GLARE REDDENS THE SKY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1916, Page 5

GLARE REDDENS THE SKY.

REBELS SELL LIVES DEARLY. MACHINE-GUNS AND ARTILLERY USED. Received May ), 7.30 p.m. London, April 30. The Daily Chronicle states that at Dublin on Friday the sky was reddened by the glare of burning buildings in Sackville Street, no such scene having been witnessed in the United Kingdom since the sack of Bristol. All tlirough Thursday night the glare hung over the city, with an incessant growl of rifle firing and clatter of machine-guns. The rebels erected barricades in Abbey dearly. It is possible they will have swept all the streets round the north wall with machine-guns, whereof they have two or three. We replied with concentrated machine-guns and field pieces. Meanwhile, we could hear the sound of distant fighting in Sackville Street.

The rebels erected barricaes in Abbey Street, across the end of Sackville Street, near the Parnell statue, across Bachelors' Walk, near Brntkin Bridge over the Liffey, in Gable Street, and Mary Street. All the barricades have been taken frontally.

POST OFFICE CLEARED. ROOF BLOWN OFF BY SHELLS. Amid a dropping lire from the surrounding houses the rebels were dislodged from the post office by shell fire, the roof being blown off. ' A great area of houses and shops in Sackville Street was burnt, the whole side of the street from the Imperial Hotel to the bridge has gone. The fire has taken Eden Quay to North Earl Street, and to the custom house. A fire is raging in North Earl Street, and Marlborough Street. REBELS DON WOMEN'S GARB. In desperation, the rebels are shedding their uniforms and donning women's dress. Some are armed with shot-guns, shot having replaced the ugly pieces of steel inflicting jagged wounds. The rebels are using grenades inflicting frightful injuries. THE CASUALTIES. It is : difficult to estimate the casualties. The troops have probably lost seven officers, twenty-five killed, and many wounded. Some fighting is proceeding in Gahvay, and minor affairs in Meath and Lough.

REBEL RUSES.

SPLENDID BEHAVIOUR Of CIVILIANS. MR. BIRRELL'S REPORT, Received May 1, 10.55 p.m. London, May 1.

Mr. Birrell, interviewed by Knglish journalists, said: "The difficulty of dealing with the rebels is that they snipe from the windows and roofs, often of houses of respectable citizens who are not connected with the rebellion, and when a house is surrounded they leave their rifles and bandoliers and come out aj ordinary citizens. It is impossible to estimate the rebel losses or the number of dead civilians, but there are ■not many civilians. The population of Dublin behaved admirably, no sympathy being shown with the rebels, though there was some looting, beginning principally with food. The military are now rationing the city. Fighting' is proceed■ing in several places in the counties of Galway and Wexford."

GERMANY'S COMPLICITY. A PLOT THAT FAILED.

Mr. Birrell further stated: "We are quite certain that the German Government is connected with the movement. The whole thing was timed for the arrival of Casement's ship, which was sent cut by Germany. Casement himself accompanied the ship, though he was not actually aboard her. The arrival of the ship was timed to coincide with the attack on Yarmouth and Lowestoft, and the outbreak of the' revolt in Dublin, and the main object was to divert troops from-the Continent to Ireland. The rebels are -using a job lot of rifles. We believe that- there was 110 decision to make tire rising until Monday morning, when the rebels comidered that their organisation was shaken by Casement's arrest.

The rising in the provinces did not occur until after that at Dublin, and as the rebels had not cut the wire to Curragh'they AVfere never in a position to be a hiilitdry menace in tSydney Street oil a: large' scale, and they never had a chance ' after ' the arrival of the troops."

SOME SAD INCIDENTS. THE; CORDON CONTRACTING deceived May 1, 11.25 p.m. London, May 1. Some of the saddest incidents in Dublin were in connection with the arrival of soldiers wlio were on leave, and who were unable to reac htheir houses and were forced to return to France without knowing if their relatives were dead !• or alive. Several wanted to stay and | fight the Sinn Feiners. Two cordons of troops have encircled Dublin. The. first is round the greater part'of .the. .city,, and. the second is •around the heart, of it.. The first cor'don is stationary,. while the inner one is ever contracting as the troops clear the houses.. Every house must be searched, and the. inhabitants interned, otherwise it is impossible to stop snipers. . , .

SNIPING PROCEEDS. There are many snipers in the church towers. If the rebels are not strongly fortified the soldiers attack by rifle fire, and'when at close quarters parties of bombers charge, effecting destruction. Haiid grenades are used elsewhere, and Bin. guns are also used, which are arriving daily. MANY FIRES. There are fires in several parts of the •city, the rebels often being responsible for them, hoping to escape under cover of the smoke. One spirit store that ■was afire on Friday night presented a wonderful spectacle, long tongues of ,flame shooting up to the sky and" illuminating tlie city. AMMUNITION DEPOT BLOWN UP. There was a big explosion at midnight that destroyed the rebels' largest ammunition depot, killing many men. This had much to do with the rebels' wurcader,