THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

CABLE NEWS.

VUBTRALTAN AND N.fc. CABLE ASSOCIATION. The Dublin operations. London, July 4. In the Dublin operations, the ineircling movement, succeeded in narrowing the area held by tl.ie Irregulars* ,{.O the east side of Upper O’Connell Street. There was a lull during the early hours of the morning, but at nine q’elock, a mac' ir.e gun barrage started. _ There was sharp fighting in Sackville Street. The Nationalists, oiierating from O’Connrll Bridge and the Parnell Monument swept the street with machine gun fire, mainly directed against Irregulars remaining in defences. The latter feebly replied. The Nationalists stormed Cassidy’s Hotel, off Parnell Street. Ten Irregulars surrendered. Mr Krskiile Childers, the Well-known English writeiq Whit has lolig heed a leading Sifln Fbitier in irdifindi is flow commanding a party of Republican Irregulars, and is entrenching in the Dublin mountains.

CENSORSHIP STRICT. LONDON, July 4. Ti c Irish Free S f nte Government has instituted a vigorous censorship.

REVIEW OF SITUATION. LONDON, July 3

At Dublin oil Monday evening, by i> .tins of “pinching” movements, earef lv Thinned and courageously executed, the Free Staters gradually penned tin* main body of rebels into a very limited area .Wound Sackville Street, though enormous difficulties were encountered: owing to the ilumhei' of s'rang points Which the rebels had c r ated. , . . . - I the Dublin Guards, many of whom raw active service iii the late war, and were trained men in street fighting, are plavipg a prominent part in the attack. They are Using rifle grenades, machine-gun barrages, and, under : this hail of varied fire, t’e small rebel garrison are retiring, to tunnels, by) means of winch, ft lias been, discovered in some cases, the Republicans have escaped. _ , A pa' l from machine-gun fire ana grenade bombardment, armoured ears dashed up and down the wide streets, sweeping the windows and doorways of tiie defences with machine-gun fire, ami driving the Republican sinpers from their posts. . _ : I ate this afternoon, the Republicans wore driven from the , Swan Public House, tiie Painters’ Hpll., the Uriitarr inn Church. St Stephen’s; GFeen, .and fi- ni other positions, where considerable captures of arms were made. . Thus far there have been 250 casyialUos. including, fifty killed, hut the Government is guided bv a desire tq avoid loss of life, and to preserve Duhlm from worse damage. , In this warfare, brother is fighting amiinst brother; and . father KgHlltSt M ,n The Southern Government, may Lc evensed for treating the Republicans therefore, -Rh what English minds m-v regaru as undue leniency. Mr De Valera to-day endeavoured Jo sc lire a peace p:mt from the Proviso nal Government. lh<- Lord Mayor ct Dublin acting as an inieunedinry, nut the Government replied that it wouiu ac'-ept onlv ullcoiiditinnal surrender, as it was deteriiliiied that extremists shall he-crushed .once and for all. The Lord Mayor . says lie risked ns life even’ time he went to the rebel stronghold, hut his desire was to save their beautiful citv from destruction. T'. c . Republican leaders were willing to evacuate their positions and go to their homes, hut on terms to which the Government would not consent. The Provisional Government has stopued the importation of all English newspapers into Southern Ireland, and also the circulation of all Irish newspapers which have -not. been submitted to the censors of the Free State Army. Dublin is still without postal facilities. , There lias been heavy fighting 1 10tween the Free State troops and rebels in east Donegal. One rebel garrison, at Castlefinn. surrendered. Constant fighting is in progress in Drogheda, both, sides there occupying strong positions. Several hundred irregulars, in South Tipperary, have concentrated in a large military barracks at Clonmel, which they have fortified. They have also mined the approaches. They possess large quantities of food, and every mo-tor-ear in tiie district, as well as fully one hundred thousand gallons of petrol, has been commandeered. The main line of railway between Cork and Dublin lias been cut by them in several places. A national communique states: “The national forces in Dublin continue to close around the Irregulars, and to cut off all communications .between the Ireregulars in tlife'_varuJlis hotels. ' Our troops hiiVe captured Bridgenuin’s Shop, in Parnell Square, and ’during the operations last night we captured a large number of prisoners, many with arms and ammunitions, and some in possession of hand grenades.

Sir Neville Macreadv’s services, as military adviser, have been offered to the Free State Government, who have not yet accepted them.

REBELS CAPTURED. LONDON, July 4

The latest National communique from Dublin reports:—The Dublin Guards developing movement is nearing completion. Tllev have driven out the Irregulars from' Earl Street, and are surr unding the Gresham Hotel. They captured the Catholic Club opposite, taking 32 prisoners. ENGLISH PRESS VERSION. LONDON, July, 4.

The London “Daily Chronicle’s” Dublin correspondent says:—“Less than 1000 men, or rather hoys, have caused all this din, and disturbance. It is quite clear the last stand in O’Connell Street was made by less than 200. of whom many were roughs. All Dublin knows this. The O’Connell Street affair is -a mere demonstration that the heroes who were to die fighting for tile republic will eventually surrender like their comrades elsewhere. From first to last, the insurrection base been a fiasco, and all its leaders have lost their prestige irretievably. Mr De Valera will never recover his 10-t position, and Kory O’Connor has become a jest, nicknamed “Rory of the Hills.” The Free Stater’s restraint is understood, and 'is approved, and their skill is manifest. Ti e rebels have shown no reluctance to kill. They have not merely pursued human game, sniping arid bombing in streets, but they l ave used diabolical methods, leaving hidden mines to be exploded after they have surrendered under the white flag.

This, struggle might have brought Inland into irremediable anarchy, hut the Government’s wisdom has made it a foolish and wicked fiasco. It will always lie remembered as a discredit to rebel leaders.”