WAR ON REBELS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1922, Page 5

WAR ON REBELS.

POLICY IN IRELAND. NEW LEADERS TO ARRIVE. CARRYING OUT TREATY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, August 26. Mr. Cosgrave has written to Mr. Churchill that, though overwhelmed with sorrow, the successors to Messrs. Griffith and Collins are determined to pursue their policy of carrying out the treaty. The Irish Government declared that Monday should be a day of general mourning. London, August 27. Mr. Churchill on the 24th telegraphed to Mr. Cosgrave: “The death of two of the signatories, the retirement of another, and the desertion of a fourth, in nowise affects the validity or the sanctity of the settlement entered into with the plenipotentiaries of the Irish nation. On the contrary we are sure the Provisional Government and the Irish people will feel it all the more a sacred duty to carry into full effect the act of reconciliation between the two islands. For our part we hold ourselves hound on the treaty basis and will meet good faith with goodwill.” Mr. Cosgrave replied: “President Griffith and General Collins had selected and attracted to whole-hearted co-operation with them a number of colleagues. The Government so formed stood with unswerving consistency to the programme for carrying into the fullest effect, in accordance with the declared wish of the Irish people, the treaty signed by our plenipotentiaries and recommended by President Griffith and General Collins as cffering the fairest hopes for our muchtried people. Their colleagues have the same policy, and. though overwhelmed with sorrow, take up the same task with the same determination and confidence.”

REBELS’ OVERTURES REJECTED. AMBUSH POLICY PURSUED. London, August 26. Soon after Mr. Collins’ death the rebels sent out peace feelers suggesting a truce, but not offering unconditional surrender. Mr. Cosgrave replied: “Tell them justice will be meted out to them at the proper time.” The guerilla campaign continues to be marked by a few shootings in Dublin and elsewhere, and hold-ups of one or two banks-. Captain Kennedy, of the Royal Garrison Artillery, together with an armed escort of seven, stationed at Bere'lsland, went to Castletownbere to fetch the troops pay. When they Landed at Castletownbere the rebels poured in a hail of bullets, to which the soldiers replied, killing or wounding every one of the ambush ers. Captain Kennedy and all his men were wounded. Lonaon. August 27. The rebels are keenly pursuing the policy of ambushing the Free Staters over a widespread area. A partv of Free Staters were surprised at Glenflesk. but defeated the rebels with a loss of twenty killed and eight wounded. Tn an ambush at Glasson. Athlone, Commandant McCormisk, of the Brigade Staff, was shot dead while bandaging a wounded comrade. An act of mad ferocity is reported near Dublin. While a large number of women and children were promenading, a car load of armed men drove up, and in the midst of the crowd nulled out two struggling and screaming men and told them to pray for a few minutes, after which they stood them up against a gate. The victims screamed: “What’s this for’” and horrified women screamed “Show mercy!” Th? rebels fired five shots at each man and dtpart ed. Later a third man. riddled with bullets, was found near by.