IRISH REBELS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18760, 13 January 1923, Page 9

IRISH REBELS

GUNMEN INVADE COUNTY MEETING. Press Association—By Telegroph—Copyright LONDON, January 11. An amazing incident occurred at a conference of Irish county councils. The business was interrupted by the entrance of four gunmen with who ordered all present to put un their hands, including the press representatives. The rebels then said that they had heard that one of their members had been executed that morning. They asked if the following six members of the Dail were present (the names were read out). The answer was: “None are present.' The gunmen then made every person in turn produce evidence of his identity. When the gunmen had satisfied themselves that the six members of the Dail were not present they withdrew, apologising for interrupting the business. —A. and N.Z. Cable. BLOWN SKYWARDS. VILLAGE RAILWAY DESTROYED. ENGINES FREED AT FULL SPEED. LONDON, January 11. Armed Irregulars ignited the Sligo railway station, which was completely destroyed. Then engines were run towards the deep-water berth. One fell into the river and others were wrecked at the dead end. The stationmaster's house was destroyed.—A. and N.Z. Cable. (Received Jan. 12, at 8.5 p.m.) The Daily Chronicle’s Belfast corre spondent states: Eight magnificent locomotives, all driverless, swent at full speed through Sligo station in the middle of the night, as a orehuk- to a desperate rebel attack on the town. The first engine crashed into the concrete buffers and toppled over, puffing furiously. A few moments after, ’the second locomotive was heard, and flames were seen leaping from the smoke stacks. The engine passed through the station and reached the quay, where it plunged into the sea 20ft below. The third engine left the track before it reached the quav, and climbed the seawall, where it ‘still hangs, threatening to topple into the sea. Five other engines were derailed near the station. One hundred rebel raiders followed, in eluding women, who sowed the station premises with powerful mines, soaked the buildings with petrol, and burnt two long passenger trains. When the mines detonated. the platforms and warehouses were blown skywards. The whole town destroyed the railway, the rebels attackoa the courthouse, "aol, and other buildings, using bombs and machine guns freely. . Free State troops, using armoured cars, endeavoured to repel the attack but were hampered hv the darkness. . The fighting in the streets' 'asted for hours. At dawn the rebels disappeared, having done damage to Slico which is aps pcspd at at least £IOO,OOO. —A. and N.Z. Cable. A MEMORABLE DANCE. RETURNING CHARABANC HELD UP. LONDON, January 12. (Received Jan. 12, at 7.35 n.ni.) Rebels blew up the Civic Guards’ barracks at Rathfarnham suburb (Dublin). Six .armed men held un a charabanc containing women who were returning from an artillery dance at Dunree Fort (Donegal). Thev fired shots over the women’s heads, and forced them to walk six miles in pouring rain to Buncrana.—A. and N.Z. Coble.