Arizona republican., 1921-05-26
SEVEN CIVILIANS
 KILLED IN FIGHT
 BETWEEN REBELS AND SOLDIERS
DESTRUCTION OF DUBLIN CUSTOM HOUSE MOST SERIOUS DAMAGE SINCE REBELLION STARTED; REBELS BATTLE OFFICERS
Republican A. p. Leased WireJ

DUBLIN, May 25-The Dublin GUS tom house is in ruins tonight and all the most important documents of the government relating to Ireland together with papers and records have been destroyed.
 This, Dublin castle officially am nounced. is the work of Sim Fein forces, which early this afternoon made the most formidable attack against government property that has Jeen engineered since the presem rebellions began.
 Employees of the departments housed iE the buildings were made prisoner. vast quantities of petrol were poured over the interior of the building and the light was applied Soon military lorries crowded aith soldiers appeared and a battle en- sued. The Sim Feiners occupied the met the soldiers with a heavy fire Machine guns and rifles responded and a strong cordon was thrown around the building
 When the flames became too hot. the raiders attempted to escape but several were shot and killed and many wounded. According to the official statement. seven civilians were killed, II wounded and III cap tQItd 1T OQf we're MOuHutA.
 Crown forces in a sorties entered the building and made many cap- lures. Some raiders were saturated with petrol and it is believed several met death in the flames
 Destruction of the Dublin custom house constituted the most serious 1 damage since the rebellion. The 1 building of which nothing remains | but the shell, was erected during the l Irish parliament and was one Of the most beautiful in Ireland. It had lit- 1 tie to do with the customs. but housed many of the chief administra ton de- l partments and its destruction is more | disabling to the ordinary machinery 1 of the government than if Dublin | castle had been burned.
 The local government board had offices in this building. This board has been in constant conflict with various bodies repudiating allegiance to it and allaying themselves with ! the Dali Eireann, and it's records are completely destroyed.
 All registrations and lists of share 1 holders of public companies were kept in the building, which was also occupied by the stamp office and the | stationery office, in addition to be- i ing the central headquarters of the Inland revenue department.
 Shortly before ? D. m.. young men, heavily armed, entered the custom house and held up the staff. assemb- ] ling them in the vestibule Two dozen boxes. each containing four tins of i petrol and four bales of cotton waste I were passed into the building. The invaders are said to have numbered about SO. Three policemen who came in to see what was hap ! penklg were promptly seized. de- | prived of their weapons and placed l with the other prisoners Petroleum
 was poured over the most important l documents and the building was set
 on fire in several places
 The fire brigade was prevented ! from req ching the scene by armed
 bands. Auxiliaries soon arrived in
 military lorries and the raiders fired
 on them from the building and event . ually made sortie. A battle ensued
 Achievements of crown forces
 kept arriving and, under their pro-
 lection. the fire brigade got to work
 but their task was hopeless.
 Troops poured into the district.
 machine guns from armored cars
 were levelled on the building and every effort was made to hem in and capture the incendiaries. By i o'clock ! about 50 men had been arrested.