4 JUNE 1921, Page 2

A Sinn Fein gang at Youghal on Tuesday exploded a

mine in a road as a party of the Hampshire Regiment with its band was marching past. Six of the bandsmen were killed ; twenty- one -men were injured more or less seriously. In County Cork last week the rebels attacked several police barracks, but were beaten off. They succeeded, however, in burning several private houses near Cork, where there was no one to resist them. The Dublin police, in searching a. house lately occupied by the rebel ring- leader Collins, found farewell letters written by Major Compton. Smith, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, to his wife and his colonel in April. The letters showed that the unfortunate officer, who had been kidnapped, knew that he was about to be murdered in cold blood by the, rebels. Sir Hamar Greenwood read one of the letters in the House of Commons on Wednesday, and a very noble letter it was, gallant in spirit and generous to those who were- about to kill him.