REBELS AND REPRISALS.

Early to-day it was reported in Dublin that Senator John Bagwell, who was kidnapped on Tuesday night at Howth, had been released. It was said that he had been seen in Dublin, that he looked unshaven and tired, and had gone to his club to rest.

It is learned to-night that Senator Bagwell was not liberated by his kidnappers but escaped. He had been taken to a house on the confines of co. Meath, and this morning when his captors were at breakfast he opened a window and got away. Running across country for some distance he got on to the road, and at Ashbourne was overtaken by a motor-car which brought him to Dublin. He appeared none the worse for his adventure, and says that he was well treated. To-night he left Dublin for a rest.

The Republicans this afternoon issued the following reply to Major-general Hogan’s proclamation threatening reprisals if Mr. Bagwell was not released within forty-eight hours from nine o’clock on Wednesday morning:

Proclamation: Oglaigh na h-eireantn (Irish Republican Army): Whereas the junta called “the Government of the Irish Free State” have suppressed the legitimate Parliament of the nation and usurped the Government; and now, in the endeavour to make good their usurpation and to destroy the republic, have resorted to the infamous practice of shooting Republican soldiers taken by them as prisoners of war, and have already put to death fifty-three officers and men in this manner; and whereas the army of the republic is determined that it will no longer suffer its members to be thus dealt with and the international usages of war violated with impunity; and whereas the army command of the said junta have issued a proclamation announcing that “punitive action” will be taken by them against other prisoners in their power if the hostages which we have been compelled to take are not set at liberty; now we hereby give notice that we shall now give up our hostages, and if the threatened action be taken we shall hold every member of the said junta., and its so-called Parliament, Senate, and other House, and all its executives responsible, and shall certainly visit them with the punishment they shall deserve. – Dated this 1st day of February at the hour of noon. (Signed) Liam Lynch, General, Chief-of-staff, Fieldgeneral H.Q., Dublin.