The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-05
SINN FEINER
MEN FACING
VET TROOPS
Invaders Are Driven From
Main Positions in
Ulster.

London. June (By the Asso-
ciated Press) British troops have
driven the Sim Fein invaders from
their main positions in Ulster ter
ritory and a large part of the bor-
der between northern and southern
Ireland now is virtually a new bat
| tie front.
The village of Pettigoe, on the
Fermanag nagh-Donegal border, was
| taken from the Sim Feiu invaders
Yesterday and the southern forces
also are reported TO have evacuaL-
ed Belleek, ten miles to the south
west.
The discrepancy between the Of
/ fetal communique with its state
ment of three Sim Feiners killed
and one Lewis gun captured and
the more detailed press reports of
the British storming the place and
indicting heavy losses" has yet To
| be recOnciled-
The military has taken over
much of the boundary line and the
Sim Feiners now face seasoned
and well-armed troops equipped
with artillery. instead OF the spe-
ciaI Ulster cOnstabulary men.
Take PettigOe After Battle.
Belfast, ireland, June D. (By the
! Associated Press Authentic de
tails of the capture of Petugoe
show that a British staff officer en-
tered the village at noon yesterday
and gave the Republicans holding
the town Is minutes to leave. Some
Immediately departed but about 100
J decided to oppose the military.
At the expiration of the time lin
if the British crossed the bridge
leading into the village and were
received with machine gun and
rifle fire. Then the British artil-
IIery. came into action and when the
first shell landed on a hill behini
the town some of the more imid Of
the defenders dashed for safety.
Four more shells followed in quick
succession and one striking in the
: middle of a party of the rereating
Sim Feiners inflicted several cas-
ualties.
Troops. which had been landed
secretly from Boa island in Lough
Erne. during the night took the
Republicans in the rear. but some
escaped through superior EnOWl-
= edge of the country.
Sim Feiners Buried.
When the occupation Of the vii
: lage was complete, soldiers were
detailed to bury the dead and all
the Sim Feiners were inferred in
a field nearby.
The prisoners were removed To
Enniskillen last night
Republicans stationed at vantage
+ points with machine guns held out
frequently firing at the troops, who
, replied with a Lewis gun. 1t Is
believed that one Sim Fein gun
: crew was wiped out.
It is officially stated that but one
: member of the Crown forces was
killed. Seven Republicans are
known to have been killed while Ii
were made prisoners, including the
commandant.
BeIleek Fort StiH Held?
It is understood that BelIeek. IL
l miles southwest Of Pettigoe is still
> held by the Republicans, but that
Magheramena castle has beer
evacuated There is considerable
interest here regarding the fate oi
9 the Belleek fort, the holding oil
which by the Republicans pracuc-
tally renders the barracks there un-
tenable-
Intense enthusiasm is reported by
e the press association correspond
: ent to have prevailed in Petugoe
: after the Republicans were driver
g out. Some of the civilian refugee
: who had been cared for in north
n ern territory nearby again Te-en-
= tered their homes.
n The military has taken strong pO
sitions on the neighbOring hills O.
prevent d surprise attack, WIll'
special constables are on duty OF
all the F'ermanagh roads leading
TO PettigOe.
-wn