IRISH BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1922, Page 5

IRISH BATTLE.

TUSSLE IN A VILLAGE. LANDING OF TROOPS. THE REBELS TRAPPED, MANY CASUALTIES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, June 5. The Enniskillen correspondent of the Belfast Telegraph states that Pettigo (Donegal) was taken at the bayonetpoint, and at least 30 Republican troops killed. As the British entered the village the Republicans machine-gunned them, and the British replied with artillery. After the first shell some Republicans fled, but the machine-gunners continued till wiped out. Four shells fell behind the village in the midst of a party of fleeing Republicans, inflicting heavy losses. The British troops secretly landed on Boa Island and were transferred to the mainland at night time. They caught the retreating Republicans in the rear like rats in a trap. After the more timid of the Republicans fled to the hills only 100 remained to defend the village from a barricade at the end of the bridge. The British rushed the barricade with bayonets and captured snipers, and the artillery then joined in. A military communique issued at Enniskillen states: “In consequence of the continued aggression of the so-called Free State troops in the Pettigo salient it was decided that Imperial troops should occupy the same. Operations continued on Saturday and Sunday by land and water, and resulted in the military occupying the salient for about a mile from the frontier in order to secure the high ground. The military lost one killed, and the other side is known to have lost seven kille* and 16 prisoners. “In order to dislodge snipers in the hills it was necessary to fire six rounds of high explosive shells. The actual fighting lasted from 11 o clock till 4 on Sunday.” It was only when the rebels fired on the British from a wood in the Pettigo district that the artillery shelled the wood. A shell killed six rebels find three others were killed in the attack on Pettigo village. The first six-pounder shell fired into the Pettigo wood caused the rebels to take to their heels and only four more were necessary to complete the debacle. The countryside is swarming with British soldiers, accompanied by whippet tanks.

The American steamer Seattle Spirit was held up at Tralee by a British sloop. It is reported that a large quantity of ammunition was on board, which was seized.

There is considerable naval activity at Chatham. Several ships are under orders for.an unknown destination, presumably Ireland. It is likely that when the Irish Conference resumes the chief point of discussion will be on the point whether Ireland, like the other Dominions, will submit all constitutional questions for final decision to the Privy Council, instead of to the Irish Court of Appeal, as the draft constitution suggests. LOOTERS ACTIVE. London, June 5. While the Republicans did not show violence towards the residents of Pettigo they looted extensively. Female sympathisers with the rebels entered the shops of local drapers, helped them- • selves and paraded the streets in stolen finery. When the British took possession of the salient every farmhouse displayed the Union Jack. Aeroplanes are patrolling the LouthArmagh border.

THE COALITION AGREEMENT. London, June 5. Messrs Collins and de Valera had an hour’s conference at the Dublin Mansion House and then issued a joint statement that the coalition agreement had been unanimously accepted by Dail Ardfheis, because it considered co-operation was the best means of ensuring a peaceable and ordered Government and securing the nation against the dangers which threaten it from without. They must remember that the country w’as still in a transitional state and that it was impossible to act as if stable conditions had been reached.