Omaha daily bee., 1919-09-28
Spy System Perfect and
Irish Solid for Sim Fem
Even Conservatives Refuse to Disclose the Identity
Of Members-Death Claims Are Burden to Tax
payers, but Resorts Are Thriving Despite Mar
tial Law.
Exclusive Cable TO the London Daily Ex.
press and International News Service.

Exclusive Cable to the London Daily Ex-
press and International News Service.
Ennis, ireland, Sept. N.-Inhabi-
tants of this troubled country are
just beginning to realize that dis
turbances such as killing policemen,
cattle driving, and so on, are likely
to prove costly to the entire COM
munity. r#
This week claims amounting to
more than 100000 were made
against the Clare county council for
compensation arising out of the re-
cent disturbances. The relatives of
Sergeant Riordan and Constable
Murphy, who lost their lives in the
recent attack on the police hut near
Ennistymon, seek $4,000 for each
life. That dead policeman should
be valued at such a figure has come
as an astonishing disclosure to the
community.
Constables Want Damages.
Constables and civilians who have
been fired at have also filed claims
ranging from $1,000 to $2l $50. The
commissioners of public works and
the inspector general of the Royal
Irish constabulary also demand sub
stantial sums for damages to huts
and barracks and the loss of am
munition. The hearing of these ap-
plications will take place at the En-
mis- quarter sessions next month, and
even if a small part of them is grant
ed, it will mean a substantial increase
in the rates. This will bring home
to every ratepayer in the country
the financial aspect of the outrages.
The prosperity of Clare, however,
is one of the paradoxes of this reign
of terror and martial law. The sum-
mer resorts, like Kilkee, Lahinch
and Lisdoonvsrna, have never had
a season like the present, and never
has money been spent so freely. In
one of the hotels at Kilkee the crush
was so great and help so short that
sign was posted in each room
asking guests to make their own
beds. They could leave the place
| if they were above this domestic
duty, because there were plenty of
people willing to take their places.
| Solid for Sim Fein.
The whole country is amazingly
solid for Sim Fein. The order and
conservative element denounces the
occurrences, but no one will de-
nounce the perpetrators. So far
there has not been a single arrest
in connection with any of the shoot
ings. Participants have been wound
ed and have disappeared without
trace, although in cases the military
and police have arrived on the scene
to find handkerchiefs still wet with
know the perpetrators, but no one
will give the slightest information.
1--WE have no desire to be the chief
figures at inquests," one is told.
A remarkable distinction between
this and all other Irish movements
| is that there has not been a traitor.
The police quote George Bernard
Shaw that the Irish have posi-
tive genius for treachery," and are
living in the hope that this dispo-
sition will soon display itself. 1t
seems to be the consensus Of opin-
ion that, so far as the Sim Fein is
concerned, there is a secret society
within secret society, and that the
actual direction and commission of
raids is in the hands of small and
carefully chosen group. Another
feature is that the absolute secrecy
in the higher circles of Sim Fein is
largely due to teetotalism. Let a
Sim Feiner be known to take
drink, and no matter what his pre-,
eminence he is debarred from the
inner tabernacles of the order.
Police Astonished.
The military authorities and po-
lice are frankly astonished at the
superb intelligence system the Sim
Feiners possess. A military patrol
leaves Ennis, and the world travels
like magic throughout the area.
Others besides Sim Feiners I'M
doubtedly commit outrages. It is
unique tionably them when police
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