December 11, 1920. The Burning of Cork.

Unionist, Police Auxiliaries and Black & Tans set a section of the Irish city of Cork aflame in retaliation for the IRA ambush at Dillon's Cross.  The Auxiliaries and Black & Tans further interfered with fire department attempts to come to the scene and address the fire.

The Bishop of Cork, Daniel Cohalan, condemned the arson at a Mass held on this day and also condemned the earlier ambush, issuing an edict that those participating in attacks of that sort should be denied Communion. It was not the first time he had issued such an edict.

In his sermon, he stated:

Murder is murder and arson is arson whether committed by agents of the government or members of the Volunteer organisation, and it is the duty of a bishop to denounce murder and arson from whatever source they come. In face of the destruction of the city, it was the duty of everyone to condemn, and try to put a stop to, outrage, murder, kidnapping and ambushes, with which, unfortunately, they had become too familiar.

He also noted: 

Some republicans say that districts have been delivered from British sway when the policemen were murdered and barracks burned. It is a narrow view. Who will now mention that a district has been delivered from British rule by the murder of RIC and the burning of the barracks? No – the killing of the RIC was murder, and the burning of the barracks the destruction of Irish property. Reprisals began there after the murder of Lord Mayor Mac Curtain, and now it looked like a devil’s competition between some members of the IRA and agents of the Crown in feats of murder and arson. 

The Bishop was noted for his condemnation of violence on both sides.  However, at this point things were spiraling out of control and the action by forces of the British government, while completely unauthorized, notched the violence up a notch in a way that could not help but cause the Irish to be further regarded as an occupied people.

On the same day a fire broke out at Walter Reed Hospital.

And Herbert Hoover was photographed on the streets of New York City.

Hoover was widely admired as a hero at the time for his running of food relief efforts in Europe following World War One.