The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-12-15
British Policy of Reprisal Gull
inmates in Terrible
- Outrage
HEART OF IRISH
CITY DEVASTATED
Fire Started in Revenge For
Shooting of Constables by Sim
Feiners--Loss Estimated to
Be $15,O0O,00O

BY The Associated Press.
London. Dc. 13.---British regulars
stood guard today over the blackened
ruins left. by the fires which swept
!. through, Cork, Ireland. Charges are
made that police .,auxiliaries. mad
dencd by the killing OF their COM
rades by anhushed Sim Feiners. loos,
ed the fire demon on the city with a
loss estimated at $4,000. 900. The ter
rorized districts are now quiet. with
military ordered to shoot looters on
sight. '...
Dublin. Dee. IL (By the Associated
Press). Several large sections Of
Cork we're devastated by fire Satur-
day night ana today. The conhagra-
tion followed the shooting from am
bush of military party Saturday.
On the south bank of the river Lee
the Carnegie library. the corn ex-
change and other buildings were
RACED by the fire While In the terri
tory between the northern and south
ern branches OF the river much
havoc was wrought by flames In the
business section.
Late this evening IL was reported
that the fire was under control, but
II was said that the damage
c done by the flames was .cstimtaed at
between 100000 and 5000. 900
pounds sterling.
Dublin. Dec. ,12.--Severai blocks of
buildings In the heart Of the busi-
ne<D district OF Cork were destroyed
by fire during. the night. constituting
tho costliest destruction OF property
s'nce the roprisals began In Ireland.
group OF public. buildings on AL
bert Quay. including the city hall,
the Carnegie library and portion
OF the corn exchange also were burn
|. 60. - we'll a. private residences In
various parts OF the city. Early es-
Inmates place the damage at between
100000 and 100000 pounds ster-
ling.
The fires extended TO st. Patrick's
street. from Cook street to Maylor
street. and swept entire rows OF
buiidinssson both sides of Winthrop
street.
IL was reported from Cork yester-
dayp afternoon that newly arrived
parties OF auxiliary cadets marched
through tho streets holding up and
searching pedestrians and firing into
the air following the ambush or aux
iliaries within half mile of the
barracks. IL OF them being wounded
by a bomb thrown from lorry.
Between z and o'clock a period
OF intense quiet fell on the city but
near o'clock uniformed men began
TO display great activity I'm various
parts OF Cork. At some points tram
cars were held up and passengers
taken out. IL was reported that n
number were beaten and others placed
against the walt and closely ques-
toned but were finally allowed to
proceed.
In the Summer Hill district, the
scene OF the ambush shortly after
curfsw, two brothers named Delaney
are reported TO have been taken from
their homes and shot. one fatally.
During the hour before curfew ter
rorism held sway and when the
streets were emptied OF civilians.
loud explosions and rifle and revolver
shots kept up. until early morning.
The explosions appeared TO come from
incendiary bombs. as persons who
ventnred TO look from their windows
u.
street and daylight revealed the full
extent OF the damage.
IL Is not improbable that lives have
been lost In the fires; ALREADY sew
efsl persons connected with the de-
stroycd houses and business prem
ises are reported missing.
At O'Clock this afternoon the
people were just beginning to ven-
tire again into the streets: the whole
city was then In control of the mill
tary and IL Us understood that tho
officer In command assured the popu-
htion that the military would re-
main on duty indefinitely to prevent
further destruction.
Tho troops are I'm full fighting or
der pickets with machine guns be-
ing posted at all vantage points.
Only ono large draper establish
ment IN left intact In Cork.
There has been no official com
hrmation OF report that fighting
occurred during the burning between
the police and military. The onlv
oihchl message bearing on this rc.
port was statement that tho auxil-
iaries had been fired upon ,ntcrmit.
tcntly between and IL O'Clock last
night. The labor commission il
planning To send members To- Cork
on the first train tomorrow morning
The laborities incline to the onin .
ION that the proclamation of martial
law will greatly improve the secur-
ify OF the people and that II wos i'm -
stltuted primarily with the obIcc, or
checking cXccsses by the new rorcc
OF irregular police and bring them
under control.
Belfast. Dec. IA score OF fires
had burned themselves out In Cork
bV A o'clock this affernoon and ths