The Washington herald., 1922-06-09
Would Avoid Bloodshed,
England Says, After
Taking Belleek.
BOTH SIDES RUSH
REINFORCEMENTS
Empire and Irish Chiefs
. Confer at London to
Reach Solution.

LONDON, June s.--The British
lion. having shown he can be fe-
rocious as necessary when his tail
is twisted, is now trying to avoid
the necessity OF any further DEM
onstration of this fact in Ireland
1t is with the hope of reaching
a settlement that will enable the
British forces to be withdrawn
from the border region in Ireland
that Winston Churchill. the CO.
ionial minister. and other govern
ment officials are comforting with
the Free State leaders here.
That the government is trying to
show a Arm hand in Ireland and
yet avoid needless bloodshed was
disclosed in an official communique
issued at the colonial office after
the full details of the capture Of
Relleck had been received.
Would Avoid BIoodshed.
The reason that the action was
carried out on such a large and care
fully-planned scale was the colonial
office explained, due to the desire
I, close in on the Republicans with
such overwhelming force that
lighting and mutual casualties
would be avoided.
The bloodless result justified
these precautions" the communique
stated. The only casualty of either
side was the slight injury one Tom
my received.
Describing the action at Belleek.
the colonial office said the infantry
preceded by armored cars advaEce1
torcefully. while the artillery replied
to the fire of the Free State troops
by shelling and badly damaging
the fort from which the Irish forces
were shooting.
Meanwhile, Reinforcement of both
British and Irish troops. especially
In the Donegal-Londonder sector,
has been reported.
In Free State Territory.
In capturing Belleek. including
both the village and the fort over
which a green Sim Fein nag was
flying. the British advanced for the
irst time into strictly Free State
territory. Hitherto they have con-
fined themselves to expelling Sim
Fein forces from Ulster territory,
encroaching on Free State soil only
where II was necessary to consoli-
date positions. as was the case at
ter the capture of Pettigoe.
Although the occupation of Bel
leek today was achieved without
bloodshed. it was featured by a
spectacular display Of modern war
fare. Land, sea and air forces were
combined for the assault. Three
regiments of British infantry led
the attack, advancing in three sec
tions, two of them moving around
opposite sides of Dough Erne and
joining as they approached Belleek.
and another moving up the Lough
in small boats.
AS the British forces approached
the Irish opened fire with their
Lewis machine guns. the Crown
forces answering with artillery.
Verey rockets were sent up by the
British to signal to the other COL
umns that the enemy had started
firing
Shells Scatter Irish.
The British troops went into ac-
ton in full fighting order. equipped
with steel helmets and other mod
ern paraphernalia and advanced
with the utmost caution. throwing
out strong advance patrols, while
the artillery followed close behind
the infantry. Several howitzers
were in the artillery detachment.
AS the encircling movement pro-
ceeded the advance troops signaled
across Lough Erne with heliographs
SO that the separate units main
tained continuous communication
throughout the operation.
: The first shells thrown over by
the artillery so disorganized the
Irish forces that by the time the
attacking infantry had arrived the
Republicans had ned. and the occu-
patton was completed without fur
ther fighting. The Irish forces
were reported to be retreating to-
ward Donegal,