FIERCE BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1922, Page 5

FIERCE BATTLE.

OUTBREAK IN DUBLIN. ATTACK. ON REBELS. STRONGHOLD ASSAULTED. MANY CASUALTIES. By Teiefr&ph.—Pre*« Ajssh.—Copyright. deceived June 28, 10.45 pm. London. June 28. Since dawn a fierce battle has been raging in Dublin between Dail troops •nd irregulars for possession of the Four Courts. Many casualties are reported. Armoured cars, treneh mortars and machine guns are in action. A loud explosion preceded the firing about the Four Courts. The garrison in the Fowler Memorial Hall refused to •urrender. The copper dome of the Four Courts has been blown in. The battle is expected to last all day. DEFENCE OF THE COURTS. GARRISON OF THREE HUNDRED. ELABORATE BARRICADES. Received June 28, 923 p.m. London, June 27. The Irish Provisional Government is heeding Mr. Churchill's warning as regards the rebel occupation of the four courts. The garrison, of whom there are three hundred, are building a natural stronghold, elaborately sandbagged, wired and barricaded with law books, while all approaches are covered by loopholes, and machine-guns are placed on the roof. It is not believed the Free State regulars will directly assault the position, but will render the buildings untenable by cutting off the water. The authorities are embarrassed by the fact thafr the four courts contain national records. The mutineers possess high explosives, and it would not be difficult for them to destroy the buildings. Measures against the four courts would, inevitably provoke trouble in the provinces, where the main strength of the republicans lies. The Government’s task, therefore, is not an easy one.— !Aua.-N-Z. Cable Assn.