The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-31
IRELAND'S WRONGS
CHARGED TOARMY
British Labor Commission Says
Crown Forces Guilty Of
Arson and BI0odShed.

LONDON, Dec. 31.-Denouncing the
British crown forces in Ireland as
undeniably guilty of murder. torture.
loot and arson in Ireland, the British
labor commission, which recently
made a tour of investigation of con-
ditions in that island, goes step
further in its report and warns the
English people that in its cadet aux
Hilary division their government is
forging a class weapon" that could
be used in England.
or conditions in Ireland the report
declares en- thing Is being done In the
name OF Great britain which must
make her name stink In the nostrtis
of the whole world. The honor of
our people hns been Ernvely com
prOmiscd.'
The blame for these conditions. 1t
is declared. doesn't rest primarily
on the crown forces. but on the gov
ernmcnt." 1t fixes the blame for the
burning Of Cork. the massacre of
civilians at the Croke Park football
game in Dublin. and other outrages
directly on the British armed forces.
Ample proof was found by the COM
mission, the report declares, of a
definite plan of terrorist campaigning
by the crown forces, particularly by
the cadet auxiliaries and the black
and tans.
FREE HAND TO CADETS.
or the auxiliary division. which is
composed of former officers in the
British army, the report says its
merhbers-probably for that reason
are allowed license to do as they will
with the Irish people. The cadets, it
is declared are men "of ability and
to- aI hNr toe
passion" These men, it is stated.
evidently enjoy special and powerful
protection"
$50 far as could be seen during the
visit of the commission" the report
states. "these cadets were being given
n free hand in the south and West of
Ireland"
Disciplined control might have re-
strained the cadets, II is declared.
But the outstanding fact regarding
lots of the black and tans and aux
ilaries is that they are not under
control. The government has created
a weapon which il cannot WELD. 1t
liberates forces which ii is not at
present able to dominate. They have
got out of hand and the government
cannot truthfully deny it,
Again commenting on the person.
mel OF the auxiliary cadets and warn
ing of their potential menace to
democratic government even In Eng
land, the report says:
This division In n class weapon
which IL being forged In Ireland md
could he used In england. Further.
the method Of it's employment mt the
present Juneturc gives color TO the
suspicion that II IN the Instrument Of
those stationary forces which dc
tate the Irish policy of the British
government. Hitherto reprisnls by
suxiIinries have been husbed up as
far nv possible, and efforts have been
mnde to impute the blame for their
pisdeeds to innocent civilians.
"Tralee auxiliaries enjoyed a rep
utation for good behavior and mod
Grafton among the inhabitants but In
other districts which We visited they
inspired terror as the authors of repri-
sails whose brutality and destructive
effects were only equaled by the skin
and forethought with which they had
been planned
It is asserted that wherever repris-
ais have been scientifically carried
out IL has been almost invariably by
attachments OF cadet auxiliaries who
brook no interference from other
crown forces, and do not seem to rec
ognize even the authority OF Dublin
castle"
The report declares the commission
does not believe the government di.
rectly and definitely inspired reprjsals
and violence, but points out that while
Il has perfunctorily denied certain
occurrences which are beyond doubt
II has associated itself with and de-
Tended crimes committed by crown
forces in Ireland"
Among the outstanding points In
tho report are:
There arc 30 many undoubte1 cases
OF looting and theft that the commits
sion must add these crimes 10 these
OF burning and destruction. Many
cases OF beating and other forms ,of
punishment) came 10 our NOTES.
Tn some places there has been n
good deal Of fogglnE " the people.
Trough aud brutal treatment Of