THE IRISH ARMY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17037, 10 May 1923, Page 10

THE IRISH ARMY.

EX-SOLDIERS NOT WANTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 10, 11.35 a m.) LONDON, May 9. The special Dublin correspondent of the Australian Press says:—“ The question of the demobilisation of the Free State army is causing grave concern among British ex-service men in Ireland. Sixty per cent of the National army fought for the Kmpire 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 that ex-soldiers will be the first to go. The appointment of General Murphy to the Chief Ocmmissionership of the Dublin police gives colour to the rumour. General Murphy is a young man of thirty-one 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.” “ General Murphy’s appointment to an ornamental post . ” the correspondent adds. “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, which have been expressed repeatedly by General Mulcahy, are hardly the ideals of the British Army, and ex-British soldiers are hardly men to carry them out.