EXCESSES IN IRELAND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15456, 26 February 1921, Page 3

EXCESSES IN IRELAND.

SAVAGERY OF REBELS’ TACTICS. DETERMINATION TO RESTORE ORDER. Elec. Tel Copyright—t?nl*ert Press Assn. 1 LONDON, Feb. 25. Sir Nevil Macready has issued orders to the troops alluding to the murders of soldiers at Bandon. He says : Quite apart from the savagery which always characterises the rebels’ tactics, there is no doubt these crimes are a deliberate attempt to exasperate the troops and tempt them to break the bounds pf ,dis-_ cipline, thereby providing copy for . the scurrilous campaign of propaganda on which the rebel leaders so much rely for sympathy against England abroad. lie expects the troops, even in the face of provocation, which would not be indulged in by the wildest savages in Central Africa., to maintain that discipline for which the army is renowned. Only thus will peace in Ireland be restored. Mr. Bonar' Law, speaking at Leeds, said there certainly had been excesses by the police and military in Ireland, but the Government was determined to restore order and maintain discipline. There, were two ways of dealing with Ireland—one was to give a measure of self-government, compatible with the interests of Ireland and the whole kingdom, and the other was to tell the Irish to go their own way and do what they liked. If they adopted the latter method it might free Britain from a great trouble, but it would not stop at Ireland. Such yielding to what could not be conceded in reason, will spread to other parts of the Empire and would end the Empire.—A. and N.Z.C.A. Sir Hamar Greenwood, in the House of Commons, denied that there had been any condonation of the Trim looting, but Mr. Cromer, in reply to an inquiry bv Mr. Redmond, a member of the House of Commons, telegraphed that Tudor admitted condonation in the presence of himself and many officers, and ordered a reinstatement of its men in the original company. The subject will be debated in the House of QJommons on Monday.—A. and N.Z.C.A. TWO OFFICERS KIDNAPPED. (Received February 26, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, February 25. Armed men held up two officers returning from fox hunting in the village of Liscarroll, Cork. They compelled them to dismount, and removed them to an unknown destination. Their, riderless horses reached Buttevam barracks. .Crown forces invested Liscarroll, and compelled the villagers to form a civilian guard, informing them that they would be held responsible for the officers’ return. —A. and N.Z.C.A. FIERCE PITCHED BATTLE, CROWN. FORCES OUTNUMBERED. (Received Feb. 26. 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 25. Seventy members of the Crown forces, travelling in lorries, with the object of conducting a round-up, were ambushed by four hundred Sinn Feiners entrenched in the hills near Macroom. At the first' onslaught one auxiliary was killed and six wounded. A fierce pitched battle ensued. Major Grant, the commanding officer, was killed. ■ The Crown forces were hopelessly outnumbered and withdrew, leaving about ten- wounded, now presumed to be dead. When the auxiliaries were nearing the base the Macroom rebels returned to the mountains. Macroom is fortified with machine guns ‘rained on the roads leading to the town. The police and ‘military, aided by aeroplanes, are scouring the district. The Sinn Fein casualties are believed to have been heavy.—A. and N.Z.C.A.