The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-06-09
$4,000 ENGLISH TROOPS
ARE NOW IN IRELAND
Possible That Martial Law Will Be
Proclaimed in Country in Near
Future.

Dublin, June 5.-Although informa-
tion regarding the number of troops in
Ireland is refused by the authorities,
careful estimates place the present
number at more than 10000, which is
! being increased daily The troops
/ come from all. parts Of England and
Ilatterly the Government has eyiuced
la desire to send seasoned men instead
/ OF raw recruits.
The declared purpose of the military
preparations is to preserve order and
protect the police, and the chief quail
ty cultivated is mobility. The idea is
that police barracks should be kept in
immediate touch with military support.
Some of the barracks now have wire
less installations and new form Of
rocket recently has been supplied. The
rocket attracts attention for miles.
The new plan has in some cases Sc
cured the prompt arrival of soldiers
and relief for the threatened police.
Patrolling at night is mainly done at
present by the military, who hold up
people and cross examine them regard
ing their business The most remote
Irish roads are now familiar with mill
tary lorries, while armored cars and
tanks, though never yet in active oper-
alton, are often sent through town
streets as a demonstration of power.
Cavalry frequently is seen on map
drill studying the topography of GER
tain districts. The importa ion OF
several sixty-pounders and garrison ar.
tllery, previously hardly known in
Ireland Is taken here to point to more
than police work a leading officer at
( General Headquarters in conversation
today said the situation was mohe seri-
GUS than generally supposed. There
is constant apprehension Of the land.
ing of arms for the republican elements
from abroad and il is considered sign
ificaut hat troops have been stationed
al places near the coast
Application OF martial law is said to
be in contemplation but mainly as a
demonstration of the Governments de
termination, since all its effective
powers already are available. EXten
sion of the "curfew" order throughout
the country is considered probable
Mos OF the attacks by raiders are car
ried out at night and it is believed
that assemblies of raiders might be
prevented or followed up more easily
If, as in Dublin, every person out at
night were liable to arrest.
Il was officially announced today
that a military patrol was fired upon
last night at the police hut in New
town Sandes, County Kerry The mill
tary returned the fire and captured
three men. There were no military
casualties. The casualties of the at
tacking party are not known, the state
ment adds,
This was the first time that the mill
tary arm as istinguised from the
police has been fired at in the Irish
disturbances
The strikers committee today con
sidered the message from James Henry
Thomas NJ p. for Derby and General
Secretary Of the National Union OF
Railwaymen, advising the strikers tc
resume work pending decision by
the Trades Congress at Bristol on the
refusal of the men to handle munitions
1t was decided to inform the London
& Northwestern Railway company that
the men are willing to enter into nego
tiations to resume work.
The companys attitude is that the
men must return Internationally and
handle munitions if requested.