The events which immediately led up to the attack by
the forces of the Free State against the Four Courts on Wednesday were as follow. On Monday some of Mr. Rory O'Connor's men from the Four Courts commandeered several motor-cars from a Dublin garage and destroyed a good deal of the machinery. Free State troops went to the rescue and drove away the irre- gulars. The leader of the irregulars was, however, arrested. Retaliation swiftly followed. Mr. Rory O'Connor's men arrested General O'Connell, Mr. Collins's chief assistant, and held him as a hostage at the Four Courts. Mr. Collins then decided that it was a case of " now or never." He must call Mr. Rory O'Con- nor to order or go under. Accordingly, a regular attack upon the Four Courts opened at dawn on Wednesday.