Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-14
BY Ralph F. Couch

New York, Mar. IA. - England is
holding ireland with 100000 bayo.
nets, Sim Fein officials charge.
Lord Mayor O'Neill Of Dublin, an
Irish nationalist, estimates the "army
of occupation" at 100000.
The exact number of soldiers in Ire
land, is, of course, military secret.
But to the visitor in Dublin the mass
Of uniforms encountered is amazing.
Sentries are posted at the entrances
of all public buildings. They march
through the streets in squads and COM
panies. All are fully armed and most
OF them wear shrapnel helmets.
Ready to Put Down Revolt
{. England is ready to put down a
revolution here,' the Rev. Michael o.
Flanaghan, vice president of the Sim
Fein national council told me just be-
fore left Dublin two weeks ago.
ain addition to the soldiers, there
is the Royal Irish constabuary which
is scattered through the rural districts
and also polices all cities except Dub
lin. This force numbers 1900. Tho
Dublin police force totals 1000. Assum-
ing there are only 100000 English sol
die% in Ireland-and most Of the esti-
mates place the number at 100000
the island, with a population Of only
100000, has one soldier or constable
for every 35 persons.
"Compare this with your New York,
which has population Of 100000
and but little more than ten thousand
policemen. That is one policeman for
every 600 persons in the most con-
gcsted city in the world /"
Z VIII Gain Independence
The Rev. Father O'F'lanaghan who
has been suspended from bis church
duties because Of Sim Fein speech
he made in violation of one Of the
church rules, was unprepared to pre-
dict that Ireland would gain complete
independence during his lifetime. He
appeared to be about 40,)
"But we will give Mother England
a divil' Of a lot Of trouble," he said
with grin. "Ireland is sure to be in
dependent in the end.
Jack O'Dowd, who drove the jaunt-
ing cart on which / rode from the
wharf to my hotel. shook his fist at
the backs of company of tin-hat-
ted' English soldiers guarding the
waterfront.
"When you get home, tell the Amer
lean people how England is holding
Ireland with bayonets, he said.
''We re hoping America will help us
get free Of military rule. I"
Violation of Rules Frequent
Violations of military regulations
are frequent, however. Almost daily
the newspapers tell of courts martial
at Dublin castle, headquarters of the
British army there. Windows of mag
azine stores and book shops are filled
with pamphlets whose headlines shout
defiance to the "British military rule
Sim Fein propaganda is displayed and
sold everywhere, together with pic
lures Of Edward DcValera, the fugitive
Sim Fein leader and his lieutenants.
"Men are arrested, fined and some
times imprisoned for singing Sim Fcin
songs said Secretary Shehan Of the
Sim Fein national council.
Despite this show Of armed prepar-
edness by England, the Irish are going
quietly about organization Of the so
called Irish republic.
"Invisible government IS the term
to describe the government Of the Irish
national assembly, because it is re-
garded as existing alongside of the
British government said Harry Bo-
land, honorary secretary of the Sim
Fein national council. "But Sim Fein-
ers refer to the British administration
as the do facto government. : Y.
Invisible Government Working
The "invisible government, ac-
cording to Boland, already is well
crpugh o5yanized TO allminister all
public affairs, If the occasion arises.
cit works through 1900 Sim Fein
branch clubs throughout the country" "
he explained. "Through these clubs we
are teaching Gaelic, official language
of the Irish national assembly. The
assembly also IL organizing executive
common to all national
governments, such as commerce. agri-
culture and labor"
Another present activity Of the Sim
Fein Is preparation Of campaign plans
TO elect majorities in the Irish county
council elections next June.
Organize Law Courts
"These county councils are the 10.
cal governing bodies" said Boland.
"If we win the June elections we shall
have voice in the local tax collections
"We are also organizing system
of law courts which is nearly complet-
cd. Soon all Sim Feiners will be ex-
pected 10 refer all civil suits to these
courts"
All activities Of the Sim Fein
H'branch clubs" Boland referred to
are directed from headquarters Of the
Sim Rein national council at 9 Har.
court street. There the Sim Fcin occu-