nrrest. Sir Hamar Greenwood added that 't wag the practice to carry Sinn Fein leaders with the Crown forces in motor lorries. The announcement was followed by uproar among the Nationalists. Lieut.-Commander J. M. Kenworthy (Liberal), ejaculated : " Did the Admiralty refuse to agree to .the policy of carrying German prisoners aboard British hospital ships. Is it possible for the Government to sink to lower methods? '" THE REPRISALS POLICY. LEAVE FOR A GENERAL. Australiau and N Z Cable Association. (Reed. 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 21. It is reported that General Tudor, commanding the R.I.C. Auxiliaries in Ireland, has commenced an indefinite leave, because his attitude to reprisals renders the discharge of his duties difficult. END OF RAILWAY STRIKE. NO VICTIMISATION CLAUSE. A. and N.Z. LONDON, Dec. 21. The Irish railwaymen have decided to resume if promised that no one will be victimised. DE VALERA'S MOVEMENTS. STILL IN UNITED STATES. A. and N.Z. LONDON, Dec. 21. De Valera, the Sinn Fein leader, was not aboard" the Aquitania as rumoured. A report from New York indicates that be has not left the United States. TRUCE NEGOTIATIONS. SINN FEIN DISCLAIMER. LONDON". Dec. 9. Michael- Collins, the well-known Sinn Fein leader, says in a letter to the Irish Bulletin that Mr. Arthur Henderson, leader of the Labour Commission of Inquiry in Ireland, saw Arthur Griffith, vice-president of tbe Sinn Fein organisation, on his own initiative, stating that he came to help get a truce. Griffith replied, " We are not asking for a truce, but if it is offeredi we will not reject it." ARMS FOR SINN FEIN. SENSATION IN GLASGOW. LONDON. Dec. 6. A sensation was caused in Glasgow by the arrest and remand of three men, including a prominent merchant, in connection with a motor-car incident, at Alloa (Clackmannan), where two men were arrested after an exciting chase from Dunfermline (Fife), and a large quantity of explosives was found in their car. It is believed that the explosive's were intended to be used in Sinn Fein outrages in Glasgow. THE AMERICAN INQUIRY. MRS. McSWEENEY HEARD. WASHINGTON, JDec. 9. ; S.rs. McSweeney, widow of the late : Lord Mayor of Cork, giving evidence ■ \ before the Committee of One Hundred i ' which is inquiring into affairs in Ireland," i said :—" Adherents of the Irish Republic ; in Ireland have resolved that England j shall have no peace—that the v?orld shall { have no peace—until our republic is recognised. Our baby daughter,' she added, | "never beard her fathsr or mother use i a word of English. We were married in i England by an Irish priest. The marriage service was conducted in our own language." After having described in j detail her husband's death, she charged j the English Government with pursuing j a policy of starvation in Ireland. !