THRILLING IRISH FIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18380, 21 April 1923, Page 9

THRILLING IRISH FIGHT.

REBEL CLIFF STRONGHOLD. CONFLICT LASTS 50 HOURS. SURRENDER OR STARVATION By Telegraph— 5 Asgociation-Copyright A. and N.Z. LONDON. April 13A thrilling narrative of a 50-hours' attack on a rebel stronghold in a cliff rising sheer from the sea on the Kerry coast near a causeway overlooking the Shannon mouth is now. published. A Free State officer and three soldiers on Monday discovered a crevice barely large- enough to admit a man. They climbed down and came to the mouth of the cave. A feet inside this they found a, barricade. They got through. this and then found another barricade. While the Free State troops were removing it a volley was fired from inside, a volunteer named O'Neill being mortally wounded, and Lieutenant Pierson seriously hurt. Their two unwounded comrades replied to 'the firo until Free State troops above lowered ropes and hauled the wounded officer and other men to the top under heavy fire from the cave. O'Neill's body was flung to the beach below, where it lay throughout the fight. Later the Free State troops made efforts to smoke out the garrison. Two mines were lowered and exploded, while machine guns opened fire on the face of the cliff, but the rebels in the cava are still unconquered and seem safe, though the only alternative to surrender is starvation.