New-York tribune., 1920-09-29
Sinn Fein Raiders Seize
Lewis Gums, Rifles and
Stores at Mallow; Two
Men Killed Near Belfast
Towns TerrOrized:
People i'm Flight
British Government Will
Deny 1t Has Connived
i'm Policy of Reprisal
BY Frank Gettv

From The Tribune's European bureau
Copyright. 1920. New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Sept. 28.-Sinn Fein exc
cuted its biggest coup of the "Irish
war" to-day when Republican raiders
IN surprise attack ON q military de-
pot at Mallow, County Cork, captured
the barracks and made away with
Lewis guns and large quantity of
rifles, ammunition and stores.
The depot was occupied by a COM
pany of the 18th Lancers, all but a few
OF whom were out in the fields exer-
cising horses at the time Of the raid
The Sinn Fein raiding parties had the
audacity to arrive in lorries and they
took the depot with rush. Only one
shot, which wounded q sergeant, was
fire&
One lancer. clad only in his under
wear, flung himself on a barebacked
horse and galloped off to recall his
comrades. Before help could arrive
the Sim Feiners had overpowered the
few soldiers in the depot, made q
clean sweep OF all the ammunition
and guns and vanished.
Government to Disown Reprisals
The Tribune correspondent is in
formed by the highest authority that
an official statement will be issued
within few days in which the British
government will formally deny con-
nivance in the policy of reprisals be-
ing carried out by police in Ireland
Strong measures to prevent their con-
rinuance will be promised.
Despite universal condemnation of
the reprisals, the fact that certain
section of the Irish police has definite
ly determined upon an eye for an eye
or rather a town for policeman
policy, considerable sympathy for the
police is expressed by other officials
besides General Sir Nevil Macready.
The Tribune correspondent is in
formed that the latter's interview, al
though tt has been subject to Cabinet
inquiry, probably will not result in his
removal. The official view is that
Macready didn't condone the policy
Of ieprisals, but attempted to explain
the difficult position in which the po-
lice, presumably on duty in friendly
country, found themselves, and to draw
attention to the perfectly natural de-
sire for revenge aroused by the con-
licemen. 1t was the belief in military
circles that the policy of reprisals
would result in checking completely
the attacks upon the police
Meanwhile the inhabitants of many
Irish towns are living in a constant
state Of terror. The police have affixed
notices to houses in Kilkee, Kilrush,
Carrigaholt, Doonbeg and Kilpmihill
stating that the towns will be burned if
Captain Lendrum, resident magistrate
of County Glare, who is believed to
is not returned within forty-eight
hours. All who are able to leave these
towns are doing so.
Fresh Outrages Perpetrated
The Black and Tans fired indis-
criminately through the streets of
Clonakilty Sunday, smashing windows
Moycullen lorry filled with armed po-
lice rounded up the townspeople coming
from mass, separated the men from the
women and drove the former into a
field, where man, apparently the
leader of the police, addressed them.
He announced that local land agent
who had been forced to leave town was
about to return home and that if hair
of his head was touched six Repubi-
cans would fall IN revenge.
After an attack on police escort at
New Ardrahan, County Galway, the
local town hall was burned down by
the police. BaXonet charges in Belfast
last night, together with the imposi-
tion of curfew, helped to check the
sectarian rioting there and to keep
some semblance of order in most Of
the city, although there were lively
clashes between mobs, in which twenty
or more persons were hurt. Seven
were wounded by revolver bullets.
An attempt by one London news
paper to start scare story tonight of
the discovery of vast Sim Fein plot
in London involving we'll known per-
sons draws only scoffing denial from
the irish Office.
BELFAST, Sept. 2s.-Two civilians
were shot dead and a number of per-
sons were wounded during clash be-
tween soldiers and crowd on the Falls
Road late to-day.
LONDON, sepk ga dispatch to
the Exchange Telegraph from Dublin
says the town Of Mallow, County Cork,
is on Are in several places and that the
fire brigade is unable to turn out on
account of the curfew order.