IRISH REVOLT

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1916, Page 5

IRISH REVOLT

BOMBS AND MACHINE GUNS

LOOTING AND PILLAGE

FIGHTING STILL IN PROGRESS

TROOPS ENCIRCLING THE REBELS

WOMEN PARTICIPATE

By Cable—Prod Association—Copyright.

* DRAMATIC NARRATIVE*

BY COLLEGE STUDENT

t THE PIRST WARNING. Received April 30, 5.5 p.m. London, April 29. ' McUermott, a Trinity College student, "When returning from the races to l&blin on Monday we were warned 1 not to go by way of St. Stephen's Green, 1 ; because- -the rebels were seizing all ; Vehicles and' converting them into barricades. We passed the post office, from Which a flSg, bearing the legend "Irish flying. The windows were broken, aUd the building appeared deserted. Two dead cavalry horses were W lying on the roadway outside.

. "Later we were told the rebels had / i the Green, where they had or,trenched, and they had also occupied Home of the surrounding houses and the College of Surgeons. The thoroughfare leading to 'the Green waa barricaded with vehicles.

,SHEETS BABRICADBD. Went down Sackville Street and found tt barricaded with barbed wire, and also cabs and overturned trams. Is a thofpughfare turning out of Sackville Stmt the rebels looted a cycle shop and improvised a barricade with crates ofiftaohinte. (

S&IMNG THE REBELS^ 1 went to Trinity College and was #veh a rifle and cartridge belt, and as.stated to inalntainwatch from the win* <Jow«, where,' with others, I sniped rebels with accuracy, 'About H o'clock fairly heavy fighting waa heard from the direction of the,-Castle. We fired three

rounds at the enemy, who were handicapped through having inferior weapons to ours. Throughout the day the firing came from then first. We learned that the rebels held two newspaper offices Pear the Castle, and a house almost next door.

, BRISK'SIRING ON THE GREEN. "From b o'clock until II in the evening there was fairly brisk firing on St. StepfoefiV Green. ""We despatched pickets up Dame Street, who succeeded in' clearing the rebels from the houses, and this system of attacking the houses with pickets was extended successfully, and . largely , accounted for the effective way ii; fchlch the hostile forces were penned in a ring.

AT LIBERTY HALL. "A section of troops was brought up at 8. o'clock on Wednesday morning to. deal with Liberty Hall, with a couple of small' guns. Shells of small calibre ■were pumped into the building. They did not .ontain high explosives, but within five minutes the building was reduced to a pitiable spectacle. Altogether forty shells struck the building, the first demolishing the green flag Which was floating defiantly above the roof.

MACHINE GUNS USED. "The noise was deafening, and the borobardihent was accompanied by the ceaseless rattle of machine-guns and rifie fire. Tfca rebels bad evidently withdrawn by the back way, and did not rcyly to the fire. The troops dashed forward with fixed bayonets and established themselves in the ruins, the whole {wilding having crumbled under the bombardment.

"Upon the top of Trinity College soldiers were posted with a machine-gun in a window, and fought a duel with the rebels in the houses "in Sackville 'Street, who also were armed with a machine-gun, hut the latter made ineffective fire." McDermott states that he heard a ma-chine-gun had. been turned upon the rebel* on St. Stephen's Green from the Shetbourne Hotel. When McDermott jfntDublin sbe situation was well under «*tn>r

POST OFFICE STILL OCCUPIED.

The Daily Chronicle correspondent at 'Dublin, reporting on Thursday, said: '■The rebels still hold Jacob's 'biscuit factory, whose roof commands the [ Castle, and also occupy the Post Office, Pour Courts, and Amiens Street railway station. Desultory sniping from the loofs continues, but as the general conditions are returning to normal the authorities are unwilling to destroy property from which it is necessary to evict the rebels, ■ DUBLIN WITHOUT TRAINS.

The rest of the country is quiet. Dublin has been without trains Bince Tuesday. The attempts of the Sinn Feiners to arouse Cork and Limerick have 'been fruitless, and telephones and telegraphs throughout the country are under military control.

A PRISONER. It is reported that 'Professor John MacNeill, Chief of Staff of the Irish volunteers, has been 'held a prisoner flinee Monday, whether by the authorities or the insurgents is unknown. MacNeill repeatedly warned the more active of the Sinn Feiners against the evil consequence of their policy, and enlisted the support of the Archbishop of Armagh, who, through the clergy, circulated MacNeill's warning on Sunday.

OBTAINING EXPLOSIVES Other accounts state that a number of armed Sinn Feiners on Sunday held up a quarry. The overseer's wife obtained the keys of the explosive store, from whence was removed a motor-car load of explosives,

THE CITIZEN ARSrt. The first part of the revolt was kindled in Phoenix Park on Monday morning, when a so-called citizen army held a review parade, i'hey marched with loaded rifles and fixed bayonets, and were afterwards addressed by certain of their leaders.

THE FIRST SHOTS. Thence they marched to the city. On entering the outskirts they met some of the Dublin garrison, marching the other way.i Two men in the front rank of the citizens' army levelled their rifles and fired at the soldiers. Two officers and several men fell, but the soldiers avenged their murder and three Sinn Feiners fell at a shot. This was the signal for a general revolt. There was desultory fighting here and there on the outskirts of the town for the purpose of diverting the military's attention from the Sinn Feiners,

POST OFFICE ATTACKED. The chief attacks were directed on the iPost Office, Dublin Castle, and the centre of the town. All the telegraphic machines were immediately smashed and telephones dismantled. The Sinn Fein civil servants brandished bayonets and fired ball cartridges. A detachment of troops was told off to deal with these, and fighting raged through the ground floor of the great building. After a wild and furious resistance the rebels were cleared out at the bayonet point, but -they were then reinforced and renewed the attack, and the Post Office changed hands several times in the course of the day and night.

VSSAULT ON THE CASTLE. The attack on the Castle was a tough proposition. The rebels captured and fortified a workhouse in South Dublin, wherefrom they poured a persistent fire on the soldiers. The main operations were directed from Liberty Hall, where large quantities of ammunition were stored i(i the cellars and were distributed to various points. •LOOTING B AMP ANT, The enemy stormed aorvs the O'Connell Bridge into Sackville Street, looting a dozen shops, and they commandeered and looted Jacob's 'biscuit fac*7*

LIBRARY BOOKS AS BARRICADE.

All tramcars were seized "by the enemy, ami early in the fight- Four Courts fell to the enemy. The great library was dismantled, the books being used a.3 ramparts, There was wholesale looting. A great deal of sniping occurred in Grafton Street, and there was also a titter struggle for possession of the Shelbourne Hotel, but the soldiers drove the rebels out and trained machine-guns from the balcony upon the enemy entrenchments at St. Stephen's Green.

CITY IN DARKNESS. The city at night was in complete darkness, all lamps being out or smashed. Traffic entirely ceased. At dawn reinforcements arrived, and with a gunboat shelling Liberty Hall the tide turned in the troops' favor, 42,000 REBELS. It is estimated that the rebel force numbered twelve thousand, whereof two thousand belonged to the citizen army, which was made up of Larkinites. A BRAVE GIEI^ A. sixteen-year-old Irish girl, in the fece of a hail of snipers' bullets, dragged two wounded soldiers to a place of i safety.

REBELS' DASTARDLY ACT. The rebels' worst act was that of firing on a company of general reservist? who were marching back to town after a parade inarch. The reservists were mostly elderly men and were unarmed. As they passed a house at the corner of Northumberland Road and Haddington Road the rebels blazed out at 50 yards' range. Five of the reservists fell, and four of them are dead, including Browning, an international footballer. CORNER HOUSE WARFARE.

Corner house warfare was largely adopted by the rebels, the houses commanding two or more streets. They seized many quarters of the town, the occupants being bundled out and the furniture being used as ramparts. These corner houses have been defended resolutely, and caused many casualties to the troops.

:M THE HATED KHAKI. The looters obtained some thousands cf pounds worth of jewellery from MacHowell's shop, while other shops were gutted and the contents thrown into the streets. The rebels occupied the Metropole Hotel, and fired on every khaki uniform to be seen. The rebels have to be dug out or stormed out, and there must be more bloodshed.

The troops took Davies' wine store by a frontal attack, smashed the doors and Leset the place so hotly that the rebels jumped through the plate glass windows to escape their fury. BOMBS IN USE. It is rumored that the Post Office has been retaken 'by soldeirs using smoke bombs.

Some rebels who were carrying a box of explosives in Mount Street were killed through the box exploding. Jacob's biscuit factory, another stronghold, is occupied by hundreds of rebels, who have ramparts of sacks of flour and stacks of 3Ugar. They are making good rifle practice on the attackers, but two guns are now trained on the building, bombarding it.

THE CORDON TIGHTENS. DISTURBANCES ELSEWHERE. Official: The cordon is tightening round the rebels, who are confined to their barricades. Considerable damage has been done by fires, and a large one is still burning in Sackville Street. Disturbances are reported from Galway, Enniscorthy, ICillarney, Clonmcl, and Gorey.

THE REBEL COMMANDER. It is reported that four hundred rebels have been taken prisoner at St. Stephen's Green. The Central News states that the commander of the rebels is .Tamer. Connolly, a notorious Syndicalist, who wit Larkin's lieutenant and commander-in-chief.

A communique states that the operations at Dublin are proceeding satisfactorily. The organised forces of rebels are confined to a few localities, principaly in the Sackville Stijeet district. The rebels' headquarters are at the Post Office.

HOPING THEM l'~. The cordon round tlie district Ims been drawn closer, and the rebels are now confined behind their line of barricades. Sniping from houses wherein small parties of rebels have established themselves, in various parts of the city, still continues, and is most prevalent northwest of Four Courts, which is still in possession of the rebels. The clearance of the snipers is only a matter of time.

•DAMAGE BY FIRES. There was- considerable damage by ■ires on the 27th, and a large one is still burning in Sackville Street. LOCAL DISTURBANCES. The principal sceneß of further disturbances are in County Galway and in Enniscorthy, while disturbances are also reported from Killarney, Clonmel and Gorey. Matters appear normal elsewhere. The general trend of the reports indicates that the disturbances are local .in character-

A WOMAN'S STORY.

iAn English woman relates that on Monday, all the morning, armed and uniformed Sinn Feiners were walking about the city, the authorities not taking any notice. At noon the first rifle lire was

heard in the vicinity of St. Stephen's Green, which the Sinn Feiners stormed, closing the gates in the vicinity, and digging trenches from which they fired upon unsuspecting and unarmed soldiers and police, who were ignorant of events. An insurgent volley killed a policeman, a girl, and a baby in arms. A machine-gun's rattle wis audible amid the rifle fire. It is understood that it was posted on a roof of a corner building at the Green and was firing on the soldiers in the Shelbourne Hotel, who defended themselves fiercely. The rebels raided Westland Row railway station, pointing rifles at the officials; ordering them to clear out. They then seized the money, firing constantly, apparently with a view to terrorising the people.

Trinity College, a noted loyalist stronghold, was barricaded and gallantly defended by armed students. The witness was told that several thousands of Sinn Feiners were under arms, and there was much looting by larrikins.

ANOTHER NARRATIVES, RETURNING FROM THE RACES. 'Another witness relates that while returning from the racecourse they were stopped 'outside the city l>y the news that tile rails 'had been torn up. There was an unusual number of officers on the race trains, and they were specially warned not to go into the city, as they would be killed. The warning was ridiculed, and two were shot dead from windows while riding in Sackville Street. There was little or no street fighting of a definite character, or between compact bodies of soldiers and rebela in the open.

SINN FEINERS' TACTICS. j The rebels seemed to mass in strength once they got hold of the Post Office, and with a wild dash they swept up the load towards the Castle. The Sinn Feiners showed masterly tactics,, and by the seizure of the Post Office, St. Stephen's Green, and Kelly's Court they covered the approach oi the troops from Portobello barracks. SIEGE OF THE OASTLE. The assault on the Castle lasted 24 hours, but the 'besiegers had not progresed beyond the forecourt, which they seized. (Later, troops from Phoenix IPark relieved the Castle guard and raised the assault.

The/ Sinn Feiners bivouacked on St. Stephen's Green, trenching and sandbagging. Immediately any point was captured, the rebels hoisted the flag of the Irish Republic, which is green, white, and yellow, with a harp. It is stated that there were £7,000 in the Post Office when the rebels seized the building.

'LOOTING AND PILLAGING. The community has suffered from the [Silage, there is a shortage of 'tread. The rebels rushed Guinness's brewery, but were ejected. They also collared one of the largest mills in the city, but were driven out after a lot of damage. When the fighting was at its height on Tuesday night fires broke out in Sackville Street, but whether by accident or design is unknown. The rebels lived from the Green until they cleared the- streets.

MANY CASUALTIES. Numbers of people were killed and many wounded. The civilians suffered equally with the military and police. A piiest pluckily rescued a wounded man in Dame Street under fire.

TITLED LADY A REBEL LEADER. A striking figure in the rebellion is an elderly woman, stated to be of high title, who is attired in green tunic and trousers. She carried a rifle and fixed b?.vonet, and is stated to be a Sinn Fein leader. The rebel force is composed Mostly of young men.

CHANGE IN EXECUTIVE PROBABLE,

Received April 30, 5.5 p.m. London, April 29. The Daily Chronicle says that changes in the Irish Executive are likely, but lord Wimbovne, who has aeted with vigor and initiative, will remain as Viceroy. A NOTICE OF MOTION. 'Received April 30, 5.5 p.m. London, April 2S. In the House of Commons, Mr; 11. Craik gave notice of a resolution in favor of petitioning the King to suspend I.ord Wimborne and Mr. Birrell, and for appointing a commission to inquire into their administration of affairs.

THE LATEST REPORT., FIGHTING STILL CONTINUES. Received April 30, 11.5 p.m. London, April 30. Friday night's report from Dublin states that troop 3 were arriving. All day there had been intermittent fighting, with disadvantage to the rebels, principally around Jacob's facory, which the rebels had stocked with food on Monday evening. The building is now afire. Connolly issued passports to persons desirous of leaving Dublin, signed, "Commandant, Irish Republican Army."

WOMEN WITH THE REBELS,

Some women, carrying bandoliers of ammunition, inarched alongside the rebels. There was considerable looting in Sackville Street. The rebels established themselves in shops, and sold boots to women for threepence a pair, and are giving them away to the poor. THE MILITARY'S DISADVANTAGE. The flat roofs are affording the rebels scope for their tactics. They lie flat or else hide behind the chimneys, from thence firing on the soldiers, who have little chance of replying, A REBEL RUSE. Rebels in the outlying districts practised the' ruse when the military appeared of pretending to be watering their gardens, but immediately the soldiers passed the hose became rifles, and many soldiers were shot in this way. AT JACOBS' FACTORY. There was free lighting in the neighbourhood of Jacobs' factory between Loyalist women and rebel women who were trying to get food into the garrison. Fifteen hundred rebels entered Jacobs' building, while the three thousand workers were holiday-making, and there were only a few cleaners and repairers on the premises.

LOOTING GALORfi, The ordinary rabble in the looting, and practically every shop in Grafton Street was cleared. Women and girls held their aprons and dresses, as baskets, to receive jewellery and watches.

SIR. R. CASEMENT. DETAILS OP ARREST. London, April 28. The Daily Chronicle says that it is probable Sir Roger Casement impressed the German Government with an exalted idea of his influence and the followers he would secure if placed at their head in Ireland.

Suspicion was aroused by the presence of a powerful motor-car at a point little frequented by tourists, and the coastguards were on the alert. A small boat, apparently coming from nowhere, was seen making shoreward. Two men were rowing and three others sat at the stern. All were taken prisoner as they stepped ashore. The officer in charge of the patrol recognised one and said, "You are Sir Roger Casement," and he replied, "I am; I have come to do my duty." During his conveyance to England Sir Roger Casement gave his guards the impression of supreme vanity, suggesting that lie was the head and front of any rebellion that was possible, and that without him it must speedily collapse.

It is clear that the motor-oar, which was the same that plunged over the bridge at Killorglin, was intended to convey Sir Roger Casement to Dublin. BIRRELL THE SCAPEGOAT. London, April 2S. The Express and other Unionist newspapers than the Northcliffe group consure Mr. Birrell or demand liu resignation.

The Daily Graphic says Hip pn!> : :» will not tolerate Mr. Birrell'a remsinin;.'- in office.

VON IGEL'S PAPERS. GIVE AWAY CASEMENT. Received April 30, 5.5 p.i'u. New York, April 29. It is reported oil good authority that von Igel'a papers contained details of the Dublin riot, and tdiese revelations contributed to Casement's arrest.

VIEWS OF FOREIGN PRESS. JUBILATION TN IRISH-AMERICAN CIRCLES.

Times and Sydney Sun services. Received April 29, 5.5 p.m. London, April 28. The whole world is impressed at the dramatic events in Ireland. Practically the whole of the Allied, American, ■Dutch, and Spanish press agree that Casement's escapade and the subsequent rebellion are the outcome of German influence and money, and are forecasting that it will end in complete failure.

The American Sinn Fein and Clan-na-Gael separatists are jubilant, and are flooding the newspapers with exaggerated statements of the extent of the trouble. They have issued a flamboyant announcement that, a mass meeting is to be held on Sunday on behalf of the widows and orphans of the "Dublin martyrs," and protesting against Casement's execution, but sane Irish-Ameri-can opinion regrets that the splendid war record of Irish regiments has been marred by crack-brained extremists. Prominent New York' Irishmen are calling a mass meeting of sympathy with Mr.. Redmond, and to show American people the true Irish attitude. A section of the German-American papers is publishing letters from Irishmen saying it .would be a good thing if Germany captured Ireland, and that many patriotic; Irish would aid in the attempt.

ARCHBISHOP BLAMES BRITAIN. Sydney, April 20. Referring to the Irish rebellion, Archfoibsop Kelly said the Government fallowed hesitating lines of action regarding Home Rule and furnished an occasion for the propagation of disaffection. The rebellion wag an untimely ebullition*