New-York tribune., 1922-07-16
Rebels Routed
From Sligo in
Ten-Day Fight
Gen. MckeOwn, Free State
Leader, Wins Victory on
Honeymoon; Takes 10
Prisoners and War Stores
Quick Finish Is Seen
Provisional Government viii
Use Navy to Clear Remain
ing Insurgent SirOugholds

Crfltfi gff. 1879. NfN JOIN tii'""N '
DUBLIN. July l5..-After four hours
hard fighting the Free state troops
under the command Of General John J.
McKeown captured the town Of Col
loonev. in County Slico. this afternoon
and took seventy Of the insurrent gar
rison prisoners. besides obtaining. a
large ouantitv % arms. ammunition
and bombs. The capture OF CoNooney
bv General MeKeown. who was on ms
borcvrooon whep hostilities broke out
and took his bride campaigning win
bi-, IL the sequel % ten days inter
r,ittent fighting In County Sligo, dur
ing which the irregulars wreekea a
FTee state lorry from ambush. Kill
ing seven and wounding the same
number.
r,.irin. stronghold Of the insurgents
north of the Limcrick-Watcrford line'
n,d aside from hopping up q few ro'-
no hands in the north. the Free stat
ers will now be able 20 give their en-
.iro attention q operations M the
southwest. The Free State operations
1, this ouarter have not opened on a
io-oe scale. but there was heavy
eeb.inc reporfed from Limerick. where
tbe position Of the rebels IS not IN
iike that they had in Dublin before
.he surrender. Business Is said 20 De
m n stands.ill there, with 1000 on the
verge Of starvation. due 70 the eutiing
ofr of food supplies, Hundreds are
leaving Limerick. Of whom many are
reported 20 be American visitors. Al
sorts Of transport are being used Dy
the refugees.
Free statsrs Have Navy
Fanop De Valera vas In Limerick
byt is now said 20 have left tor the
irreeulars' new headquarters at North
Maliov. The position az waterford Is
much fhe same as al Limerick out
Cork is no. vet 50 seriously affected.
The rebels there are In pndisputeA
poesession Of the city. The Free stat
ors are eauipDing navy as wen as
me army and a Cunboat flying tneir
eeg has arrived 40 Lough Swilly,
where war material was landed 70 be
used against an isolated fort the IT.
regulars hold in the north Of County
Donegal. Aside from this the Prov.
sional government has commandeereo
a number Of ships in Dublin Bay 70
be used as part Of the Free state
feet.
LONDON. July Is (By The Assoei-
sted Prcss)-A serious food shortag
threatens the civilian population IN tnn'e
areas occupied By the republican mill
tary forces Of Ireland, according 70
statements from Free state source 3
From Wexford. Limerick, waterford
Tuliow. in County Carlow, and sew
eral other places come stories OF setl
Gus privatiOns. ascribed mainly TO th'
eommardcering OF food supplies foi
the use OF the insvIgenf troops RI.
Quick Campaign Planned
The republicans are declared to b
living on the country. thereby Great
ing a spirit Of intense bitterness. stop
mage or communications through tn
destruction Of bridges and removal O
rails is said TO be adding consideraDl.
20 the suffering Of the population, a.
supplies cannot reach even those dis
tricts where the insurgents are no
Immediately operating.
The provisional Free state govern
ment. fully aware Of these conditions, j
planning energetic efforts 10 festor
order, being especially anxious 70 brini
operations 20 an end before harves
time, and 10 is generally expected ~
national forces will soon make an i'm
portaut move. Michael Collins, Ere
State commander in chief. and his sta'
are working % high pressure, and Gen
eral Owen ODuify is said 20 have bee
given chief command Of operations
the south.
A central news dispatch from Dubh
says that Thurles, County Tipperary
has become a battle center. heav
fighting being in progress there 70
the last few days. The nationals occu
pied the town and the rebels attompte
unsuccessfully 10 surround them. tn
irregulars, commanded by brother 0
Austin Stack, were themselves sur
prised later and "a prisoners we're cap
tured by the Free State forces.