CAPTURED ON ROOF TOPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18664, 21 March 1924, Page 9

CAPTURED ON ROOF TOPS.

MUTINOUS OFFICERS.

BLOODLESS DUBLIN SIEGE.

COLONEL RUNS AWAY.

CHASED THROUGH STREETS.

LEADERS STILL AT LARGE.

By Telegraph— Association— 'Copyright.

(Received 11.35 p.m.)

A. and N.Z.

DUBLIN,. Mar. 19.

News reached the military headquarters at nine o'clock on Tuesday evening that a meeting of 40 of the mutinous officers of the Free State Army, including General Toblin, was held at Devlin's public-house, which faces the hospital, and is within 50 yards of tho Parnell monument. It was a well-known Sinn Fein meeting place m Michael Collins' days.

When the troops arrived on the scene they searched the customers in the bar and then attempted to go upstairs. They were suddenly warned, however to stand back.

The searchers withdrew and were quickly reinforced by 10 lorries loaded; with troops, who surrounded the block of buildings. Others guarded the streets in armoured cars. There was considerable firing throughout the 11 hours' siege, recalling the terrors of the revolutionary period, though no blood was shed. That a grave situation has arisen as a sequel to the recent army trouble is indicated by tho fact that several Ministers visited the scene of operations. J* is officially announced that 10 of the officers who left their posts were arrested on the roof of the public house.

The siege was raised at 10.30 this morning. No further arrests were made. The arrested include Colonel O'Malley and three other colonels, as well as four commandants.

Most of those captured on the roof could not escape owing to the bright moonlight, so they surrendered without firing a shot.

Colonel Slattery, one of the prisoners, jumped from a lorry while he was being taken to prison. He raced along the quay pursued by soldiers, firing as they ran. Finally Colonel Slattery surrendered.

It is believed that General Tobin and Colonel Dalton, with 20 or more other officers, had previously escaped over the roof in the darkness while their comrades kept the troops at bay.