The New York herald., 1922-06-29


future upon this step. The people who
carried the elections in his favor have
confidence of seeing him through.
year ago this week he sneaked through
the bye streets TO attend the Mansion
House pFelminaries for the truce which
has led directly to this crisis. He defed
England for Ireland then. But to-day,
in the open, he defes the Irish rebels
10 keep faith with England and the
majority of his own people.
Behind the Free Staters engaged there
are strong reinforcements, and behind
them are the British troops quartered in
Phenix Park, nearby. But Collins and
his leaders have no intention of calling
upon them. They would rather be de-
ceated than ask English aid.
A considerable number of casualties
I'VE re suffered by civilians who were hit
hy Stray shots. Casualties have been re-
mari ably small among the Free State
forces !. for such cannonading.
Outs tde the fighting zone, business
was ca, Tied on as usual yesterday, trans
continue d to run and people did not take
to cover Crowds drew to the outskirts
of the de niger zone and witnessed the
battle witt the greatest interest, shrink
ing back n ow and then as volleys were
fired. but n 0t ceding ground to the COM
batants
Ri V Guns Used.
The most dramatic element of the
fight has been the firing of the big guns
~ the Free taters, sending eighteen
nound high exp losive shells over the re-
aolbts of the irregulars The field
pieces roared in termittently throughout
thA aay. The regulars kept well
screened, and the repels were uitioie "
dc rriiblS DANA ge.
Az Mo. outba -eak of the battle men
stonnetA on their way to work to join one
or the otaer forc,s. Groups or Dan troops
passed tfPyneh { he streets In open lor-
rles ahdl ws5s FIRE quently fired upon by
civilians.
Last evsYsane lorry containing Free
state officers " as ambushed and
bombed sqa5 SO veral We're badly
wcunded. IN nhis way many civilians
have been ilhceent victims. but efforts
were being rtiHse to-l hight to restrict the
zone of concehrastsd fire, that the city
might suffer taie saaslt mann OF inconveni-
ence.
Eighteen pouatser high explosive
shells. fred from two Free State field
uieces. tore al half DO. zen holes in the
heavy stone walAs of he Four Courts
and siienced few ms chine gun en-
placements, but left tn besieged re-
pIiblicans still dbgSedly returning an
occasional we'll placed SIN 1T.
Several hundred Free st ate troops held
the building along the bank OIL the
Liffey, opposite the Four courts Iney
continued all day sniping occasionally
sending a withering volley from ma
chine guns into the windi )ws opposite
where tiny puffs OF smoke betrayed tne
presence of active nIarksme1 I. Two "elu
nieces were stationed in the side streets,
commanding the entire froLt ana sues
of the great stone buildings.
nY1lfl
open market place on the other side OF
the courts tossing an intermittent ana
damaging she'll Free State troops also
nceunied a few of the buildings thanking
NE courts. the rival soldiers blazing
away at one another with machine guns
and rifles at about twenty-five or thirty
yards The regulars had machine gun
I'M the tower of nearby brewery oiio.
If fhe few vantages from which they
vSera able TO sweep part of the interiors
open court.
Firing broke out in other parts OF the
CITY from time to time wherever re-
publican snpers ambushed tho Free
State soldiers VINO rushed past IN lor-'
ries. but the Free State troops returned
the fire without stopping to engage the.
enemy.
Regulars Win One Building.
The regulars drove the irregulars out
~ Fowler Masonic Hall. in Parnell
Square, one of the principal strong
holds. the young Republicans trying 10
burn the place before they retired. The
regulars entered the building and found
II empty. They extinguished the plaza
before it had become dangerous.
At ) o'clock this afternoon seven.
deaths had been reported and many
more wounded. Most of the casualties
among the regulars occurred in street
C,otr1 in =
were able 10 fire without exposing them
selves.
The irregulars put up a spirited fight.
The men driven out of Fowler Hall, to-
cether with reenforcements, later oc-
eupied four small hotels in the general
vicinity OF the lighting. They ousted the
guests at once and barricaded the doors.
placing mattresses in the windows to
catch flying glass.
Bombardment Of republican, propa-
ganda kept pace with the battle. Early
in the afternoon young women members
of the Cumman Ma Ban appeared in the
streets distributing handbills.
Civilian life outside the occupied zones
continued almost normally. Trans ran,
save along the lines passing the danger
areas People continued about their
business except that large crowds gath
cred in every available place not swept
by bullets so as not to miss the event.
though most or the entertainment con-
sisted of hearing the shots. Firing con-
tinued spasmodically all day punctuated
now and then by the echoing thunder
Of field pieces against the drill of boring
steel.
Prevent Spread of Fighting.
Around the center OF the city. build
ings trembled slightly as the guns were
fred. Occasionally a stray bullet cracked
sharply overhead. making the pedes-
trians gasp, look around In confusion,
laugh nervously and walk on. Civilians
taking ordinary precautions ran slight
risk however. the principal danger be-
ing that the fighting might spread and
turn the city into a vast area of snipers
and ambuscades
Free State troops took the utmost
precautions to prevent that, however.
placing details in the Shelbourne Hotel
and other places which the rebels have
shown an inclination to seize. No fear
Is felt that visitors will be molested.
The heaviest firing of the fight oc-
IT