The New York herald., 1921-05-26
RAIDERS IN dublin,
|. IN PITCHED BATTLE,
|. BURN CUSTOM HOUSE
Republican Army Detach-
ment Seizes Ireland's Fin
est Building, Applies
Torch and Bomb.
FIGHT THEN SPREADS
Three LOrries With AuXil-
iaries Bombard Sim Fem
ers as They Occupy the
Huge Structure.
MANY KILLED AND HURT
Official Reports Say Crown
Forces Captured III Invad-
ers-British Lose Impor-
tant Tax Records.
MANY KILLED AND HURT

Special cable to THE New YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, By THE New YORK HERALD.
DUBLIN. May 25.--The most spec
tacular battle Ireland has seen since
the Easter (1916) rebellion ragged in
the heart of Dublin this afternoon
around the Custom House, Irelands
finest building, of which Sim Fein
had taken possession. Tonight
crowds gaze over the parapets OF
O'Connell's Bridge, watching the
smoking ruins of the edifice on the
bank of the Liffey.
Official reports say seven Sim
Feiners were killed, eleven wounded
and Ill captured. Four auxiliaries
were wounded.
A strongly organized detachment
of the Irish Republican army shortly
after noon to-day took possession OF
the Custom House. which contains
not only the custom office but the
excise and income tax, the corpora
tion tax and the local Government
board, all symbols of British author.
ity in Ireland and against which
Sim Fein have waged bitterest war
The purpose OF the attack by Sim
Fein was to disable and disorganizc
the machinery OF the Government
and in this they succeeded to 2
greater extent than they would
have done had the attack been di
rected against Dublin Castle itself
the seat of the vice.regal administra.
ton.
Custom officials said about fifty
armed men entered the building, car.
rying two dozen boxes, each contain
ing four tins of petrol, four bales Of
cotton waste and other inflammable
material. Meanwhile every approach
to the building was guarded by Sim
Feiners.
Where Battle Begnn.
The elevated railway structure Is
between the Custom House and Lib
erty Hall, which is the heart OF the
extreme labor movement in Ireland
and the centre of what Bolshevism
there is in Sim Fein. II was from
this elevated structure that the fret
clash of arms occurred. Three motor
lorries containing auxiliaries who
were approaching the Custom House
received a shower Of bombs and re.
volver bullets from this bridge. I'M
mediately fighting became general
all around the Custom House, in the
open square I'm which it stands and
in the streets leading to it.
Scenes of extreme terror character.
lied the firing of the Custom House
It is a building 375 by 200 feet, and
there were many men and women
clerks at work. Heavily armed men
entered the place and held up
the staff, which they herded into
the vestibule and placed under an
armed guard. Some Of the invaders
carried two revolvers. Three police
men. suspecting that something was
wrong. went into the building to see
what was the matter. They were
seized and disarmed. None of these
persons was permitted TO leave tho
place until IL was set atire.
surrounded by Armorcd Cnrs.
BY that time the Custom House
was surrounded by a Gordon of ar.
mored cars. the soldiers and the po-
lice pouring hot rifle, revolver and
machine gun fire into the windows.
The invaders then permitted the STAFF
to leave tho Custom House. which they
did with their hands above their heads
the women frantically waving white
hardkerchiefs Most of the women
were irish. but the view Of the Irish
republican army is that they were
enemies. too. taking British pay "in
the enemy service" Some Of the in
vaders tried to leave the building with
them, but many Of them were taken
prisoner by the auxiliaries and to-
night the Crown forces are guarding
many prisoners all OF whom are being
closely examined.
Tho actual detachment of the Irish
republican army which entered the
building tried 10 leave Ii in small
parties, but ~ tine tirst party Of three
one was Killed aud two wounded be
fore they had gone many yards. IN
The second party of seven men only
one escaped, the others having been
killed or wounded
In Sim Feln quarters Il was said