New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-28
Duhlin Raid MILITARY Operation

DUBLIN, May 81 (By The Associated
Press).-That the destruction of the
Dublin Custom House was a military
| operation ordered by the Dali Eireann
is the statement made tonight by The
Irish Bulletin, organ of the Sim Fein.
1t describes the operation as COM
plete success
AT one moment a misun derstood
| signal caused the premature cessation
of work." says the Bulletin in telling
how the building was burned, "but SO
exact was the discipline that the meR
were Immediately recalled and the
operation was completed, although hos.
tilities had already begun outside and
there was grave risk of capture or
death to the whole party.
British forces which reached the
scene were engaged by Irish patrols
posted in the vicinity in fighting both
| at the doors of the building and out
side. There were casualties on both
sides, but it is impossible to ascertain
the exact number as yet"
Cause Before Any Masterpiece
The bulletin claims that the burning
of the custom house reduces the most
important branches of the British
civil government in Ireland to virtual
impotence. 1t expresses regret over the
destruction of the fine building. but
says that the "lives of 100000 Of our
people are more sacred charge than
any architectural masterpiece"
During the occupation of Belgium"
adds the Paper, "The Belgian army
would. rightly, have seized the first
opportunity to drive the German in
vader from the public buildings used
by him to house the machinery of his
government and, if military require
ments had demanded, the army would
| have destroyed the buildings.
so it is not conceivable that were
an invader on British soil to occuuv
Somerset House, building closely re-
sembilng the Dublin Custom House in
size and architectural style, and direct
his government .therefrom, that the
Engllshmen would refrain from attack
ing him in. order to spare the fdsfice"
Firemen Still at Ruins
Fire brigades were still playing
streams of water on the ruins of the
custom house to-day. Barricades are
being erected and the area is guarded
by large body of tro ops.
Stories have been circulating of how
a party of republicans, trapped in the
burning building during Wednesdays
conflict, made their way to the vaults,
/ from where, after midnight, number
crept stealthily out and passed to the
Spencer dock. There, it is said, they
crossed the river in ferryboats. An
other group of the trapped men, ac-
cording to the stories, left the building
early this morning.
One of the civilians killed Wednes-
day was Identified to-day SIS P. T.
O'Reilly, captain in the republican
army.
Weeks Casualties Total 81
The weekly review of events in
Ireland, issued by the Dublin Castle
authorities to-day, says that the in
tensified campaign of murder continued
unabated during the last week and that
the casualties to the crown forces and
civilians again were heavy.
The police and military casualties
totaled fifty-seven, including twenty
five deaths. The review asserts there
were eight murders of civilians. attrib-
ut~ble to the Sim Fem. and six cases
of attempted murder. Eleven ATTEMPTS
were made on occupied barracks, and
there were forty raids on the mails.
/ Four raids were made on coast glsarA
| stations and three raids for arms. Tho
persons now interned number 3.oE4
! Cables Co Queenstown Cut
BELFAST, May Queen stavvr
was comple1ely cut off to-day from
communication with the surrounding
districts. Even tbs Admiralty was m
able TO communicate with Hauibowlins
the island opposite Queenstown cons