CABLE NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

OVERTURES FOR PEACE. HEOIER’S TEI.EOIIAMS. LONDON, July 19. The statemeht is published in Dublin that representatives of the Irregulars .hiive gout l to the Free State headquarters for the pdrpose of discussing peace. This report has produced a hopeful feeling. The seventeen Labour members of the Dail Eireann are also meeting in Dublin on Thursday to discuss peace move. The Free .State Government does not recognise this effort.

REPORTS ON THE FIGHTING. LONDON. July 19. The opposing forces in Limerick are most active It is believed the Free Staters are gaining the upper hand, and that they have captured the rebels’ chief strongholds, hut a climax is approaching. The Mayor of Limerick issued a proclamation recpiesting women, children and elderly people to evacuate the neighbourhood of the borraeks. The Irregulars are still holding out in the western section of the city, and are endeavouring to’ keep open their means of retreat to Mallow and Cork.

The Irregulars ere making elaborate defensive preparations in Cork. Hotel visitors have been turned out. and luggage commandeered for barricades.Steamship services from Liverpool and Glasgow to Limerick are suspended, owing to the danger of looting and sniping which vessels may he subjected to,

Mayo is reported to he on the brink of famine. No vessels rre arriving there.

Several bridges have been blown up in the south aiid’ west of Ireland, ineluding one "cress the Shannon River at Portumna. which cost a hundred thousand;

Tiie Irregulars are looting foodstuffs and commandeering vehicles in the Mid lands and Northern Ireland.

I ater reports state heavy fighting has been in progress in Limerick today. Sniping was general, and many citizens were wounded.

Tlie Free Staters are besieging King John’s Castle, where the rebels are holding out. as the military barracks were destroyed by fire. Six Republicans were killed.

NATIONAL STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS IN IRELAND.

(Received this day at 9.50 a.m.)

LONDON. July 20.

The Irish. Government, giving a statement of the general situation following the pence suggestions recalls outrages of organised bands who for many months flouted the authority of the Goverment daily. The statement proceeds to say that the national forces are supreme in the whole twelve Counties of Leinstfrr and in Monaghan, Cavan, Roscommon, I.eitrim, Clare, they still ha.ve opposition to deal with in Donegal and Sligo and harder work in Galway,•Limerick and Tipperary while Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Mayo a.re in subjection to the Irregulars. The term subjection is used advisedly, for in these Counties the people overwhelmingly favour the Treaty. Irregulars rule there by no other authority than armed force. The safety and future welfare of the nation depend upon the power of the Irregulars being broken. Peace built upon compromise with forces which behaved os Irregulars behaved. would he a peace too costly for tlie Irish nation. Rails' at Rnhnny station near Dublin were torn up, thus severing all communication with northern Ireland. Fierce fighting occurred in Limerick, and Waterford. The Nationals are closing on the rebel strongholds in Limerick, where starvation was averted when the nationals came to the rescue. Artillery fire wa.s directed against the military barracks and gaol occupied by rebels. Waterford City lies on the south bank of the river and the Nationals occupy all the north bank from which they are raining a heavy fire on mutineer positions. Except for combatants, Waterford is deserted the population having fled for safety to Const resorts.