THE IRISH PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM

CABLE NEWS.

VUbTHAI.IA.V AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

TWO DAYS FIGHTING

30 DEAD; 50 WOUNDED

LONDON, J one 30.

. A telegiam lodged in Dublin before the Four Courts was taken, stated heavy filing and sniping continued all night long. Four Courts was subjected to an intensive bombardment.

T.ie thoroughfares in the centre of Dublin are to-day deserted. All business is suspended. The Dail troops occupy Jacob’s large biscuit factory in Bishop Street. The casualties for the two days number. tnirty dead and fifty wounded. Commandant Barry; one of the signatories to Rebel’s proclamation, was captured when trying to enter Four Courts disguised as a nurse. Ho was accompanied by a woman and sought admittance oil the ground of humanity. Several mines were found inside and outside after the big assault, which occurred during a heavy rain stonn. The meeting of the Provisional Parliament has been postponed till the 7th July, DONEGAL REPUBLICANS ATTACKED. LONDON, July 1. The “Daily Express” Belfast correspondent states: County Donegal, which was infested with Republicans for months, was practically cleared by a surprising swoop yesterday. A large number of the Irregulars were .taken prisoners by the Free State troops. T. MeKeon, the "Blacksmith of Ballina,” interrupted his honeymoon to take charge of these operations. He surrounded the Finner Camp at dawn and when the Republicans awoke, they found themselves hemmed in by a ring of steel. Escape was impossible, and they were given an hour in which *to surrender, but they lefused, so McKeoti, after a two hours’ fight, took the camp ul the point of the bayonet. The Republicans lost some killed and ]0 wounded.

FALL OF FOUR COURTS. LONDON, July 1. The story of the surrender of the Four Courts at Dublin came to a melodramatic end at four o’clock on Friday morning, when Rory O’Connor unconditionally surrendered. The building was then blazing ever ti e defenders’ h ads. and part of it had been blown up. while shots were pounding in from the gulls, so that there was no alternative left lietween surrender and death. It was 60 hours after the attack commenced that the white flag appeared, and an officer demanded terms. “Unconditional surrender,” was the reply. Ten minutes later a white flag appeared again. Bury and 130 men beaded by the pi i.-st Father Dominic, came out with (’■(*’!• bands up. tVi’b them was the LILA. Free State General O'Connell, w’ use capture had caused the fight. T! e latter was unharmed, and be immediately went to the Free State headquarters. - A most dramatic incident m the final stages of the fight was the explosion at 12.30 a.in. It shook the whole of Dublin, and broke every window in- the di.iti t of the Four Courts and was the origin of the fire which is still burning at the Courts and threatens to destroy p-ieel -s archives. The explosion threw masses of masonry across the river LifW while documents from the Record Office were flung sky high. Some fell in St Stephen’s Green, a mile away. Commandant llarry made an attempt to dodge through the attackers’ line to the Four Courts in the guise of a nurse. He was assisted by a woman with him, who ran into the thick of the Loops, and made a frantic appeal' to the Free Staters to allow her companion to enter. ••For God’s sake, allow her to go UL cried the woman. Meanwhile Barr> s tall, angular figure in the uniform of a Red Cross nurse awaited the permission to risk “her” life on a humane mission. The ruse nearly succeeded, but an officer became suspicious and arrested the. supposed woman, who confessed that “she” really was Barry. About 130 surrendered. Most were youths, and some only boys. Their haggard faces spoke clearly ol the ordeal thev had passed through. They were surrounded by Free State troops,, and were marched to Mount Joy Prison. The insurgents’ ammunition was practically exhausted and the garrison were half-starved. They had been sleepless for two days.

THE SMALL CASUALTIES

LOOTERS SHOT ON SIGHT

LONDON, J«ly 1

' The explosion in the Four Courts was reported to have been due to the .fact that, while Free State troops were passing an empty room in the record office, one of them accidentally kicked a mine fuse. ... An official Free State bulletin, however states the leader of the Ii regulars admitted the Four Courts mines were deliberately exploded. He expressed surprise the casualties were not greater. The total Free State casualties were only three killed nnd five officers and 20 others wounded. Some Irregulars shd dead a man wearing a distinctive badge of a first aid detachment, and mother who was driving an ambulance. In consequence of these and l other acts «*f treachery, as well as the looting of certain promises persons wearing the garb of red cross workers, all such were shot on sight. Over 50 more Irregulars, stationed, at Capel Street, were surrounded during Friday morning. The rebels stationed in Moran’s Hotel, in Talbot Street, the present rebel headquarters, fired on ail armoured car containing the National troops. Imliediately after the car ran over a land nine in the centre of the roadway, ind a terrific explosion followed. Sevrnl occupants of the car were wounded. U 1 the approaches to the hotel were ulisequently barricaded, in preparation or an attack. Sniping i'r roceeding in many streets hieli rapidly became deserted. The Dafl troops are being reorgan;ed for their next offensive.

Irregulars on Friday morning seized vehicles in the centre of "Dublin nnd proceeded to erect barricades. They also visited the vegetable market and took commodities. Dll OC! HE'D A REPUBLICANS ATTACKED. LONDON. .Tnly 1. The Frec< Staters have sewed th railway station at Drogheda, where severe lighting is in full swing, railway porajinuiuuMou hping cut off, : •

FREE STATE TROOPS LAUDED

LONDON, July 1

The Irish Defence Minister has issued the following manifesto to the Dublin command:—“You fought, suffered, and dared death to make safefor Ireland, what she has just regained, and, in the hour of victory, your soldiery restraint, in the face of almost intolerable provocation, is a shining example. It is said that British troops co-operated with you. The nation spurns this calumny.”

CAPTURED REBELS URGE SUBMISSION. LONDON, July 1. Telegraphic communication between England and Dublin has been restored. The captured • Republican leaders have appealed to the Republicans in other Dublin buildings to surrender, but so far this lias produced no result.

I)E VALERA ALLEGED TO BE REBEL. LONDON, June 30. The “Sunday Express” correspondent states that rebels seized and fortified 20 buildings since the fall of the Four Courts, and asserts the present lull in fighting will be short. He says de Valera is directing operations from Gresham Hotel, where, until recently Mr M. Collins had lodged. The correspondent says communications between, other buildings and the Gresham Hotel were established by the rebels by breaking inside walls. The rebels also hold tramway offices ifl Sackville Street,

The Irregulars leave been ordered td vacate positions in Capel Street, where the next battle is expected.

THE MACROOM MYSTERY. LONDON, July 1

The Ulster Association states: —“lt ha s now been ascertained that two BrL tis - officers kidnapped at Macroom on May 11th last- were hanged from a tree by I.R.A. men.

POSITION IN DUBLIN. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, July 1

Dublin Free State headquarters announced last evening in a communique, that O’Malley, on behalf of the executive in Four Courts, surrendered, unconditionally to Brigadier-General O’Daly. The entire garrison were taken prisoners, including O’Connor, Mellowes and the principal officers of the rebel executive. O’Connell, who was kidnapped was set free. Hon. W. Churchill, in the House of Commons stated the explosion at the Four Courts was caused by the springing of a mine laid by the insurgents under part of the building which had been occupied by the Free Staters, thirty of the latter were killed or injured by the explosion. A number of British soldiers belonging the Border Regiment went to the Bank of Ireland to get some money and the insurgents fired on them; wounding two.

SAULES And goodwill. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, June 30. A “Central New’s” telegram. from Dublin states the Four Court’s fire is still raging to-day unabated. Nothing remains of the magnificent dome except the pillars and the supporting masonry. No effort can save the buildings. The surrender of the Irregulars was not _ marked by any sternness of war. As the captured men emerged the Free Staters shook hands with them. There was a general atmosphere of smiles and . good wiU. -