THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1922, Page 3

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

CABLE'NEWS.

AtM'ltAl.lAk *#£'».i. CABLE ABBOCIA'tION,

THURSDAY’S OPERATIONS.LONDON; June 29. The sensation of Thursday’s fighting in Dublin was the rebels’ attack on the Bank of Ireland. A force of Free Staters at the bank replied, but were obliged to retreat into the bank. Later reports stated the situation was becoming worse, and that the rebels had planted land mines in some leading thoroughfares, and -seized Sackulle Chib. It was stated street fighting also was becoming more frequent, three civilians being killed. The same day tHe irregiilnf-s occupied the Heink offices for a time during a street hgl?t The general post office- was closed also other buildings were shut. Fresh terms were offered to those in possession of the Four Courts, but they refused to surrender, a,nd the firing was resumed. An .early evacuation was then expected, however, as the water and light were cut off. , . Lord Clancarty, when he arrived at Holyhead from Dublin, said the firing of the attacking Free Staters was very poor and ineffective, being at the into of one shot every four minutes.

LONDON, June SO. Telegrams from Dublin state that the continued bombardment has. considerably breached the western side of the Four Courts, but the- mass of the build- ■ ing is not seriously shaken, and the defenders are safe in the granite basement from everything except heavy shell fire. It is understood the defenders have dug tunnels from cellars v whereby they hope to escape if forced to evacuate, The besiegers don’t intend to storm the Four Courts, but intend to starve out the defenders. The worst trouble of the Free Staters is that they are being sniped from the rear, and the irregulars are creating a reign of terror in oth<*r parts or Dublin. , i , ... It is not too much to snv that. Iluitlin bristles with rebel forts, while barricadcs are set up in many places by both the Fre6 State and the Republican troops. At midnight on Thursday, the machine gun and rifle fire was gravely intensified. The heavy detonations of mortars, were then interspersing with the rattle of small arms. The bombardment by artillery also increased, giving evideuce that the Free Slaters bad secured heavier cannon. . , The defenders replied more vigorously as the attack intensified. ; The Republicans apparently have an . abundance of rifle and machine gun am- j munition. Dublin people, who at first, were inclined to regard the operations as a hide show, now realise the grave character of the' trouble. .Many. hundreds are fleeing,to England. Father Dominie, who has lieen in the *'*~.Four Courts with the liesieged republicans, was Lord Mayor MeSwincy s chaplain during his hunger strike m Brixton Prison.

INTERRUPTED COMMUNICATIONS. LONDON, June JO. ; No letters or telegrams can be dc- , livefed in Southern Ireland, while the, submarine cable has also been cut near , Dublin. The only telegraphic and tele- • phonic communication between Irdand and Britain is through Belfast. Hie newspaper correspondents are compelled to employ aeroplanes to aid the broken tiews services. fall of the four courts, i LONDON, June 30. Two of the main portions of the Four Courts, at Dublin have liecn enptured. Mellow and Rory O’Connor have locked themselves in the smaller building. They are being ordered to surrender. , i Another message states: The four Courts has been captured with 22 prisoner's, Including Commandant Barry. ( AN ARMISTICE. i. LONDON. June 30 The Free State Commandant agreed ; with Rory O’Connor for an armistice, to. j enable the removal of the dead and t io wounded. . . At the conclusion of the armistice, • bugles signalled the resumption of hos-

LONDON. June 30. The “Daily Chronicle's” correspondent statesßebels are entering Dublin from provinces, and are receivin'? equipment from some hidden arsenal. It is Strange, when entering the city by road, to see the people, who arc pursuing the ordinary avocations The mothers are perambulating their l>a ncs. The bakers are delivering bread, while again, there is the tearing echo <•» shells and the crack of rifles. LONDON, June 30 The Free Staters now completely occupy the Four Courts. They arc im attacking all other rebel strongholds in Dublin. A FURTHER REPORT. LONDON, June 30. In referring to the Four Courts l>attle, and telegraphing on nmrsdny evening, the “Daily Chronicle s Dublin correspondent states that the si tuntion was then growing worse. “"Die bodies of republican youths bad been mobilized, and seized points of vantage, from which to carry on indiscriminate sniping. , The Free State troops have been making little impression, and the correspondent says one felt they weie using prestige, and that reports sa> thej were losing their ardour also. News from country at large W" the correspondent) indicated res n ness. "Women were singularly absent from the streets-of Dublin, though hussies or daredevils (as the correspondent describes the Cumnn mam Han, who are the Republican womens organisation) were prominent. Many ot these women wem acting as dospnti i riders for Republicans, their sox giving them immunity. The walls of the Four Courts (says the correspondent) are of groat thickness. having been laid down in the ‘eighteenth century, when massive masonry was common. , . On the south side, the river Liffey nets ns a moat, while the typical Dublin slums, on all il.e other sides have assisted the defenders of the Courts. Militnrlv speaking (says the correspondent) hi«h explosive shells should he employed, hut the Free Staters have no howitzers, and are not trained n the use of them. LONDON. June 20. Messages received in London at nine o’clock on Tlurrsdav evening indicat 1 that it wps unlikely that the Frei States would carry Four Courts li; assault, as the building offered i strong defensive position. Meanwlnl Guerilla, tactics by the Republican weTC developing in various quarters o the city, and this phase was eniisini considerable anxiety.

A WOMAN’S STORY. LONDON, June 30. A woman told a. pressman “people are afraid to go to church, and are praying iii their homes for hours for the success of the Free State troops. Many of us Irish are ambitious for a republic and for absolute freedom, but the price may be too heavy. That’s what tie Valera’s and Rory O’Connor’s price is. People say the Dublin fighting is mere camouflage to satisfy the English clamour. Only those who do not know how bitter are the factional hatreds in Dublin would repeat such an absurdity.’’

HELP FOR FREE STATE. LONDON, Juno 29. _ The Colonial Secretary." Churchill, in the House of Commons stated he had no fresh information r° garding the Irish situation. Tie added “We are confining our assistance tr supplying any material which the Free Staters may require.” He said the Povisiqnnl Governmeht was not reporting to him in any way. CHURCHILL'S PRAISE. LONDON. June 30. In the House of Commons Mr W. Churchill scouted flic idea that the Dublin struggle was anywise unreal. Speaking on the point, he angrily deprecated the suggestion that it was a sham fight that was going on in Dublin. He pointed out:—“People do not get killed in a sham fight. The Trish Provisional Government’s troops . arc loyally carrying out the Treaty, "and they are suffering. Tt is true that there has been Ift Ho organisation on either side, but this is not a time to mock at those who arc striking a blow for freedom and order.”

ENGLISH MTNH''”'”" C VIEWS LONDON. June 29.

] Rt. Hon Air Worthington Evans, speaking at Colchester, said that seven out of eight Southern Icelanders were . loyal. The disloyalists were the desperate murderers who were now gunning. They were as much opposed to the true interests of Ireland ns they tvere a pains t the XTnftod "Kingdom. Tie Was certain tliat Messrs Collins and Griffith intended to carry out the terms of the Treaty and overthrow the Repuhleans “hut,” he added, “don't imagine we are going tt) have an easy time. Tt will likely he a long time before' tbe rebels are completely put down. It is satisfactory that there is a loyal hit of Ireland, prepared, as a part, of the Empire, to light against the rebels in their own- country. Hitherto the dirty work has been left to the British Army, but now the cleaning up is left to tbe Trish Government.”

A PRIEST’S ATTITUDE. LONDON, .Tune 30. An Irish priest, who has come from Dublin, says:—“T protest vehemently aganst the depths to which the Irregular Republican troops have fallen. They are placing land mines in streets, which are a terrible danger to civilian ponidntion. These mines are laid under cover of darkness. If a pedestrian steps on one, it explodes, or n man trippng over a string fires a mine. Tt is tlie dntv of the whole Church to protest against such inhumanities.’’

i EIGHT FOR REPUBLIC. LONDON. June 30. i The following proclamation, address- ; ed to “Fellow Citizens of the Trish Republic.” has appeared in Dublin: — “The fateful hour has hour. At the dictation of our hereditary enemy, our rightful cause has been treacherously assailed by recreant Irishmen. Gallant soldiers of the Trish Republic, stand rigorously firm in its defence and worthily uphold their noblest traditions! The snored snirits of the illustrious dead are with us in Ibis great struggle, doatb before dishonour being the unchanging principle of our national faith, as of theirs, and it still inspires up to emulate their glorious efforts. Therefore we appeal to all citizens who have withstood unflineh-in-lv the oppression of the enemy during the rest six years, to rnllv to the support of the Republic. "Vt e especially' anneal to our former comrades to return te that allegiance, and thus guard tlio nation’s honour from the infamous stigma that her sons have aided in retaining the hateful domination over her.” The appeal is signed “Army Executive, T.TLA.”

FREE STATE REPORT

(Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) j LONDON, Jump 39. j Regarding the blowing m> of t,'- • Court it is believed the Irregulars loft I tin* mines, one whereof exploded when | the building took fire. The explosion 1 shook the greal pint ol the city. A Free State eommunk|iio issued at two o’clock in the morning, says after! several attacks on Four Courts, our troops dislodged the Irregulars from the greater part of the building. During : the storming of the building, a heavy i fire was maintained from within. Com- ; jnandants O’Connor and MoGnrron j broke through the entrance to the court : suffering no casualties. Three of our . o‘Cc *rs "t ore wounded and three _ rank and lilt* were killed and ten wounded ; In the desire to save the lives of those in the building, special precautions were taken in the a* tack and the fact that the casualties of the Irregulars is nut heavy, is a credit to the attacking party’s skills. four courts ut.oavx up. KORY O’CONNOR CAPTURED. DE VAT .ERA JOINS REBET.S. (Received this day at 9.50 a.m.) CONDON, June 30. Government have received news that Four Courts was blown up. The insurgents surrendered at four o’clock and Eoarv O’Connor was taken prisoner. A Republican Bulletin announces Do Valera ba.s joined the Dublin Brigade and is fighting for O’Connor. The explosion at Four Courts occurred at 12.30 in the afternoon, the Republicans leaving the Court by tunnels which bad been prepared in case of emergency. Fierce fighting occurred in the neighbourhood of Talbot s street. Irregular troops sweeping over ■ a wide area. British soldiers passing thromdi the city had to lie down to escape bullets. UNCONDITIONAL .SURRENDER WANTED. i (Received this day at 0.50 a.m.) LONDON. June 3ft. ■ Mr Church ill in the Commons, sail there were strong rumours that tin 5 insurgents when they asked for terms '' -n-ore informed that the surrender mus lie unconditional. REPORTED LYNCHED. ' (Received this day at 9.50 a.m.) ; LONDON, June 30 > ft is reported that the kidnapped offi cers cabled on .Tune 26th, were lynehci 3 from a tree shortly after tlmy were cap 3 tured. ‘ IPTST-I MANIFESTO. " LONDON, June 60. The Irish Government has issued

manifesto to the people—*You are faced with a conspiracy the calculated end o which is to destroy the Treaty signed by your representatives, and endorsed bj vourselves. You are asked to reject tlii? and engage in a hopeless, unnecessary war with Britain. The people in Four Courts say they are fighting for a Hepublic. In reply they are lighting to I,ring the British hack Liberty will he secured to all under the guarantees but there will he const!tnth.italli herlv. No man shall he permitlei in do violence to the views of his neighbour or the will of the majority.

I MUCH STATE ACTIVITY, (Received this day at 9.50 a.m.) j LONDON, June 30. Free Staters are rounding up rebels' strongholds in the country. Their latest activities are directed towards Letterkenny, Buncrana and other centres in Donegal. Troops attacked Rallymurool House, Letterkenny, with bombs, machine guns and rifles, llebel occupants surrendered and were taken prisoners, after it lively exchange, together with arms, munitions, .find stolen motorcars. Irregulars at fluncrnna surrendered without a light mid handed over a large quantity of ammunition, the Free Staters occupying telephone exchanges, post office, and railway stations. The casualties are unknown, but are believed to ho slight':