IRISH WARFARE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1922, Page 5

IRISH WARFARE.

FLIGHT OF THE REBELS. NATIONAL SUCCESSES. SHARP ATTACK ON TRAIN, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received July 26, 5.5 pm. London, July 25. Snipers were busy in the Four Courts area in Dublin during the night, and there was much rifle, revolver and machine-gun activity. The successes of National troops in the country continue. The irregulars everywhere are in headlong flight. Fifty irregulars at Lillurin, in County Wexford, ambuaed a train containing prisoners escorted by Nationals. Two coaches contained Nationals, and the prisoners were locked in the third, while the remaining coaches were crowded with civilians. Shortly after the train was emerging from a tunnel two shots rang out, and the train immediately stopped, whereupon a hail of fire was directed upon it from the heights on both sides of the line. Troops jumped through the windows and charged the attackers, courageously pursuing them up the hills. Two Nationalists were killed and seven were wounded, while seven assailants were wounded. The engine-driver was arrested. The passengers were panic-stricken, particularly the women and children, who threw themselves hill length upon the floors of the carriages The fight lasted three-quarter? of an hour, and the firing was continuous. The Free Staters, despite a disadvantage due to the unexpectedness of the attack and their exposed position, never wavered under a rain of lead, while the irregulars had selected good cover. Bullets penetrated the carriage windows, and the floors were strewn with broken gl». When the train arrived at Dublin, snipers on the roofs of buildings launched another attack, aided by rebels among the crowd on the station platform. The rebels driven from Limerick have made Fermoy their headquarters, and the Free Stater? are marching thither, sweeping aside detached rebel hands en route. Their attack on Cork is imminent. Free Stater*, operating from Claremorris. County Mayo, occupied Castlebar, 14 miles distant to the north-west, without a shot being fired. The rebels aet fire to a number of .buildings before evacuating the town. Rebels captured and burned Eyrecourt Barrack*. County Galway, after a stubborn resistance by the garrison of eight Free Staters, who were taken prisoner. De Valera was with the rebels in Tipperary on Sunday, and has gone to Cashel.

IRISH MINISTER RESIGNS. Received July 26, 5.5 pm. London. July 26. Mr. Gavan Duffy (Minister for Foreign Affair? in the Dail Eireann) has resigned. He agrees regarding the Free .State military policy, but dissents in other respect*. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICAN STRIKES. CONCILIATORY EFFORT FAILS. MOVE RY THE SENATE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright. Washington, July 25. It is announced that President Harding failed in his second effort to settle the mine strike by the owners' rejection of the plan. The President proposed guaranteeing 280 days’ work yearly, an additional payment being made for each day les* than 230. Mr. Hoover announced that the Government wa- prepared to take immediate charge of any coal district in which the operators refused to co-operate for the prevention of profiteering. The Inter-State Commerce Commission has declared a condition of national emergency owing to the railway and coal strikes and is vesting itself with its war time powers to prevent profiteering and ensure the distribution of necessities. According to a telegram from San Bernardino. California, railroad strikers stermed a Santa Fe passenger train carrying stirke-breakers and fired a fusilade of shots. The guards drove off the attackers with revolvers, but several were wounded. A definite move to put the mine? under Government control has been mad** in the Senate. Senator Borah ha* introduced a Bill providing for the establishment of a United States Coal Commission to study the industry and aid Congress in legislating against strikes.