FREE STATE ARMY.

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1923, Page 5

FREE STATE ARMY.

Question of Demobilisation. (A. and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received Mav 10 at 1.44 pan.) LONDON. May 9. The Australian Press Association’s special correspondent in Dublin says th? question of the demobilisation of the Free State Army is causing grave concern among the British ex-service-men in Ireland. Sixty per cent of the National Army fought for the Empire during the great war, and it is reported that the Free State Government proposes to demobilise exactly that proportion at the earliest moment. It is rumoured the ex-soldiers will be the first to go, and the appointment of General Murphy to Chief Commissionership of the Dublin police gives colour to the rumour. Murphy is a young man, aged, 31, and was a Colonel in the British Army winning the D.S.O. and M.C. in the field. He was the only real soldier in the higher command of the Free State Army. While the Army Council could not afford to do without him during the fighting, he was a constant thorn in its side. LONDON, May 9. Murphy’s appointment to an ornamental post is generally regarded as a ! clever move to get rid of him. The Gaelic League Party is now in supreme command of the army. Its ideals, as expressed repeatedly by Mr Mulcahy, are hardly the ideals cf the British ; Army, and. ex-British soldiers are hardly the men to carry them out.