The Washington herald., 1920-06-24
IRISH STREETS
CHOKED WITH
DEAD AND DYING
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been distributed among Unionists.
during the past fortnight
From Londonderry the corre-
spondents report they are virtually
beleaguered. Heavy delay in get
ting out our dispatches is expected.
There has been no abatement in
the fighting. AS the night wears on
II grows more furious Both sides
have replenished their ammunition.
The hospitals are filled with
" ounded and there are many dead.
Sim Feiners marching in from
the southern part of County Derry
(same as Londonderry now occupy
the heights overlooking the city.
They are sending a whitening rife
fire into the Unionist quarters.
Snipers late today mounted the
spire of the ancient cathedral and
picked off several soldiers. This
forced the military 10 entrench.
Government troops arrived in
time. however. to prevent an at
tack on the gas works.
Destroyer I'm Harbor.
A destroyer has just cast anchor
in the harbor, close to shore. A
fresh regiment arrived on a special
train late this afternoon.
Machine guns were brought into
play at 10 p. m. tonight. Another
night of terror seems certain. Ter
rife fighting is going on in all the
main thoroughfares.
Many streets have been swept
with murderous fire for sixteen
hours continuously.
The number of dead and wound
ed is growing at an appalling rate.
The Unionists hold the road from
Carrigans to Derry and are strong
ly entrenched in a number of near
by woods.
A group of women made a heroic
sally through the lead swept streets,
carrying wounded away on stretch
erS.
Priests Organize Guard.
Residents in the fighting area
are taking the, risk of rushing
through the bullet swept streets
toward the quieter quarters of the
city rather than remain indoors
where they are in constant danger.
for few windows and doors are left
intact in the battle area.
Priests today organized a civil
guard to protect property.
Ordinary trains were unable to
enter or leave the city today with
the exception of one which carried
hundreds Of refugees. mostly old
men with women and children, TAX
ing with them only the clothes on
their backs.
Late this afternoon, artillerymen
arrived with a battery of six-inch
guns.
The postoffice staff was removed
from the town under military es-
cort.
Today's death roll is the highest
since the reign of terror began.
The government announced in the
House Of Commons late today that
there are now 1.500 soldiers and $50
police in Londonderry, and that I'VE
are prepared to send more"
Arthur Griffith. acting Irish Pres
ident, sent out this statement to-
night:
The Londonderry riots have no
origin. They are part of
m Collusion with persons of emil
"
ants of the English government in
Ireland
Call Situation Desperate.
Magistrates and leading citizens
in towns all over Ireland are hour
~ bombarding the government with
urgent requests for additional
forces TO maintain law and order.
One message said:
The situation is desperate. Food
will be exhausted in a short time.
The troops promised are wholly
inadequate. Martial law should be
proclaimed at once"
Londonderry continues in the
grip of a reign of terror. with ev-
cry street a battlefield and every
and housetop a snipers'
rest. Dead and wounded lie scat
tered at many points. Fighting
goes on furiously, and the nom
part of the populace
lives in dread as to what the night
will bring.
Organized Irish volunteers en-
tered the fray for the first time to-
day. No British military rein
forcements have yet arrived. but
strong bodies of troops are known
to be on the way.
Troops Detraining.
From Coleraine, some thirty
miles northeast of the city, comes
word that battalion of Chesire
troops detrained there because
their commander feared the train
would be wrecked. The battalion
is on the march hither.
Every street is. barricaded. In
some veritable trenches have been
dug. Sandbags and bsrbed wire are
IN evidence everywhere. Some of
the sniping battles are fought from
behind barricades only forty yards
apart.
LootIng Is Widespread.
The human jackals that thrive on
war have begun to ply
their morbid trade; looting is wide
spread and so is the boarding of
food. Women and children are
feeinE in pitiable hordes to neigh
boring towns. Most of the embat-
tied Unionists and Nationalists have
discarded their clothing except
trousers and shirts.
Toward noon today the National
lists scored a victory over the