REBELS NOT MOVED.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1922, Page 5

REBELS NOT MOVED.

A STUBBORN RESISTANCE. BATTLE AREA GROWING ARTILLERY BATTER COURTS REBELS AMBUSH TROOPS Received June 29, 8.30 p.m. London, June 29. The four courts and other buildings were still in rebel occupation at midnight, when fighting was proceeding in many districts, snipers, machine-guns and field guns operating intermittently. The Daily Chronicle’s special correspondent travelled by aeroplane to and from Dublin. He understands that county and Dublin Republican regiments are mobilising for the purpose of relieving the four courts’ garrisons. The Free State’s task of reducing the fortress demands much artillery, of which two guns are available. It will thus take a long time to accomplish the task. Rory O’Connor somehow contrives to issue inflaming bulletins describing the fight and appealing to passion. It is recognised the Government’s authority depends upon to-night’s events. Anxiety centres around the Free State troops, who are loyal and courageous, but lack experience. The general belief is that Rory O’Connor will not surrender till the four courts are battered and demolished. Although the fighting is mainly confined to the four courts’ area, sniping is extending afield. Independent Workers of the World, and other Communists, who have a hall behind the Fowler Hall, are co-operating with the irregulars and have fortified their hall. An urgent message has been issued to the Republican forces to rally to the defence of their various positions. De Valera declines to make a statement regarding the situation. The rebels set fire to Fowler Hall before evacuating the building. It is reported a priest was shot dead. The gates at the main entrance to the four courts have now been blown down, and the walls of the main building are badly smashed bv artillery, more of which has been brougnt into action. The rebels, on evacuating Fowler Hall, retreated to Moran’s Hotel and barricaded themselves in. The affected area has thus been extended, and sniping is general throughout the city, through which rebels seem to be scattered. Rory O’Connor has sent the following message: “We received the Government's demand for our surrender by 4 a.m., when they would attack with rifles, machine-guns and field piece' Our boys are glorious, and will fight for the Republic to the end. How long will our misguided former comrades outside attack those who stand for Ireland alone? We have three slight casualties so far. Fathers Albert and Dominic are with us. Our love to ali comrades oatside and to the brave boys of the Dublin brigade.” There were several ambushes of Free State troops while passing through the streets in open lorries. Men in civilian clothes waited at corners with rifles and bandoliers, and these fired whenever they got a chance. One lorry carrying wounded was fired on when it arrived at a hospital, but none of the occupants were bit. A civilian, however, was shot dead. A lorry carrying Free State officers was ambushed, bombed and smashed, in Leeson Street. AH the occupants were* badly wounded, and two are unlikely to recover. As the day wore on the Free State troops were reinforced and more field guns were brought. Ten lorry loads of troops came from Germanstown. It is believed several hundred irregulars are trying to get to Dublin to reinforce O’Connor, but the roads are guarded and all stations are being watched. STATEMENT BY DE VALERA. THE ENGLISH BLAMED. Received June 29, 9.10 pan. London, June 29. De Valera, in a statement, says: “At the last meeting of the Dail, I said an agreement had been ratified which, if faithfully observed and given the opportunity of working, would produce internal peace and make the nation strong against the only enemy it had to fear outside. The agreement has been broken in the bidding of the English, and Irishmen to-day are shooting in the streets of the capital their brother Irishmen, old comrades-in-arms and companions in the struggle of Ireland for independence and its embodiment of a Republic. “English propaganda will strive to blame Irishmen for this war, and the world outside must not be deceived. In face of England’s threat some of our countrymen yielded. The men now being attacked by the forces of the Provisional Government refused to yield, preferring to die. They are the best and bravest of the nation, unwilling that Irish independence should be abandoned under the lash of an alien Government.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ALL-NIGHT BATTLE. THE REBELS HOLDING OUT. Received June 29, 11.20 p.m. London, June 29, Heavy firing continued all night in Dublin. O’Connor is holding out. Colonel Moundenville and Captain Vaughan, Free Staters, were ambushed and fatally wounded this morning.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SENSATIONAL REPORT. MASSACRE PLANNED. Received June 29, 9.10 p.m. Paris, June 28. La Petite Gironde, a Bordeaux newspaper, publishes an interview with Mrs. Mcßride, a widow of Mcßride, who was executed in the Dublin rebellion. She declares that Protestants in Belfast have arranged for the wholesale massacre of Roman Catholics on July 12.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.