FACTION FIGHTS IN DERRY STREETS. SANDBAG BARRICADES. TWO MEN KILLED.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. BELFAST, WEDNESDAY.
The battle which was resumed in Londonderry last night was carried on until this afternoon, when there was a lull. The situation has long passed the riot stage. It is civil war between Sinn Feiners and Unionists, who are firing from behind street barricades. Both sides are well armed, and a prodigious amount of ammunition seems to be available.
General Carter Campbell, who commanded the famous 51st (Highland) Division in France in 1918, has taken over command of the few troops in the city, and, so far, no reinforcements have arrived. Since last night two more men have been killed. It is reported that several bodies are lying in “No Man’s Land” in Bishop-street, but this district is impassable. Ten persons were dangerously wounded, and many others less seriously. All business is at a standstill, and women and children are being removed from the danger-zones.
This afternoon’s cessation of hostilities ended sixteen hours’ continuous firing. Sniping was also indulged in on a large scale, and there was indiscriminate firing of revolvers and rifles in all parts of the city. The principal conflict occurred at Bishop-street, which is a main thoroughfare in the walled part of the city. Here was a large concentration of Sinn Feiners in the neighbourhood of St. Columb’s College and the Nazareth Home. Sandbags for barricades were thrown up in the streets, from behind which fire was directed at the Unionists in Barrack-street. The fire was returned vigorously, and a fierce battle took place, in which many casualties were inflicted on both sides. The houses of Mr. William Cooke, a Unionist builder, and Mr. Mcgarvey were subjected to an intense bombardment. Mr. Cooke for a long time made vain appeals for assistance, but eventually an armoured car was rushed to the scene, and the firing ceased. After the car was withdrawn the attack on the house was renewed, and continued for a considerable time. Trouble had broken out in the meantime on a large scale in the region of Long Tower-street (outside the walls) and Bishop’s Gate. Firing of an intense description went on for a considerable period. Sinn Feiners occupied prominent positions on the roofs of buildings, and sniped at isolated Unionists, and also at Unionist houses. Military and police were on duty, but were unable to intervene effectually. The police in Bishopstreet barrack, which is within the battle zone, were practically besieged. Many-passers-by were wounded, and it is said some were killed. A confectioner named Mckenna was killed at the corner of Henrietta-street, within a few yards of his own door. The bullet entered his breast, and he collapsed in the street. A priest was summoned, and administered the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church, and during the time the clergyman was engaged attending to the dying man firing was suspended.
The casualties include three members of a family named Whiteside, father, son, and daughter, who were shot in Bishop-street. The girl has bullet wounds in the arm and chest, the father a bullet wound in the leg, and the son a bullet in the chest.
There was a wild night’s fighting in the Waterside district, the rival parties being entrenched in Cross-street and Bond-street respectively, both of which were barricaded.
Snipers were busy up till one o’clock this afternoon, and soldiers had to be moved to the various streets, which up till their appearance had been impassable to the citizens. The streets presented the appearance of a battlefield, sandbags being thrown up, with sleepy soldiers standing to in a state of practical exhaustion after their night’s vigil.
FIGHTING IN COUNTRY DISTRICTS.
Fighting is taking place in outlying districts, from which Unionists are pouring into the city. Workmen proceeding to the country have been held up at many points and fired on by Sinn Feiners. A party of Irish Volunteers were in Bishop-street during the fighting in the St. Columb’s College neighbourhood, and a band of Unionists attempted to cut them off. It is stated that windows in the apartments of the college usually occupied by the Roman Catholic Bishop were shattered during the fighting. Wholesale wreckage has taken place in a number of shops. The entire post office staff from the sub-office in Carlisle-road was removed this morning for safety by troops to the head office. Details of the encounter between Sinn Feiners and Unionists in the St. Columb’s area show that the former, concealed behind trees, opened fire on the Unionists in Barrack-street and Dark-lane. The fire was hotly returned by the Unionists, and for several hours there was a fierce interchange of shots. The majority of the Sinn Feiners had rifles, two or three of these being placed in positions from which sniping could be carried on. Rifles were also in use on the Unionist side, and eventually the latter succeeded in dislodging their opponents.
AUTHORITIES’ INACTION.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. LONDONDERRY, WEDNESDAY.
After studying the conditions in Derry during several days’ terrible rioting, one is forced to the conclusion that there is no reason why the disorder should not continue indefinitely or until the rioters tire. Both the police county and district inspectors are officers of only a week’s experience of Londonderry, to which they are entire strangers. The Mayor, who in ordinary conditions would be Chief Magistrate, has not taken the oath of allegiance, and therefore is not a magistrate at all. No meeting of city magistrates has been called in to discuss the best means of restoring order to the sorely distracted city.
The whole strength of the Dorset Battalion garrisoning the city has been on duty almost continuously for days. The larger proportion of the battalion consists of recruits, and they have been on the streets for many hours, and few have been able to obtain any rest. Like many other citizens I am satisfied that if the situation had been dealt with by men of local experience and if there were no political considerations to be taken into account, peace would long since have been restored.