REPRISALS IN IRELAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 227, 22 September 1920, Page 5

REPRISALS IN IRELAND.

i m - EFFECT ON THE TERROR. A DETRIMENT TO OUTRAGE. THE CURSE OE CROMWELL. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Received 10.30 a.m.) I-OXDONj September 21. Interviewed by «. Parisian 'correspondent, (ioiieral Sir Xevil Macreadv, in command of the forces in Ireland, said: "Yea, there have been some reprisals in Ireland, sny three at most." He added: "We arc taking every step to prevent a recurrence of that. The- troops' mission is to help protect the police, which are insufficient to maintain order. The British Government, faced, by the Sinn Feiners' practicnl declaration of -war, does not wish to retaliate in the same manner, but in the event of a general revolt we are perfectly ready.",, * He insisted that Ireland really desired pence, but a very small band of terrorists was imposing a violent policy. T\ c know most of their names, and the day may come when we shall effect a clearance. If so, Ireland would a monthlater know tranquility and order." Correspondents frankly disagree with General Macready's first'statement. The "Times" Dublin correspondent telegraphs that there have been a good many reprisals by the police, and a few by soldiers since the Sinn Feiners began the campaign of political murder and outrage. Such reprisals are at least intelligible to all who know the present conditions of life in Ireland. The police in lonely places' are attacked and martyred; they would be more or less than human if the passion of resentment did not strain the bonds of discipline. People argue thaifc the Teprisals are having the merit of checking outrage •where vigilance and discipline failed, and many towns are now quiet and peaceful. Tn other places outrage has been discouraged by" the lively fear of retaliation. None the less reprisals are deplorable, because they are creating permanent bitterness between different classes of Irishmen, weakening to a dangerous degree any respect surviving for constitutional law and order. The public is forced to infer that the Executive either regards reprisals leniently, or is powerless to prevent them. Both theories work'greatmischief,"while the splendid traditions of the Royal Irish Constabulary are damaged.

The "Daily Mail" Dublin correspondent states that English auxiliaries of the Irish Constabulary 'are responsible for the reprisal tactics, which spread terror throughout the'country districts. Wherever a policeman or a 3oldier is shot, the nearest community lives through a night of fear, believing that the "curse of Cromwell" has been revived. The correspondent adds that the Sinn Fein is drifting into two camps; Mr. Arthur Griffiths is fighting for the leadership against the violent and influential leaders of the Republican Army. Meanwhile the British military system has fnarkedly improved.—(United Service.)

REPRISALS HEAR DUBLIN. g- COASTAL TOWN SACKED. XIFE FOR A LIFE, jf (Received 11.30 a.m.) • LONDON, September 21. Police-inspector Burke and Sergeant Burke, two brothers, were shot dead at Balbriggan, on the Dublin county coast, at midnight. Later uniformed men eicked Balbriggan, two civilians being shot defcd and several wounded, while xnany business houses were destroyed. Further details show that about fifty constabulary and recruits were engaged In sacking Balbriggan. .A dairyman named Gibbons and a barber named Lawless were dragged out of their houses, bayoneted, and then shot dead. Twentyeight houses, mostly belonging to prominent >Sinn Feiners, were bunted to the ground.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.), STREET FIGHT IN DUBLIN. «INN FEINERS ROUTED. /?' LONDON, September 21. A party of Sint Feiners attacked a military lorry a Dublin street and ordered 12 soldiers in it to hold Up their arms. Some obeyed, but others opened fire upon the raiders, wounding two. The Sinn Feiners returned the fire, and there was a sharp fusillade, until the Sinn Feiners were routed and fled, leaving their weapons and three prisoners. Several soldiers were seriously wounded and two died. One'of the Sinn Feiners ia dead, and another is dying.—(A. and &Z. Cable.)