THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1922, Page 3

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

BIG BATTLE ON. LONDON, July 28. An important a|ncl widespread fight appears to be in progress on the Cork road ,which is so barricaded and mined, that the Local Government Board has appealed to all the clergy prominent residents to assist them by labour and influence in removing the obstacles so as to help the Free State troops to advance. , Scraps of information allowed t to filter through the rigid censorship suggest that the .Free Staters are not now meeting with uniform success. One statement declared that the W road is -so hazardous and perilous that no army could ever achieve a final victory in such circumstances, without meeting with some reverse. Another statement is that the rebel positions have been bombarded with machine guns, and that the utmost heroism was displayed by the troops and by civilians, the latter assisting to bring in the dead and wounded tinder a most intense rifle and machine gun fire. , The rebels are unwilling to adopt the offensive. , , The later report stated that some Irish rebels ambushed a party of Free Statrs at Olenties ,in Donegal, at mid night. The Free Staters were led into a trap by the rebel leader, who was dressed as a priest, Two Free Staters Were kißed. Four rebels were captur- . ed and oife wouiidetL Oscar Traynor, who was a. leader m the 1916 Irish rebellion, and was prominent during the Four Courts operations, has been captured in Dublin.

REPUBLICANS RESIST STRONGLY LONDON. July 2/.

In the south of Ireland the Free Staters are now meeting strong opposition. They are advancing warily in a region where the roads lire either impassable or mined.

HOW PRISONERS ESCAPED. LONDON, July 27,

In connection with the escape of a large number of prisoners at Dundalk it was due to a mine explosion. A mine wa s laid, under cover of darkness, and cleverly connected with the Dundalk electric supply. When it fired, a tremendous explosion shook the town, and smashed windows over a wide radius. The gaol walls " ere of. the thickest, but a breach was made sufficient to enable the prisoners to escape in single file. Fifty were recaptured in the evening, including a wounded Brigadier. Simultaneously ■ with the Dundalk explosion, extensive rebel operations were carried out elsewhere. Roads were blocked in various directions, and railway signal boxe s were set afire. BAIL FURTHER PROROGUED LONDON. July 27The Dail Eireann lias been prorogued for a further fortnight*. LAND-OWNER. SHOT. LONDON. July 27.

Mr Sylvester Kerr, a large landowner at one time High Sheriff of King’s County, was found shot dead in front of his residence at Edonderry.