REBELS SURROUNDED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11255, 6 July 1922, Page 8

REBELS SURROUNDED

ENVELOPING MOVEMENT NEARLY COMPLETE FREE STATERS SYSTEMATICALLY ADVANCE STORMING TACTICS EMPLOYED By Electric Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. Austral.an and N,Z. Cable Association. (Received July 5, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 4. A Free State communique states: — “Tho enveloping movement of the Dublin Guards in the O’Connell street area Is nearing completion. “All the irregulars have been driven out of Ear! street, and the irregulars in the Cresham Hotel and adjoining buildings are completely surrounded. “Late in the evening the Republicans were confined to three hotels, namely, the Cresham, Cranville, and Crown. These are old brick buildings and could be easily shattered if the Government chose to do the necessary damage.

A SPECTACULAR BATTLE ARMOURED CARS IN ACTION. SNIPING POSTS CAPTURE©. , (Received Julv 5, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 4. To-day’s battle was highly spectacular. Armoured cars were constantly in action, while a smoke bomb barrago concealed the stormers, who did good execution with hand grenades. Thus the Free State attackers systematically advanced from Nelson’s pillar along Sackvilie street, the tramway office being the first place captured. The rebels replied with vigorous rifle fire, but ae the day went on nearly all the sniping posts were captured. The Free Staters stormed the General Post Office and took thirty prisoners. LONDON, July 4. There was much machine-gun fire in O’Connell street between 1 and 9 o’clock this morning. Afterwards the firing was confined to occasional shots by snipers and irregulars. _ After the latter had hoisted the white flag at Marlborough street Parcels Office they fired on the Nationalists, and wounded several. The Y.M.C.A. building which the irregulars had occupied was completely destroyed by fire. ’ The latest estimate of the casualties is sixty killed and 212 wounded. THROUGH THE CQRBON REPORTED ESCAPE OF DE VALERA. COUNTESS MARKIEVICZ CAPTURED. LONDON, July 4. It is believed tliat De Valera and other leaders have escaped through the cordon round the Gresham Hotel. The Free State forces have 'occupied three more buildings in Sackville street. It is reported that the Countess Markievicz and a few women snipers were captured during these operations. The Nationalists resorted to the use of smoke bombs to dislodge the irregulars from buildings in Sackville street, but failed. The inmates replied with a vigorous fire. A garrison of thirty in the Hammam Hotel surrendered this evening. A REBEL ” PROTESTANT ORPHANAGE BURNT. FIGHTING AT SLIGO. (Received July 5, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 4. Mr Winston Churchill, in the House of Commons, stated that the Republic*Unn burnt an orphanage for Protestant children at Clifden, County Galway, laying it was done as a reprisal for the inmates’ loyalty. The staff and thirty-two children were rescued and brought in a destroyer to Queenstown. It is announced in Dublin that the. Millmount. Barracks, the stronghold of the Republicans at Drogheda are aflame and our troops are closing in. Unofficial reports state that fighting is in progress in'Sligo, where the Republicans wrecked and burnt the police barracks, and did much damage to the railway, and also destroyed the houses of all Protestants at Cooloney. THE FOUR COUBTS FATE OF RECORDS UNKNOWN. LONDON, July 4. Mr Winston Churchill stated in the House of Commons that the Records Department at the Four Courts contained legal, ecclesiastical, and testamentary documents from the thirteenth century onwards, all the wills from 1530 to 1899, and the census returns from IS2I to 1857. He was unable to state whether any of the records had escaped destruction. IN OTHER PARTS ’ NATIONALISTS CONTROL IMPORTANT CENTRES. LONDON, July 4. An official statement declares that all important centres aro now in the Nationalists* hands, including AtliJone, Mullingar, Longford, and Trim. The irregulars have been driven out of Nenagh Barracks, and have abandoned Roscrea, where eight were captured. Tho irregulars in the Clonmel area have resorted to conscription. Tho Nationalists control Mid-Tipperary, where llurne, a rebel leader, was captured with a quantity of arms. The Nationalist* also dominate Killkeuny County. Tho Nationalist troops are patrolling "Wicklow, and have occupied the Town Hall, which tlie irregulars hurriedly evacuated, leaving a quantity of explosives end munitions. Nino men were captured. A RUNNING FIGHT DUNDALK PRISONERS RECAPTURED. LONDON, July 4. Seventeen prisoners sentenced foT looting at Dundalk escaped from gaol. Their friends supplied them with revolvers, and they drove off in motoriorriea. Tho military gave chase, and tlio prisoners kept up a running fight, tut were ultimately recaptured. One >f the prisoners was seriously wounded. An irregular was shot in Donegal for :owardicc in face of tho enemy.

“ALL COES WELL” REPUBLICANS KEEPING UP THEIR SPIRITS. LONDON, July 3. A bulletin issued at Mallow gives details of the movements of the irregular bodies. It states that a column from Baudon moved to Skibbereen, and demanded the surrender of the Free State Barracks. The Adare Barracks were surrendered with forty men. The garrisons at Croom, Patriosswell, and Ballingarry evacuated the barracks, and are retreating. “All goes well with the Republic in the South, where men for the Irish Republican Army are volunteering in overwhelming numbers.” AIR CRAFTJ*URGHASED* BY FREE STATE FROM BRITAIN. LONDON, July 4. The Fiee State Government has been negotiating with the Aircraft Disposal Board for the purchase, of six fighting aeroplanes j in addition to several larger bombing aircraft. Two bombing aeroplanes with the Free State colours on their wings, have left for Dublin, and others are to follow. NORTH AND SOUTH MUTUAL DESIRE FOR PEACE. Published In "The Time*." LONDON, July 3. Sir James flraig, commenting on Mr Collins’s statement at the week-end, said he was very interested to read that his policy is to bring peace and order in the South and West. “With both of us actuated by the same motive, peace should shortly settle on the whole of Ireland. The North holds no bitterness. The cessation of strife and the promotion of friendly feeling among all classes will soon dear away the bitter memories of the past, al-. Though the murder of Sir Henry Wilson and others will linger long. We will not obstruct any efforts made through any quarter to produce good feeling.” FREEACAIN KIDNAPPED LOYALISTS RELEASED. Australian and N.Z. Gable Association LONDON, July 4. All the Northern loyalists kidnapped by the irregulars have been released from Indhfort.