GERMAN ATTEMPT TO LAND ARMS.

NZ Truth, Issue 578, 15 July 1916, Page 5

GERMAN ATTEMPT TO LAND ARMS.

Capture of Sir Roger Casement.

On Saturday, April 22, it was reported from Tralee that a collapsible' boat with ammunition and three mysterious strangers had been captured m that district, and that the Sinn Fein Volunteers had been specially rhobll- . ised the previous evening. Two arrests, which caused a considerable sensation m the town, were made the same night. News was also received from Tralee of a mysterious motor car which had taken a wrong turning, and dashed over Ballyklssane quay into the River Lane. The chauffeur escaped, but three passengers m the car were drowned. The bodies of two of the passengers were recovered on Saturday evening, April 22, and on thorn ' was found revolvers and ammunition and Sinn Fein 1 badgeß. These events are believed to be associated with the following announcement made by the Press Bureau, it should be noted, on Monday evening, April 24, at 10.25, p.m.:— , : The Secretary of the Admiralty announces — During the period between p.m. April 20 and p.m. April 21 an attempt to land arms and ammunition m Ireland was made by a vessel under the guise of a neutral ship 1 , but In reality a German auxiliary, m conjunction with a German submarine. The auxiliary sank and a number of prisoners were made, amongst whom was Sir Roger Casement. SINN FEIN MANOEUVRES CANCELLED. It was known that the Sinn Fein Volunteers were to hold Easter manoeuvres, which were to be taken part m by all the branches of the organisation In Ireland. These were unexpectedly cancelled m tho following announcement signed by Mr. Eoin MacNelll on Saturday night, April 22, and published m the Sunday papers the following morning: "Owing to tho very critical position, all orders given to Irish Volunteers for to-morrow, Easter Sunday, are hereby rescinded, and no parades, marches, or other movements of Irish Volunteers will tako place. Each individual Volunteer will obey this order strictly In every particular." With this announcement Mr. MacNelll disappears from the story, for there is no record of his having taken any part m the subsequently ghastly proceedings. On Easier Monday, April 24, at noon, the storm burst m Dublin, and for tho 'following : six days the city and tho suburbs* were the scene of grave loss of HCe and destruction of property. The Sinn Fein Society claims that it organised the revolution, and that the Irish National Volunteers carried it out. Tho object of tho movement, us stated In a proclamation isHued on tho day of tho outbreak, was to "proclaim an Irish Republic us a Sovereign Independent State." How far that object has failed is indicated by tho fact that two- thirds of the Sinn Fein Army has boon killed, wounded, or taken prisoner, and that tho wholo plot has been blown to pieces.

Preparations for tho insurrection had been active for monthn past; largo quantities of armH and ammunition wore known to have arrived In Dublin, and an unuaual activity m tho way of "blurting" the police had been going on. "Lot Bleeping dogn He," was the policy of the Executive authority, and no visible effort was inado to deal with the situation that was developing m the city. Then came Easter Monday, when tho minus of most people wero ' directed to holiday-mak-ing No one look more than a pausing Interest m iho Sinn Fein Volunteers as they passed along tho streets In twos and threes to their appointed positions. Twelve o'clock In tho day was the hour Uxc-d for tho beginning of th© operations, and at that time or Hhortly afterwards bodies of armed Sinn Folneris quietly entered the bulidingH to which they had been aasignod. turned out tho occupants, and took no»»es»lon. Anyone who resisted was promptly «hot. In U»i» way the principal building m the city were captured and the robolu at once set about erecting b&rrleadea. and taking precaution* agalnHt attack. THE PRINCIPAL FORTRESS. Tho General l'o«t Ollieo In SackvHlo«Btrt!ot «coin« to have b«en the principal rebel "fortremt." It wa» here thitl I. It. Peun?«», the "Comumntlntu In-C'hicf «r U»> Army of iho Hepublh' and PrcaUUmi of the ProvlHlonut Co. v^rntnent." nmdo his headquarter* and i»'»u»Hl but onion*. All corner houses commnmlintjt lh<> tti>!*rojictU'S w«r* *;irrlNont'd with miipcr*. who wero hUlth-n behind auuidbaga, Kelly'* lumnunklon

shop at the corner of Bachelor's Walk, and Hopkin's jewellery shop at the corner of Eden-quay, were held m this way m great strength. Other houses on each side of Lower Sackville-st. were garrisoned in f « like manner, and then the work of provisioning the various garrisons having the Post Office as their centre was actively proceeded with, every variety of foodstuffs being commandeered at the point of the bayonet. All the telegraphic wires were cut, thU9 isolating the city from the rest of the country. . The proceedings at St. '.'Stephen's Green Park was somewhat similar. At mid- day small groups of Sinn Fein volunteers were standing about the entrance gates, and at a given signal they quietly walked inside, closed the gates, posted armed guards at them, and then set about clearing all civilians out of the Park. In half an hour the Park was cleared of non-comba-tants. The next move of the rebels was to take possession of a number of houses commanding tho approaches. fh« C On . g^ J? 10 places occupied were SrnS oy ? 1 v C °, Ilege of Surgeons at the HrE,? stree t. and Little's pubE?' v " t at th f corner of Cutfe-street. Ie a £nf Ut °} her polnta wer e not ■!2JJ dvan , ta e:cously situated, but numth? Tris C £ stle ' the headquarters of the Irish Executive, was never serlduty a? tS d ;? ay# A Pieman on w« v D ?i )er Castle Yard - >In this J the offices of the "Daily Express" and 'Evening Mall" were entered, and the staff were turned out at the point of the bayonet. The City Hall, the f£! r^ O K. h J, ch commands tne o ffl ces of the Chief Secretary's Department, the Prisons Board, and other Government offices, was also filled with snipers. THE RAILWAYS. Simultaneously with these incidents, attempts were made to occupy the railway termini m the city. Westlandrow station and Harcourt-street station were early m the possession of the rebels, and the rails on the Kingstown line wero torn up. The Har-court-street station was found unsuitable for defence, and was abandoned at three o'clock m the afternoon. Abortive attempts wero made to secure Amiens-street Terminus and Kingsbrldge Terminus, but Broadstone Terminus was reported to be m the hands of the rebels. Where they did not succeed m occupying- the stations the rebels either blew up railway bridges or cut the lines, and nearly ail train communication with the city was stopped for a week. All the. points m the city which were considered of strategical importance having been occupied by the rebels, their plans were further developed by the taking possession of positions controlling the approaches from military barracks. Tho Four Court 3 were early m their hands, and men wero posted ull over the building to attack troops which might approach along the ouaya from the direction of tho Phoenix Park rho Pour Courts Hotel, which adjoins the Courts, was garrisoned. On North I Circular-road, and at other places on the North aide, strong barricades were erected. Liberty Hall was strongly held by the rebels, but the Custom House was left unmolested. Across the river, on tho south side, Boland's Mill was fortified m every possible manner, and constituted a stronghold of great strategical importance. Round by Northumberland-road. Pembrokeroad, and Lansdowne-road, private houses wero occupied and garrisoned to resist the approach of reinforcements for the military from the Kingstown direction.

Portobello Bridge, which commands the approach to the city from tho mill- i tary barracks at that place, was the scone of a short, but severe light, shortly after mid-day on Monday. Tho i rebels had taken possession of Davy's public-house, which is closo to the bridge and faces the barracks. Their presence was disclosed at an early stage by an attempt to assassinate an officer who happened to bo passing over the bridge. He fortunately escaped aud gave the alarm. A small number of soldiers was turned out at once, but was unable to dislodge the rebels. Strong reinforcements were sent out, and after a Bhort and sharp fight the publichouse was carried, and tho military have remained m possession over since. Those or the rebels who were not killed or woundod wero discovered next day, it is stated, concealed m upturned empty porter barrols. A WORKHOUSE AS FORT. At more remote places m tho Southern suburbs, rebels had taken up positions of defence, but strong cavalry patrols hunted them from point to point, and finally dispersed them, though not until many of tho soldiers had beon wounded. Tho South Dublin Union, m Jumcs's-street, and a distillery m Marrowbono-lano wore two other strong points m the Sinn Fein plan. JJoth places were guarded, and muchlno guns wore ua«»d m their defence. The workhouse was attacked by tho military on Monday, and after a stiff tltfht. during which many casualties occurred on both sides, the remnant of tho rebel garrison was driven into one part of the premises, whore they wero inaloiaining tholr struggle overnight, but wer« finally defeated on Tuesday morning.

Jacob's B!«eult Factory, In Bishopstroet, though It does not occvipy a strategical position of any importance, was filled with food»tufr.s of various descriptions, and probably m this respect it was deemed necesuary to Instal In it a large garrlßon, ho as to make certain that nuvplles would bo available for the rebels m other placet}. If this wn» the Idea, It never had the slightest t-hancu- of Nucceud* inif. n« l "° fa ctor >' wtt * ea-rly In the week Hurrounded by a military cordon, and not un vuncu of stuff ever i pnHMcd out of It In relief of tho commlMtfuriat at other rtghtlnsr centres. COLD-BLOODED MURDER. Tho foregoing will Rivo a roujth and ready outline of ihw mlHtnry potdttun on H»« i»vi«nlnjy of the flrnt day «r the r«*holll'.»n. Many instanr<-j« uf coldhioodctl nnirdor by Hlnn Kol »u«r« took {•tacw during thf day m v;irl«.»t«» puna •if th« city. The iuo«t tHittfracofnl wait ih<' }%ho«»t1r»K <l°*'> *'f ji«vri»{ nunutnTM of the Vctcrnns Corp.<» on UuddlnytMnruu<l, A )»u:e uniwtfr of thl« mrpM had «<>nc out on t* routv inarrh m TlcknocU, and whira they \vtr« fo-

turning m tho afternoon to their headquarters at Beggar's Bush Barracks they were ambushed m Haddingtonroad by a body of Sinn Feiners, who poured volleys of rifle shots into the ranks of the defenceless Veterans. Five were fatally, and many others seriously, wounded. Tho rest of the Veterans got to their barracks, where they had to remain until the following week. LOOTING. Looting was extensively practised on Monday. The "underworld" of the city quickly realised their opportunity, and first tackled the shops m Lower Sackville-street. The windows were smashed, and hordes of hooligans crowded into the shops, returning with bundles of wearing apparel of all descriptions. Noblett's, at the corner of Earl-street, and Lemon's, m Lower Sackville-street, were tit-bits for tho younger section of the roughs, who made merry with boxes of chocolates, sweets, etc., all tho afternoon. The toy shops were also centres of great activity, and then having exhausted LowerSackville-street the crowd swept round into Earl-street and Henrystreet, where they found an abundance and variety that suited every taste. Boys and girts were swaggering about, dressed In the most fantastic apparel, and all had their arms full of mechanical and other toys, hockey and golf sticks, and all kinds of articles used m popular pastimes, MILITARY REINFORCEMENTS. All through Monday night the mill-, tary wero hastily summoning reinforcements from tho Curragh, Belfast and England, and on Tuesday, April 25, these forces began to arrive In tho city. Almost In every instance tho soldiers could only be conveyed to within fiver or six miles of Dublin, owing to the interruption of the railway communications, and the men had a long and exhausting march, carrying their full equipment, before they { arrived at the barracks to which they J ; had been posted. On the way they j ' were snlpod at by Sinn Feiners, and j had to be continually on the alert to repel attack. Meanwhile the available forces of | tho Crown had been engaged all Tuesday morning t» conflict with tho entrenched rebels, and many fiercely- j contested engagements took place. At j daybreak troops were posted m houses ; overlooking St Stephen's Green Park, j and a raking fire was sprayed from j machine guns all over the Park, while soldiers picked off every rebel who showed himself. They still, however. ! manaKod to hold the Park In. much reduced numbers. Another body of troops surrounded Cork Hill, and a florce struggle took place for the possession of the ' Dally . Express" buildJng. Artillery was brought Into play, and prepared the way for a charge. This was carried out by the Boldlers In gallant style, a terrible fight taking place on tho only suilrcuHO leading «o Hip upper rooms. Mstny i-ivsuultU's took plan, at this stage. The military ultimately carried tho position, and either killed or captured tho garrison. lAter on Tuesday the position occupied near Phlbsborough wero attacked. Tho barricades erected at tho railway bridge on tho North Circular and Cnbra-roads wero destroyed by gun fire about forty casualties being reported and ono hundred prlaoners secured These operations resulted m tho whole of lh<? North Cln;uhir-roftd being In the hands of the military; tho Sinn F«lner« who escaped it ran for shelter In the direction of O)n*nev!n Cemetery Tho military n«t was then drawn closer on the city from tho North side, but no attempt whm mado that day lo attack tho rebels In their central "fortresses." FIRST OF THE FIRES. All day on Tuesday the ambulances wero buully employed conveying the wounded to the nearest hospitals, the marts of which nobly responded to tho calls that wero miulo upon them at all hours of tho dny ami night. Moro looting took place In the atroeta In the vicinity of Nolnon'w IMllar. M«i*Brß. Lawrence** larttw photographic unil toy emporium In Upper Sackvlllemreel wan one of the principal places cleared Tho crowd of looter* had tmiUvrH all their' own way for hour;!, and revelled In tho doat ruction of ih« property. Some exciting xeencM worts wltnNwed when th<« fireworks wort brought out and <;xplod«-d. Hocketn rushed uj> In the ulr and burnt with v, koum<l Hku a ••sniMon. «ml nil Ou» Kinaller siort* of nr«nv«»rta« wi-r«- thrown whUi'liiK ftbout iu>ionjr«t thu crowd. Finally th" jtrt'?r.lMv« w<»n.« »«l on nre and lii>nu'*l t«» llu* khmiikl. In thy juihurlm many flghtn with tho rubelrt alf-o wok p!iu«\ th« only rcmili bt'lna ;uWUion« *« the H««i «»f mmmill i.'rf, MarliuJ Uw vviut pruolahncU lv Dub-

Hn City and County on Tuesday night, April 2E.

On Wednesday, 26th, the position of affairs was worse than before. The Sinn Feiners had been driven to the wall, and were fighting with desperation. More troops, with artillery, were continually arriving In tho city, and after a short rest they were brought into action, but they had to fight for every foot of ground they gained. For tho most part it was an unseen foe with whom they had. to contend.

At 8 o'clock on Wednesday morning the Admiralty steamer Helga, came up the Llffey, and bombarded Liberty Hall, the headquarters of the Citizen Army. Owing to the Loop Line Bridge intervening between the ship and Liberty Hall, direct firing could not be brought to bear upon the building. The ship's gunners, however, dropped shells on the hall, the roof and interior of which were destroyed by bursting shells, but the outer shell of the house has not been much injured by fire. The garrison escaped before the bombardment commenced. ARTILLERY GET TO WORK, By tho afternoon of Wednesday tho military were m possession of Bruns-wick-street, and all tho district between that thoroughfare and the river and right up to D'Oller-street. Sentries were placed at the entrance of a lane leading from D'Olier-street to tho Theatre Royal. Tho soldiors had not been long there before one of the snipers m Kelly's shop at the corner of Bachelor's Walk shot one of them dead. Tho military then brought a nine-pounder gun into position at Trinity College, facing D'Oller-street. and bombarded Kelly's corner. This was the first appearance of artillery In the centro of the city, and the bombardment greatly alarmed the people who reside m the Immediate vicinity. Kelly's shop was riddled with shot,and the garrison had to evacuate tho position. One peculiar effect of the gunfire was noticed afterwards. A shall struck an electric light standard at tho corner, and bored a hole clean through tho metal without bringing down the standard. Looting continued m the back streets all Wednesday, and m tho evening several houses were sot on fire. THE GREAT CONFLAGRATION. Bad as the previous day had been, the criaia reached Its climax on Thursday and Friday. Artillery wan brought Into play at every point, and the air reverberated with nerve-wrack-ing explosives. All day long the bombardment continued unceasingly, and every nUlht tho centro of ih«» city was illuminated with great conflagrations. The Hotel Mtaropole and all tho block of buildings for a long distance Into Middle Abbey-street woro burned down, including the "Freeman's Journal" and '•Rvonlng Telegraph" offices. Meßsrs. Eoaons. Messrs. Manflelds and Messrs. Thorn's printing establishment. Then lh<» Oencrui Post Omee was t;lvi>n to tho Homes, and ww destroys—only the bare, walls of this "«« building ro- ! main. This particular flro oxtenctad j down Henry-street as far v* tho largo warehouso of Messrs. Arnott and Co., ! which Is still intact, but is flooded wtn j water. Tho Coliseum Theatre Is also llC On O t y he d oi.poslt« «lde of SackviUe-st all' the flhoj'tf nava been burned down from Hopkins'* cornw at O Conne.l Brldiro riuht up to the Tramway Company's o llco, a a t Cathedral-street. Tho Iro extencl«d backwards, and envelop unS destroyed almost all the houses down to Marlborough-Htreet. These include ih* promise* of tho HoyS lUbornutn Academy, with v. valuable collection of picture*, und h« ofllceM of the "Irltth Cyclist, whilu on th« Suillio Hide of L*w.r AbboyKono m tho flame*. Round m »*«KvH Ic-stroit tho purred Hk^tonn of tho vwto ro»iiiurnnt and Clerya waroMhoiw from ih« corner yf L«we r AMw> • plnl l.y !>!•• V.M.C.A. o» i. »oldl«ra U,o IMlhir u> o'C*,nn«n Hridw. wa.* thuldy »tr.'\v» with ili-brln. ami many huvc >ln< *> \.»-«n Uruiutltl down.

TU" woHd-ftmwim n'ConnHi st!tiu«* Ih iiut litilf l»Ju»»d. Bovtni' of Uk< lik-uri-* huv.- \ »•?«•»» pitted with imtioi*. »m) Ui<- fi«urp *if Uio I..O*«*riilw *<.*rv<J tv vi lit* i fur Miuny bullet*, otic uf

them drilling a hole just over the right side. COLLAPSE OF THE REBELLION. On Saturday, April 29, P. H. Pearse, of St. Enda's College, Rathfarnham, one of the leaders of the rebels, who had been described as the "President" of the Irish Republic, surrendered on their behalf to General Lowe, at the Headquarters of the Military Command at Parkgate- street. THE TERMS OF SURRENDER. The advice to surrender, signed by T.J 1 ' pearse ' was m the following terms:— ; - In prder to prevent further slaughter of unarmed people and m the hope of saving the lives of our followers, now surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered, members of tho Provisional qovornment at present at headquarters have agreed to unconditional surrender and the commanders of all units of the republican forces will order | their followers to lay down their arms.

It was close on 4 o'clock on Saturday, April 29, Avhen unexpectedly the order was given to the troops m tho centro of the city to cease fire, and shortly afterwards it was officially announced that the rebel forces who held the General Post omce had decided to surrender unconditionally. What the "cease flro" imparted had been interpreted differently by different people, and there was a general feeling of uncertainty on the point until the offl lcial statement lifted the matter out of tho region of conjecture. From early In tho day it was generally recoernlaed that the General Post Office, the principal stronghold of tho rebels, having boon destroyed, theJr resistance to the forces of the Crown could not bo of long duration. Driven from their stronghold here, and being gradually surrounded 4n other parts of the city, they wlsoly resolved to abandon the contest, and open up negotiations for unconditional surrender, which the military authorities responsible for the conduct of the troops acceptod. A SCENE OF DESOLATION.

Tho revolution having ended, thr. streets m tho central parts of tho city on Monday became comparatively safa during daylight, tho citizens displayed great anxiety to boo for pwnaelvea Bomo of tho damage that had been done. Residents outsldo the military cordon on tho North sld<> of the city wero rigorously excludod South stdo a similar restriction, but not quite no strict, was m force. Thpso who lived within tho cordon wero m no way hindered from moving about fine city. The spectator* appeared as If spellbound when they came into view of Sackvillo-streot. Here and there a cloud of smoko rose from * smoulder ng ruin. Only a f CW blackened walls remain of tho who} H range of business houses on ' mij« H |do of the street between Nelson's Pillar and O'Connell Brldgo. if tbo> shell of Uurys warehouse i» exempted. On tho other sldo of tho street only the outer SPfJ&X* U)0 » >ortlco ot General Post Offlco remain, the Hotel Metropolo Is gone, and most of tho other business places from that point down to O'Connell Urldgo are either partially or wholly destroyed, CITY AGAIN NORMAL. On Wednesday, May 3, there wore indications m almost evory district that Dublin was returning to Us normal condition. Bhops and offices wen opened m every street, and business seemed to bo proceeding m the usual way. Incept at a few points where "snipers" and suspected persons were ! supposed to be eonc-oaled m private houses i here wore very few soldiers on the street*, which wero once more undtr the control of tho Metropolitan police. There wore wolcomo signs of nn Improved condition of llfo In Dublin, and of returning activity In the various departments of business and commerce. Tram and traJn services wero gradually extended, and the authorities urged employees and work-i-ra m »ll occupations to /return to work. | THE LEADERS EXECUTED. The rebellion having been suppressed ! and large numbers of the rebels having I been captured or having mirrcnd- ; t'ml. Out trial of the r<«l>ols was com- ! im-»u"e<l by Ki««lti o«nr>mt CourtsI Martial. Thirt-ou M f tht* prlnclpAls | hi»v«. \wn i'xi?»-utf<l, incHiciinK flve of I jh" Kcven r:ltfnn(urif<!i to th«« Uoctarni linn «>f eh»* lri?*h Her»uMjc\ i-*our w«rc 1 jiontoncrd lo m*«nil ,*rrviuido for lift*.

:»ttv»Mß thr-m being Uio Count?** MarkU>vl*-?,. itttU »lxty-ihr«*« oJhi>r retwta woro H#ritenc«d to lorma varying from