IRELAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18533, 15 July 1922, Page 5

IRELAND.

THE FOUR COURTS BATTLE. S’ BLASPHEMOUS ACCOUNT. Received Julv 14, 8.30 p.m. LONDON, July 14. The Irish rebel publicity department publishes, in (he commaudeered newspaper Cork Examiner, an amazing blasphemous*'version of the Four Courts battle as follows:—"Our flag’s folds are emblematic of the varying and various aims and inter ests of the nation, unified in their adhesion to the flagstaff, which typifies the unyielding, indomitable spirit of determination in our soldiers. The three colours chosen are emblematic of the three Divine persons in tho one God, to whom our cause is consecrated, and under Whose protection it has been placed. At the moment of the attack on Four Courts, when war was suddenly forced upon us, the first thought of our brave defenders was to fall on their knees in •olemn prayer, consecrating themselves to their cause and country, through the Blessed Virgin, to the Sacred Heart. They then manned the parapets, made 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, braver defence against sudden attack by overwhelming odds. Never was known greater dismay and consternation among the attackers. All their plans had hopelessly miscarried. The lightning stroke of budding field marshals, planned by General MacReady and approved by Field Marshal Wilson before he took his departure from Ireland, were for evermore shattered before the desperate resistance of the true men of Ireland. Man proposes, but God disposes.”

LARGE OPERATIONS IMMINENT. Received July 14, 9.30 p.m. LONDON, July 14. The establisment of a 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 cleaning up south and south-west reland will be more difficult than in Dublin. The first operations will probably be in Tuliamore, where a thousand rebels are cut off and Free Staters are enveloping the town. Rebels are massing southward of Sligo, where a clash is inevitable. Two hundred rebels ambushed a party of Free Staters at Ballintogher, killing three, wounding ten. and capturing five.

FREE STATE AFFAIRS. LONDON, July 13. Mr Collins has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and with Mr Mulcahy, Minister for Defence, .together with three others, will .Ak.ttute the Supreme Irish War Council. De Valera has been missing for more than a week. The Free State . Government do not regard him as a fighting rebel. They say he is a bankrupt statesman and still undischarged. The Nationalist forces are sweeping ahead in West Ireland. The Irregulars have been, driven out of Galway town, leaving large gnantities of equipment and munitions. The Irregulars made elaborate preparations for the siege of Wexford, Newross, and Gorey, but evacuated them before the Nationals’ arrival.

CLAIM BY REPUBLICANS.

LONDON, July 13. A Cork Republican communique States: A Free State post was captured near Clonmel. BrigadierGenerals Hayes and Connolly were taken prisoner.