FIRES IN CORK.

Wairarapa Age, 14 December 1920, Page 5

FIRES IN CORK.

A NIGHT OF TERROR. DAMAGE AMOUNTS TO MILLIONS Received Last Night, 7.15 o 'clock. LONDON, Dee. 12. Four hundred and fifty houses were destroyed in Cork. The damage is estimated at £3,000,000. The city presents a spectacle worse than Dublin after tho rebellion. Following the ambushing of the cadets .there was nn outbreak of revolver and rifle fire all over tho city. People wore dragged from the tram's, searched, and beaten. The streets were deserted at nine o'clock, but the firing was unabated tin hour later. The centre of tho city was illuminated by the burning buildings. Several persons who are connected with the destroyed buildings are reported to be missing. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Cork, preaching at the Cathedral, stated that he would issue a decree excommunicating' everybody identified with the ambush of Crown forces. Two brothers named -Delaney were shot in their beds at Cork. One was killed and the other is not expected to recover.

LONDON PRESS COMMENT. Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock. LONDON, Dec. 13. The Morning Post says that it is impossible that such vast fires as those recorded in Cork could have been started on the spur of the moment as a reprisal. It was evident that the fires were due to the Anarchist element, who were only concerned in the break-up of the Empire. The Daily News says a fire started in a small shop near the ambush. The shopowner, an old lady, appealed to the men who set the place on fire, and they helped to extinguish it before much damage was done. Another firo burned itself out. The houses of two prominent Sinn Feincrs were then burned, though the men who caused the fires worked hard to prevent them spreading to the adjoining premises. Meanwhile fires commenced in the centre of the city.

CADETS AMBUSHED. FOUND WRITHING IN AGONY, Received Last Night, 8.10 o'clock. LONDON, Dee. 13. The.cadets were ambushed at evening at a sharp comer, where the lorry was obliged to go slowly, and tho Sinn Fciners were able to throw their bombs over a wall into the lorry. The first intimation of the attach was a scries of explosions. The people nearby hurried to the spot, and found the cadets writhing in agony. They were horribly injured, and operations were necessary in several eases. A number of arrests were made from neighbouring houses. Half an hour later parties of auxiliaries with special constables began to clear the streets, which w r erc crowded with shoppers anxious to get home before the curfew. At ten o'clock the auxiliaries held up all males, lined them up against walls, and searched them, but allowed the women, and girls to go unehal-

lenged. When the news of the ambush spread the people of Cork, were stricken with fear. The people in the district where the outrage took place fled from their homes, and spent the night in the fields, some being in the scantiest of clothing. About this time lorries began to dash through the city. Explosions were heard, and then the fires commenced. The identity of the authors of the fires is still'doubtful. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent, who was an eye-witness, says he saw fifty men in all kinds of raiment armed with rifles, burning the buildings. They succeeded in evading the curfew and troops. When these passed by the men with rifles fired shots into the windows of the houses, and continued the work of destruction. The .Daily Chronicle and Moping Post assert that there is no evidence that the' fires were due to soldiers or police.

MILITARY CONTROL STREETS. FURTHER AMBUSHES REPORTED. Received Last Night, 8.35 o'clock. LONDON, Dee. 13. It is still impossible to assess the damage at Cork, but the destruction includes some of tho most imposing blocks in the city. The entire area of Patrick Street for a quarter of a mile and a depth of ono hundred yards, was razed to the ground. The military now control the streets. Pickets with machine-guns are stationed at tho principal points. This was done at the request of the townsfolk. A most hopeful factor Is the pronouncement by Bishop Cohalan at the Cathedral, intimating that he will excommunicate any persons participating in ambushes. An authoritative act like this might restore peace, which the people generally ardently desire. Two other .ambushes of troops took place including one at Garryspelhui, County Limerick, where several Sinn Feinors are reported to be wounded.