The Washington herald., 1922-06-05

the departure and the remainder
have been forbidden TO leave
port
LONDON. June 4.-British forces
have stormed and captured Pettiro.
ireland. according 20 a Central News
dispatch reaching here.
The Sim Fein commander and a
number Of his men were captured
with a loss OF one British soldier.
IL was said.
Pettigo is a small village on the
Donegal Fermanagh border. Brit
ish troops had been advancing on
the town for several hours. and the
last previous report had them three
quarters Of a mile from the out
skirts.
Arriving within striking distance,
the British forces set up a heavy
preliminary fire preparatory 10 the
attack.
At the proper moment armored
motor cars were sent forward. fol-
lowed by infantry and machine
guns. which stormed the village.
The heavy fire from the British
troops soon routed the Sim Feiners.
but their commander was captured
in the encounter along with a group
of his men.
LoyaIIsts Hall Troops.
British guns commanded both Pet
tigo and Belleck and the two coll
ums Of advancing troops were ex-
pected soon to inclse and recap
ture that, section Of FermanaCh
which has been occupied by Sinn
Fein troops for some time. Az
mored cars are supporting advance
Of the infantry. according to a Con-
tral News dispatch from Belfast.
The hard pressed loyalists gave
the British relnforcemcntS a most
enthusiastic welcome. The defend
ers had been fighting desperately.
some Of the units having been on
duty day and night for a week. Il
is reported.
Direction OF operations has been
taken over by the British general
who have established headquarters
on nearby hill. The whole country
side is swarminE with Khaki as
the infantry. artillery. calvary.
whippet tanks and other parapher-
MALTA for war are being mohil zed
luto hnuds OF NoluterN.
The Irish question to a consider
able extent has passed out of thu
hands Of the statesmen and into
those Of the soldiers.
Ireland is now witnessing move
ments Of British troops and prem
arations for military activities
Wilhelm all their dramatic sud
denness. precision. and picturesque
trapninEs-rresent re-ensctn,nt
OF the wartime scenes Of 1914 and
1915.
With England determined on two
ohjectS-hrSt. the faithful execution
and observance Of the Free state
treaty and. second. defense of Ulster
and protection for her loyalist mi
nor!ties-the situation in Northern
Ireland had reached stage where
such terms as concentrations. SAIL
ents. and occupation have resumed
their places in the everyday vo-
cabulsry.
The passage Of artillery. aviation
outnts and infantry through the
streets Of Belfast has brought u
ster around TO a more wsrlike ap-
pessance than at any time since
the great war ended.
More Troops. Arrive.
In addition TO Saturdays arrIv-
ais there. which Included an a-t'l-
lery battery with howitzerS and
siege guns. another detachment ~
infantry was due to arrive Sunday,
while a battalion Of Royal Fusil-
liers. from AlderShot. travelling at
war strength and wearing shrap-
mel helmets, is now on the way 20
Ulster.
Some troops are being held AZ
Belfast and the remainder are NOV
ing Is reinforcements to strengthen
the most dangerous points. princi-
pally in Strahane-Lirford front. the
Pettigo- Rilleck sector and the Mon
sghan salient. where the Sim Fein
forces have established themselves.
menacing the vital sections Of
Ulster territory.
Troops are also concentrating at
EnnislIillen and Londonderry.
A Liverpool regiment and a bat
terry of artillery are on their way
to Londonderry. where guns will
he supplied to them before they
take up their positions along the
border.
Garrison RePeIs Attackers.
Small boats with a plating OF ar
NOR Wilt manned by Ulster con-
stabulary for patfoling the LouEh
Foyle TO prevent the Republicans
from transporting petrol by water
to Donegal.
Republicans attacked the post of
the Ulster special constabulary At
Culmore. on the Londonderrv-non-
gal border, but the garrison re-
pulsed the assaulting forces. How
7cver. the Republicans are ewrenchA
ing themselves in the vicinity, evi-
IDENTIFY preparing for another at
tack.
The extent TO which British
troops will be used in ireland now
depends upon developments within
the next few days. Following the
granting OF permission to use Brit
ish troops within the Ulster bor-
ders for defensive purposes with
out first obtaining authorization
from London. the situation has 20
a certain extent passed into the