New-York tribune., 1922-06-05
Artillery Fire Prcccdes
Assault on Pciiigo; Re-
publican Troops Re-
treat; Leader Captured
Magistrate Slain
At Church Door
Marked for Sentencing
Sim Feincrs. T. Shot
Down by Assassins Who
Flee Over the Boundary

From ne rribaHcs FuroBs1n Hsrssa
fcops-izhl. iste N~- f.rf Tribune inc
LONDON. June 4.-The hrs'
clash between Irish republican
army forces and the British troops
that have been rushed 70 the Ulster
frontier to defend il from Sim
Fein incursions came to-day when
the British stormed Pcttieo village
on the Ulster side ~ the Donegal
Fermanagh boundary.
The Sim Fein bands. which IN
recent weeks penetrated 20 Orange
soil at various points. withdrew
for the most part coircideni with
the decision Of the London Cabinet
last week 10 concentrate crown
forces on The frontier. Bot thr
republicans continue 20 hold Pet
tigo.
This afternoon fhc British isid dowr
an artillery barrage on the village and
then carried IL by assault Their only
casualty was one automobile driver
who vas killed The republican CON
msndant and a number m his men we're
captured in the subfcqucnt mopping Bp
of the town.
The attack was The frst In ~h'eh
British troops were used 20 defend ths
Orange frontier and was clearly de-.
yelopmcnt of the London goverrment's
decision 10 lot Ulster use the Crown
forces IS needed 70 maintain ths
North's rights Under the terms of the
agreement reached between the Belfast
and London cabinet. the British troops
cannot be used 20 push the warfare
across the boundary. but must be used
only for defense. once the frontier has
/ been rc-cstablished.
A large body Of British troops. sup
ported By artillery, arrived today a
! Londonderry, wnere Sim Fciners have
been active recently In blowing up
bridges, digging trenches ard raiding
mansions. AZ the same time a naval
guard was mounted in Lough Foyle.
Magistrate Shot Dead
Another murder IN Ulster was re-
ported to-day. J. Woulfe Flanagan, =
resident magistrate at Ncwry, was shot
dead by three men a. be was leaving
the cathedral Ne recently had ser
fenced many Sim Feiners and on this
account he was regarded as q marked
man. The assassins made their escape
across the frontier into Free State ter
rit0ry.
One person was killed and two con
stables and six civilians wounded IN
disorders at Belfast last night and this
morning.
LONDON, June 4 By The Assoei-
ated Press. Infantry, cavalry. artil-
lery and whippet tanks took part in the
first offensive action OF the British
troops on the Ulster borderland carly
this afternoon, when Pettigo. which
straddlcs the line. though n large, part
Of the town Is in Free state territory
was stormed and retaken from troops
Of the Irish republican army whieh
entered on May 3.
Reports from Belfast describe the
border countryside as swarming with
Khaki, while the British general d.
reefs the operations from headquarters
on a hill outside the town.
When t became evident that the
British we're moving IN force against
Pettigo the republicans began % With
draw; consequently, there was little re-
sistanoe 10 parties Of soldiers IN mo
tors ard on foot who dashed through
the town shortly after noon. The Sim
Fcin losses were six killed and large
number wounded.
Besides the republican eommardant
and staff. who we're taken prisoner
when tho troops entered the town, !,
is reported that a large number OF
Sim Feiners were captured later IN
Pettigo. OF three columns Of troops
which last evening began advancing
into the section Of Fermsnagh County
occupied b. the southerners. tvo col
umns operated toward Pettigo, the
other in the direction Of Belleek. which
the republicans had also occupied.
Tanks Support the advance
At noon the troops had approached
to within a mile OF Pe,tigo without
dIhWlNH kNf Nit VI kHt 'NNNhtANf -
who were engaged IN the eyaeuation OF
the place and OF the hills which dom
mated the main road along the line Of
march OF the troops. While on the
Free State side there was silenee. ths
greatest activity was displayed b. iht
approaching columns, with mans uyst.
ing cavalry, specials IN motors ano
whippet tanks flying the Union jAfk,
The tanks were always in readiness .
support the advancing columns.
The Pettigo columns made an Ualni
fcrruDted advance, but the smaller
party Of troops we're held on Boa Isl-
and, ready 70 land in case Of necessity
and ioin In the advance op the town.
Howitzcrs were placed IN position near
Belleek, where troops were massed
awaiting orders to go forward. Reports
20 the press association say that the
Sim FeineTs have evacuated belleek
and Maghefamena Castle.
The auxiliary Pandora and numerous
little armed motor craft participated In
the general movement. The Pandora
conveyed across the lake a feet OF
small boats 10 be used as transports.
Additional British troops reached
Belfast to-day.
BELFAST, June 4 (By The Asso'
eiated Press) As Magistrate Flanagan
left the Cathedral to-day he was ap'
preached by three men, one Of whom
said; Come with u.s."
The magistrate declined 70 DO 90
and was shot. The trio Immediately
leaped aboard an automobile. the on,
gine Of which had been kept running