IRELAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3566, 18 July 1922, Page 18

IRELAND

LEADERS ROUNDED UP. LONDON, July 9. I Irish official reports indicate that the Nationalist forces have practically quelled the revolt. Thousands of prisoners were taken during the week, and all the prominent Irregular leaders, except Mr de Valera, were rounded up. Mr de Valera escaped from the Gresham Hotel when the Nationalist attack was imminent, and is stated to lie sheltering in an ecclesiastical institution. The Nationalist troops routed the Irregulars at Sheoghhouse :Londonderry) after

six hours’ fighting, taking 60 prisoners, mostly from Londonderry, who for the past couple of months had plundered trains and loyalists’ shops giving the loot, including furs and finery, to their womenfolk. Considerable looting was also done at Blessington (Wicklow), where the Nationalist troops captured the rebel stronghold, taking over 100 prisoners. The rebel garrison at Ferns (Wexford) surrendered, and Drogheda (Louth) is now completely controlled by the Nationalist troops. The rebels evacuated Enniseorthy (Wex ford), and the Nationals occupied it after slight trouble with snipers. Fifty prisoners were captured.

The Irregulars who were arrested in the Skeoghhouse affair, and who were imprisoned in the Letterkenny Courthouse, wrecked the building, sacked the Carnegie Library, and set the building on fire. The Nationalist troops removed the prisoners and extinguished the fire. Extensive damage was done. THE DUBLIN DEVASTATION. LONDON, July 10. Dublin architects estimate that it will take four years to rebuild the devastated areas, exclusive of Hour Courts. The casualties of the National forces in the Four Courts’ and Sackville street fighting are officially stated to be 16 killed and 122 wounded.

TIRED OF THE REBELS. LONDON, July 10. There are increased signs that the population of Ireland is tired of the rebel campaign. When the people of Wexford heard that National troops were approaching they met the troops with torches, and, amidst cheers, escorted them to the town. This is typical of occurrences repoited in various places throughout the country. OUTRAGES IN BELFAST. LONDON, July 10. Outrages are recurring at Belfast. Armed men raided a public-house and fired revolvers. A detective was hit over the heart, but was saved bv his cigarette case. A head constable was similarly attacked in a restaurant and killed. All traffic between Dublin and Belfast has been suspended. Five bridges have been blown up and the railway lines completely destroyed for some distance. Clonmel, one of the chief rebel strongholds in the South of Ireland, is isolated. The railways have been cut and the roads trenched. Ample supplies have been commandeered. Heavy lighting is expected. DUBLIN FIGHTING CASUALTIES. LONDON, 'July 11. The Irish Army Headquarters official casualty list of the Dublin fighting gives 19 soldiers killed and 111 wounded, and 75 civilians killed and 281 wounded. MR BRUGIIA’S FUNERAL. LONDON, July 10. There was a great public demonstration at Dublin at the funeral of Mr Cathal Bi’ugha, which was conducted with military honours. Thousands lined the streets. The procession took three hours on the journey from the church to the cemetery. It passed along Sackville street, where Mr Brugha was wounded. The Republican members of the Dail Eireann were present. Tile Republicans tired a volley over the grave. No disorder occurred. BANDITS OPERATING FREELY. LONDON, July 12. Bandits held up the Dublin-Belfast mail train at Mount Pleasant, near the Iron tier. They stole bags of registered letters. The Morning Post’s Belfast correspondent reports that the rail and road traffic conditions in this section are becoming worse every day. Armed men operate with impunity in the vicinity of Dundalk, looting wholesale. The victims intrude an aged lady nurse, who was robbed of all she had and left on the roadside destitute. Loyalists are the principal sufferers, but the bandits do nut respect creeds or parties. REBELS CONSCRIPTING LABOUR. LONDON, July 12. Provincial reports show fluctuating fortunes on both sides, though the Free Staters generally succeed when in conflict. A party of I ree Staters in a lorry in O’Connell street, Dublin, were ambushed by civilians armed with revolvers and bombs. The latter fled when attacked. No casualties are recorded. It is believed that the rebels intend to make a determined stand in Cork and Limerick, the communications of which with Dublin have been cut. The official reports are guarded, but others report many affrays, more or less serious. Free Staters proceeding from Dumroe to Letterkenny were ambushed. One was killed and two wounded. Another is missing. The rebels are conscripting labour in Donegal, using violence where necessary. Twelve women were seized and removed from Glenbeagh Castle. Women and girls are fleeing from the countryside to safer localities. Later reports state that a second Free Stater died in hospital from wounds received in the Letterkenny fray. Free Staters recaptured Wexford, the rebels boding. Mr Robert Barton, with a dozen other prisoners, escaped from Portobello Barracks. The authorities state that the escape is wasted labour, as it was intended to release them this week as being of no military importance. THE REPUBLIC. LONDON, July 12. An unconfirmed report is in circulation that a Republic has been proclaimed in Cork. The Republicans officially claim possession of the entire countryside from Kerry to Newtownbarry, in County Wexford, and from Kerry to 'County Mayo. They are operating all the post offices ant! collecting excise Customs and duties at the rate of £12,000 weekly. They are also in complete control of the city of Cork, where the Republic is an accepted fact and life is proceeding on normal lines. Tire Free State officers in Limerick refuse to fight the Republicans. ULSTER’S LOYALTY. LONDON, July 12. At Belfast the Battle of the Boyne was celebrated. Fifty thousand Orangemen, with bands and banners, went in procession through the city. One hundred thousand demonstrated later at Ballylesson. Police troops and great numbers of armoured ears were stationed at danger points. Sir James Craig, addressing a gathering, told the Loyalists throughout the world that the present crisis involved them in it, because Ulster’s patriotism was immovable. The enemies of Britain could not shift the rock on which the Empire was founded. Ulster’s cause was the cause of all Loyalists in the dominions and in all parts' of the world. Attempts had been made by assassinations and burnings to overthrow them, but all had failed, and they always would fail. FREE STATE PARLIAMENT. LONDON, July 13. The re-opening of the Free State Parliament has been postponed for 14 days ow-

ing to the number of the members being on service. AIDING PRISONERS TO ESCAPE. LONDON, July 13. The Dublin authorities have discovered a plot to rescue the Republican prisoners from Mountjoy Gaol. They raided houses 20 yards from the prison walls and .arrested 13 men, whom they found in a tunnel in the course of construction between the house aaid the prison. A store of tunnelling implements was also seized. ARMED WOMEN SEIZE PROVISIONS. LONDON, July 13. Five rebel women armed with rifles raided Churchill railway station, near Derry, and cleared the trucks of a ton of sugar and much food tobacco, and rum. Tile continuous rifling of trains is resulting in famine conditions in the district. SUPREME WAR COUNCIL. LONDON, July 13. Mr Collins has been appointed Com-mander-in-Chief of the army. He and Mr Mulcahy, the Minister of Defence, and three others will constitute the Supreme Irish W r ar Council. REPUBLICANS FALL BACK. .uONDON, July 13. The National forces are sweeping ahead in the West of Ireland. The Irregulars have been driven out of the town of Galway, leaving large quantities of equipment and munitions. The Irregulars made ehtbcrate preparations for the siege of WTexford. New Ross, and Gowry, hut they evacuated them before the Nationalist troops arrived. REPUBLICAN SUCCESS. LONDON, July 13. A Cork Republican communique state* that a Free State post was captured near Clonmel (Tipperary border). Brigadiergenerals Hayes and Connolly were taken prisoner. FIGHT AMONG REBELS. LONDON, July 13. A fierce fight occurred among rebels at Timahoe following an ultimatum by the Free State troops that the rebels should evacuate the police barracks in 15 minutes. Half the rebel garrison walked out, and the other half immediately fired upon those surrendering. The latter dropped to their knees and returned the fire. An exchange of shots lasted for two hours, at the end of which time the rebels in tha barracks were forced to retire. The I ree State troops, who had watched the engagement, then entered the barracks. They found two men dead and four wounded. AN AMAZING VERSION. LONDON, July 14. The Irish rebel publicity department has published in a commandeered newspaper (tho Cork Examiner) an amazing blasphemous version of the Four Courts’ battle, as follows: “Our flags’ folds are emblematic of the varying aims and interests of the nation, unified in their adhesion to a flagstaff which typifies the unyielding, indomitable spirit of determination in our soldiers. The three colours chosen are emblematic of the three Divine persons in the one God to whom our cause is consecrated, and under whose protection it has been placed. At the moment of the attack on the Four Courts, when war was suddenly forced upon us, the first thought of our brave defenders was to fall on their knees in solemn prayer, consecrating themselves to their cause and country through the blessed Virgin of the Sacred Heart. They then manned the parapets, mid shot and shell, and continued to defy the might and main of the Empire attackers, until nothing was left to defend. Never was seen, even at Verdun, a sterner and braver defence against sudden attack by overwhelming odds. Never was known greater dismay and consternation among the attackers. All their nlans had hopelessly miscarried. The lightning stroke of budding field-marshals, planned by Macready and approved by Wilson before he took his departure from Ireland, were for evermore shattered before the desjierate resistance of the true men of Ireland. Man proposes, but God disposes.” LARGE OPERATIONS IMMINENT. LONDON, July 14. The establishment of the Free State Army Council leads to the belief that large operations are imminent, and the situation is regarded with some apprehension. It is recognised that the task of clearing up the south and south-west of Ireland is more difficult than was the case in Dublin. The first operations will probably be in Tullamore, where 1000 rebels are cut off and the Free Staters are enveloping the town. The rebels ai-e massing southward of Sligo, where a clash is inevitable. Two hundred rebels ambushed a party of Free Staters at Ballintogher, killing three, wounding 10, and capturing five. LOOTING AND DESTRUCTION. LONDON, July 14. A Dublin official communique 'states i The National army’s operations in the South and Vest have been materially hampered by the wanton destruction and seizure of private property by the Irregulars. In many instances the civilian population suffered serious losses and endured great hardships and privations. The National troops found Wexford in actual want. According to the latest reports from Limerick, the shops and the ships in tha harbour have been looted. There is serious starvation in other parts. The destruction of bridges and railways and tha blockade of the highways has seriously hampered the transport of foodstuffs. Wherever the Irregulars are concentrated in strength there is a fury of wholesale destruction.

Following the advance of the National forces, the Irregulars vacated the hotels which were seized in Waterford, and are retiring in large numbers to the country districts. The Irregulars’ original idea "was to hold a line from New Ross (Wexford) to Limerick. These ambitions and plans are crumpling, with loss of their hold on Wexford County. Their present positions in Waterford, Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, and Tipperary are wholly in defensive, and in the event of an advance by the gaiionals they will probably retreat to the >meragh Mountains (in the northern part of County Waterford). A REIGN OF TERROR. LONDON, July 15. (Received July 16, at 5.5 p.m.) Sligo is experiencing a reign of terror and bloodshed. There has been continuous fighting for 10 days. The Nationals under 14‘Keown captured Coliooney after a fierce Struggle. DE VALERA IN CORK. Mr de Valera has reached Cork, which is now the biggest rebel stronghold. The rebels are holding the Victoria military barracks and dominate the city. They are commandeering on a wholesale scale. A party of Nationals returning from So was ambushed and seven were :d. Two thousand men enlisted in the First Dublin Brigade, including many ex-sol-diers, first aid workers and doctors. The claims lodged with Town Clerk of Dublin on account of the destruction of property during the recent fighting amount already to £1,500,000. MURDER OF CAPTAIN BROWNE. Three Irregulars arrested in connection with the death of Captain Browne, the Free State officer who was shot in the abdomen while rounding up Irregulars in Kilderrv, will be arraigned on the capital charge. When a British fishing vessel had to aeek shelter at Dunmoor, Irish rebels boarded the ship and seized portion of the fish at the point of the revolver. RIVAL FORCES ENTRENCHED IN STREETS.. LONDON, July 15. (Received July 16, at 5.5 p.m.) Owing to the wholesale destruction of the means of communication, business is stagnant in many parts of Ireland. In some places the people are on the verge of starvation, as they are unable to obtain food supplies. In Limerick the conditions are. most serious. The Irregulars ana the Nationals are entrenched in different parts of the town, and have been fighting for four days without decisive results. The Nationals hold all the strategic points round Limerick. The situation in the country resembles the end of the Boer War, guerrilla tactics having been adopted bv the rebels, who ambush the Nationals and disperse when the defence becomes too strong.