Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-05
BRITISH GUNS SWEEP ULSTER
CLEAR OF SINN FEIN FORCES in
STUBBORN BATTLE ON BORDER
Village Of Pettigoe Recaped from Irish Invaders; Crown
Troops Landing Secretly in the Night Surprised Re-
pubicans in the Rear British Artillery Fire Creates
Havoc, When Shot Lands in Midst Of Soldiers.
BY Associated prs,s to Every Evening.


London. June 5/-British trooJ~ havs
driven tho Sim Fein invaders from
their main positions in Ulster territory
and large part OF the border between
northern and southern Ireland now s
virtually q battle front.
The village OF Pettgoe on IN, Fer
nnanngh Donegal border. vas recap
tured from the Sim Fein invaders yer
terday, and tho southern forces also
are reported to have evacuated Beiieek,
tch miles 70 the southwest
Tn discrepancy between the Official
conInunlque with its statement of
throe Sim Feiners killed and one Iev.s
gun captured. and the more detailed
press reports OF the British storning
the place and iniictinz heavy losses
has yet 70 be recOnciled.
The military has taken over much
Of the boundary line and the Sim
Feiners now face SEASONED and we'll
armed troops equipped With artillery
! instead Of the special Ulster constabu-
! larry men.
Troops which had been landed se-
cretly from Boa Island IN Dough
Erne. during the night took the Repub-
/ leans IN the rear. but SONS escaped
/ through their superior knowledge or
the country.
When the occupation Of the villsgs
was complete soldiers were detailed
70 bury the bodice and all the Sim
Feiners were Inferred IN a field nea rby.
The prisoners were removed 20 Ennis
killen last night
Republicans stationed az vantsgs
points with machine guns held out. frs-
quently fling az the troops. who re-
piled with a Lewis gun. II n believed
that one Sim Fein gun crew was
wiped out.
Il IL officially stated that only ono
member of the crown forces was killed.
Seven Republicans are known 10 have
been killed while sixteen were made
prisoners, including the commandant.
It is understood that Belleek ten
miles southwest Of Pettigoe. - stilI
held BY the Republicans, but that
Magheramena Castle has been evacu-
ated. There Is much interest here re-
gardinx the fate OF the Beileek fort.
the holding OF which by the Republi-
cans practically renders the barracks
there untenabie.
= Intense entH11eiasn i- reported, by
tAAo 30, <aF7r'p, A@a N4CAs = va ~
10 have prevailed IN Psttigoe after
the Republican rs were driven out. Soma
of the civilian refugees who had been
: cared for in Northern territory nearby
1 G gain reentered their homes.
The military has taken strong po-
sitions on the neighboring hills "a
= prevent a surprise attack. while special
? constables are on duty on all OF the
, FermanaSh roads leading 20 Pettigoe
= Belfast, June 5.-Aurhentic details
OF the recapture OF Pettigoe show that
a British staff officer entered the Vi
: lage at noon yesterday and gave ms
, / Republicans holding the town IS Inin.
, utes 10 leave. Some Immediately de-
: parted, but about 100 decided 70 op-
pose the military.
: At the expiration Of the tine limit
the British crossed the bridge Iead!ns
. / into the village, and we're receive,
= with machine gun and rife FIRE. Their
d the British artillery came into attior
= and when the first shell landed on
= hill behind the town some OF the NOR
$ timid OF the defenders dashed for safe
l. ".
Z -Four more shells followed IN duicl
8 succession and one striking in the mid
die OF a party OF the retreatins SIM
Feiners inflicted several casualties.