1916 Rising / Civil War / Bound Document Volume

Page 1

The Irish Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1916. The Outbreak. This newspaper has never been published in stranger circumstances than those which obtain to-day. An attempt has been made to overthrow the constitutional government of Ireland. It began yesterday morning in Dublin—at present we can speak for no other part of Ireland, for there has been an abrupt stoppage of all means of external communication. At this critical moment our language must be moderate, unsensational, and free from any tendency to alarm. As soon as peace and order have been restored the responsibility for this intended revolution will be fixed in the right quarter. The question whether it could have been averted will be discussed, and will be answered on the ample evidence which the events of the last few months afford. To-day we can deal only with to-day's and yesterday's facts. During the last twenty-four hours an effort has been made to set up an independent Irish Republic in Dublin. It was well organised; a large number of armed men are taking part in it; and to the general public, at any rate, the outbreak came as a complete surprise. An attempt was made to seize Dublin Castle, but this failed. The rebels then took possession of the City Hall and of the Dublin Daily Express Office. During these operations a soldier and a policeman were shot dead. The General Post Office was seized, and a green flag was hoisted on its roof. Several shops in this quarter of Sackville street were smashed and looted. It appears that the invaders of the Post Office have cut the telegraph and trunk telephone wires. Harcourt street Station and Westland row Station were seized; the South Dublin Union was seized. In the very centre of the city a party of the rebel volunteers took possession of St. Stephen's Green, where, as we write, they are still entrenched. The military authorities were in motion soon after the beginning of the outbreak. Fierce fighting has taken place between the soldiers and the rebels in various parts of the city, and there is reason to fear that many lives have been lost. The Fire Brigade ambulance was busy during yesterday, and brought wounded soldiers and some wounded civilians to the various hospitals. The soldiers have retaken the City Hall and some other positions which were seized by the rebels; but, as we write, many places are still in rebel hands. Of course, this desperate episode in Irish history can have only one end, and the loyal public will await it as calmly and confidently as may be. Nothing in all yesterday's remarkable scenes was more remarkable than the quietness and courage with which the people of Dublin accepted the sudden and widespread danger. In the very neighbourhood of the fiercest fighting the streets were full of cheerful or indifferent spectators. Such courage is excellent, but it may degenerate into recklessness. Perhaps, the most useful thing that we can do now is to remember that in quietness and confidence shall be our strength, and to trust f…