Cleveland County herald., 1920-12-09
THE BLACK. AND TANS;" WHO
 AND WHY TOLD
By WEBB MILLER
Jnited Press Staff Correspondent

London, Nov. 22. (By Mail.) - Much has been heard of the "Black and Fans" in the chaotic war of as- sassinations, anibushes and reprisals in Ireland, probably few people abroad have much information as to who and what these men are.
 The official title of the corps is the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and they were organ ized when the supply of recruits for the R. I. c. began to fall. The R. l. C., long famous as one of the most efficient bodies of semi military po- lice in the world, was formerly ex- elusiveiy composed of Irishmen. Men of magnificent physique, and superior intelligence, they ranked much high CT than the ordinary policemen, and in the better class Irish farmer fami- lies it was subject for pride that they had son in the R. I. c.
 Equally efficient as cavalry or in fantry and armed with swords, rifles, bayonets, revolvers, clubs and hand- grenades, the R. I. c. rarely had much trouble with the most turbulent Irish mobs. Only on rare occasions did they need any other weapons than their clubs, and 9 couple of
 these hardy horsemen would break up an ugly mob of contestants with out doing more damage than crack ing head or two. And the people
 thus clubbed bore no malice; in fact the R. l. c. were generally we'll 1 liked.
 Knowing that they could never stir
 up much bitterness against this for midable force, the Sim Fein ex-
 tremists set themselves to breaking
 1t up by persuasion. Some, they reasoned with on patriotic grounds, and secured few resignations, while strenuous propaganda campaign, coupled with actual intimidation and boycotting, prevented many young men joining who would otherwise have done so. The recent open cam paign of assassination naturally weakened the morale of the force, especially as boycott was rigidly enforced against the wives, relatives and known friends of the members of the R. l. c.
 The nickname "Black and Fans" was given them in derision, when the authorities, not being quite sure how they were going to uniform them, and not having sufficient R. I. c. uniforms in stock, fitted them out partly in the dark green (almost black) of the parent corps and part ly in ordinary khaki. The sheer that these half -black-half- -brown-clad men resembled the snappy little black-and tan terrier was soon stifled and tBlack and Tan" is now a name of terror. Mostly, however, the Black and Tans" wear ordinary officers khaki uniform, without rank badges, except for the black accoutrements and bandoliers of the R. I. c. and lately a Scotch "bonnet" with white St. Andrews cross as badge instead Of the regulation cap.
 Other forces in Ireland, apart from the regular British troops, are the Ulster Volunteers, a force formed by the Unionist leader Sir Edward Car son in 1913 to resist the passage of Home Rule. This again is decided ly dangerous army, numbering some 150, ,000 men, many of whom are well trained, having served in the recent war; The 36th Ulster Division in France was chiefly recruited from Carson'sUlster Volunteers.
 The Irish Nationalist Volunteers, originally formed as a reply to the Ulster Volunteers, have mostly been absorbed by Sim Fein and constl- tute the Irish Republican Army" These again are a formidable organ ization as many have seen war with the 25th Nationalist Division in France. Those without war experi- erco have been drilling and training