The Washington herald., 1922-07-05
De Valera Escapes When
Stronghold i'm Ham
mann Hotel Falls.
MODERN TACTICS
DAZE INSURGENTS
Republicans Concentrate
Heavily and Conscript
In Tipperary.

DUBLIN, July 4.-(Censored)-
Free State troops using new and
spectacular fighting tactics claim to
have all but crushed the Dublin re-
bellion- The few remaining posi-
tions held by insurgents. mostly iso-
lated posts in weakly defended
buildings. are being cleared out rap
idly by machine gun squads who are
moving from building 10 building
hunting out rebel nests.
Announcement that the revolt had
been broken and that the initial
mopping up Of the last remaining
rebel posts was going on came from
Gen O'Duffy. commanding the Free
Seate troops. after further decisive
gains had been made during today's
fighting.
Regulars have captured the Ham
mann hotel and the Sackville street
postofiee. two of the strongest rebel
posftions. Field guns were then
leveled on the Gresham hotel and
several smaller buildings.
Twenty Rebels Surrender.
When the Hammam fell only 20
rebels were left defending il. the
others having escaped during the
e.
The Iast-ditchers held out game
ly against the bombardment during
the forenoon. but as shell after shell
pounded against the SCARED walls.
surrender seemed the only thing
left The little band of rebels sig
nailed the attackers. The guns
stopped. And the insurgents lined
up bearing white flag at the head
of their column and filed out and
surrendered to the Free State COM
mander.
There was an unconfrmed rumor
that Eamonn De Valera had been
wounded during the shelling of the
hotel, which he made his headquar-
ters when he took personal COM
ms nd of his men after General Rory
O'Connor fell into the hands of the
Free Staters. but IL De Valera was
in the hotel during the battle he
succeeded in escaping. for he was
rot among those surrendering when
the building was taken.
Adopt New Methods.
Free State troops have adopted
rev methods with demoralizing ef-
feet. They are directing their fire
at definite detectives instead of
making general attacks. Inroads
rebel positions have Increased as a
result and the quick capture Of the
Hammam hotel and other Sackville
street positions are due to the new
style of fighting.
Machine gunners played a leading
part in today's battle. searching out
rebel barricades and shooting a
drilling stream of bullets into them.
Rebel defenders were unable to
stand up against this form of at
IN n
Of safety.
Just before daylight the battle
took on pyrotechnic features that
resembIed an American Fourth of
July fireworks display. The early
morning bIackness was shot with
the bursts OF flame from exploding
bombs and vivid dartinE flashes
from machine guns and rifles.
Flight at Close Range.
Tourist cars and lorries mounted
with machine guns were hauled up
for close range fighting in the aft
ernoon.
The Free staters inaugurated
smoke screen protection for a sud-
den hand grenade attack. This
spectacular assault developed an
iantI-climax when the regulars failed
to follow up their first gains by
rushing the retreating rebels.
The situation in the province is
increasingly critical. with heavy
hghtinz in Drogheda Millmount
barracks. held by the rebelss are re-
ported in flames with regulars
closing in around them. Free State
forces have captured an increasin g
number of midland centers. Rebels.
however, are concentrating heavily
In c1onmel. in Tipperary, where they
are reported to have resorted to
conscription-
Free ststers Fear ReprisaIs.
De Valera and several OF his
trusted .lieutenants were believed to
be In the small band Of bitter-enders
who were putting up the amazing
nght In the Gresham Hotel. No one
expected them to stand up long
under the heavy fre of the eigh-
teen-pounders which the Free stat
ers were laying down. But late to-
night the last-ditchers were still
l holding out Most Of their comrades
escaped before. and are now scat
tered about the city sniping at ran
dom
Those believed to be in the
Gresham include, besides De Valera,
Cathal Brugha (Charles Burgess),
Austin Stack. and possibly one or
two others from the rebel cabinet.
/ Free State officials now fear an
outbreak OF reprisals in other parts
Of the city and In the country by
the escaped insurgents.
An oficial communique from Free
State headquarters stated that MILL
mount Barracks had been captured
from the rebels at Drogheda.