Evening star., 1923-01-02
FREE STATE WINS
CONSULATEF|GHT
Victorious in Battle for Goth
am 0ffice-Flying Wedge
Routs Rebels.
REPUBLICANS LAY SIEGE
Official, Barricaded in Office, to
Stay Till Issue Ends-"It1l Be
q Long Time" Is Retort.
REPUBLICANS LAY SIEGE
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. January 2-Forces Of
the Irish Free State and OF the Irish
republic clashed in lower Nassau
street today in a renewed struggle
for possession OF the consulate sur
rendered by Daniel J. McGrath after
his life had been threatened by an
anonymous letter writer using the
name OF the Irish republican army.
Victory perched on the banners OF
the Free StateTs. who gained possess
sion of the consulate and locked
about sixty man and woman adherents
OF the republican cause out in the
hall.
Charge Foul Play.
The indignant losers charged foul
play, declaring at least one of their
widow of the late lord mayor of Cork
had been roughly handled by a city
detective aiding the Free State.
The rival factions. who began their
last week. when each began trying
to sit the other side out, had agreed
to truce over the holidays, having
the offices locked by the neutral SUI
perintendent of the building.
The truce ended at o'clock this
morning. At that hour a delegation
OF Irish republicans, about sixty
strong. and of both sexes, deserted
Lindsay Crawford, the Free States
appointee to succeed McGrath, coming
Smiddy, Free State envoy to Washing
ton.
Lively ScuRie Follows.
Witnesses say the republicans
barred the passageway, seeking to
prevent the two men from entering.
The Free State men are said to have
tried to push their way through, and
lively scuff1e ensued.
Crawford and Smiddy, and the Of
ficers, organizing a flying wedge,
bored a passage through the crowd
and landed Crawford and Smiddy in
side .,n. the - consulate consulate where they
hind locked doors, refusing to admit
any one, even reporters.
The republicans clamored vainly for
admitta9ce. Finally, according to
their claim, detective seized Mrs.
MacSwiney roughly by the shoulder
and hustled her toward the elevator.
The republicans Immediately appoint
ed a committee, headed by Mrs. Mary
Collins and Mrs. Vera Finnerty, to
wait on Mayor Hylan with protest
Among the republicans standing in
the hall was Michael O'Brien, who,
according to Arthur Briscoe, Irish
republican army officer, has been ap-
pointed Irish republican consul by
Laurence Ginnell, Eamonn de Valera's
representative in America.
Turned ONCE Over.
Briscoe further declared that Nc
Grath, whose withdrawal precipitated
the trouble, had altered his position,
putting into writing the statement
that he refused to turn the consulate
over to Free State agents, but was
ready to turn IL over to republicans.
McGrath, who insisted he was not
consul. but was merely acting in that
resigned as a protest against
executions by the Free State govern
turned the Offices over to Crawford.
The siege then started. detail Of
republicans arriving about the same
time to keep vigil in the office in
hope Crawford would tire and de-
camp. Crawford held the consurs
chair for a long time unaided, send
ing out for food. Finally aid arrived
ana when 1t became apparent he was
not to be tired out, the holiday truce
was arranged.
Says Wen Stay.
Mr.. Crawford, reaching behind his
barricade by the telephone, declared
his intention to remain in the office
until this matter Is settled one way
or another" He said he had no In
tention OF taking any legal action, as
serting he was content to hold the
ONCE against all comers. The repub-
lican forces answered that Mr.
crawford adhered to his intention, he
would remain behind the locked Of
ace doors "for q long, long time" =.
AS the crowd of republican sympa-
thixers in the hall grew to unman-
ageable proportions, the police issued
M, edict that all save two members Of
the Irish republican army. detailed as
guards, must leave the building.
on three occasions before noon 1t
vas necessary for police, led by De-
lContinued on Page .. Column % !,