FIERCE BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1921, Page 5

FIERCE BATTLE.

BIGGEST AMBUSH YET. 400 REBELS IN ATTACK. CROWN FORCES OUTNUMBERED. By Tilemph.— Ptmi Assn —Copyright. London, Feb. 25. Seventy members of the Crown forces, travelling in lorries with the object of conducting a round up, were ambushed by 400 Sinn Feiners entrenched in the hills near Macro md. At the first onslaught one auxiliary was killed and six wounded. A fierce pitched, battle ensued, and Major Grant, commanding officer, was killed. The Crown forces were hopelessly outnumbered and withdrew, leaving about ten wounded, who it is presumed are now dead. When the auxiliaries were nearing the base at Macroom the rebels returned to the mountains. Macroom is fortified with machine-guns trained on the roads leading to the town. , The police and military, aided by aeroplanes, are scouring the district. The Sinn Fein casualties are believed to have been heavy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received Feb. 26, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 25. The ambush at Macroom, which is ©ne of the worst centres of the revolutionary movement, is described as the biggest battle which has yet occurred in Ireland. It commenced early in the morning, and continued until two o’clock in the afternoon, and it covered <ive miles of country. The auxiliaries were caught in wild, craggy country. At first they advanced, followed by cars, until three explosions were a signal that the auxiliaries were in a regular death trap, for the road had been mined, and the first two cars Were disabled. The killed included a 3inn Fein hostage in the first ear. Intense rifle and revolver fire from behind boulders followed, and the auxiliaries attacked, but they failed to dis3odge the rebels. One fc ar , however, ©scaped, and reached Macroom, where reinforcements were called up. In the meantime the rebels were continuing a hot running fire as they drove the police back towards Macroom. The auxiliaries here outmanoeuvred the Sinn Feiners, and prevented the latter from «urruunding them, though the rebels were continuously getting nearer and nearer Macroom, now in a state of great alarm. Business was suspended, and the inhabitants were ordered indoors. A wireless call to Cork brought large reinforcements of troops, with Hotchkiss rifles and aeroplanes. The Republicans, however, immediately relinquished the attack and fled to the hills. Received Feb. 27, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 26. Official.—A Dublin communique states that, following upon the ambush of auxiliaries at Macroom, the Royal Fusit tiers carried out a running fight lasting two hours against the rebels, but were forced to relinquish pursuit, owing to the fact that the rebels occupied high ground behind the military. Two civilians were taken prisoner. The military suffered no casualties. Constable Keane, who was wounded at Macroom, died.—Aus and N.Z. Cable Asin. OFFICERS CARRIED OFF. London, Feb. 25. Armed men held up two officers, were returning from fox-hunting, in the village of Liscarroll, Cork, and compelled them to dismount and removed them to an unknown destination. Their riderless horses reached Buttevant Barracks. The Crown forces invested Liscarroll and compelled the villagers to form a civilian guard, informing them that they would be held responsible for the officers’ return.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.