The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-07-18
DARING RAIDERS
IN IRELAND FOOL
BRITISH POLICE
Sim Feiners in Kings Uni
form Victimize Postal and
Military Officers.
GENERAL STILL CAPTIVE
Secret Warfare Against Cops
is Becoming Infuriatmg and
They Will Shoot First. %.

Special Gable Despatch 10 THE Sun AND New
YORK HERALD COPYRIGHT, 1880, bv THE Sun
AND Nw YoRK HERALD,
DUBLIN, July 1.-THE Sim Fein raid
on the Dublin post office Thursday,
when a score of men took from the
sorting tables the official mail for
Dublin Castle, was not the only sue
cessful venture of that kind in Ire
land A few days ago, just before the
time for mounted constable to call
at the Sackville post office for the
castle mail, a cavalier, resplendant In
full police uniform and equipment,
rode up to the curb by the post Office
and tossed, his reins to two constables
who were standing on the sidewalk,
Then he sauntered up to the counter
of the post Office, where the mail was
waiting, and clerk put 1t into an
official looking pouch which the man
carried. Then he strode from the
building thanked the constables who
had held his horse and trotted off.
Scarcely was he around the corner
before the real messenger from the
castle reached the post office. However,
despite the prompt securing of nearby
territory the Sim Felner. perfectly
mounted and uniformed, had been swal-
lowed up as II by magic.
A similar trick was played on high
British staff officer in Ireland this week.
party OF "constabes" knocked at the
door of his house in the suburbs of
Dublin just after dark and announced
tfat they were searching the neighbor-
hood for arms. The officer revealed his
| Identity TO the meticulous sergeant in
charge of the party, who then produced
an order for the search.
You are the last man who would ask
us not to obey our orders. sir" he said.
"Of course, you will get back your arms
and ammunition in the morning. but we
must make return on this house"
Gives Foes "Drnp o. the CrRtur."
His attitude was so Arm respectful
and intelligent that the officer finally
dtITetu W NHt turning ONGT "
the party two service revolvers, couple
of sporting guns and many rounds OF
ammunition. At the same time he COM
plimented the ''constables'' on their effi-
c'ency, and even invited them, unoffl-
cially, TO "drap o. the cratur." All Of
them had pleasant time but when the
officer applied at\Polce Headquarters
tire following morning for his property
he learned that the party he had enter
tained we're Sim Fein adherents.
This sort of thing is going on In
Ireland wherever the Sim Fein come
In contact with the police and military.
The btterest phaseNo of II all is when the
death sentence Is fcarried out by the
Sim Feln on persons who are charged
with knowing too much.
This strange opera bouffe atmosphere
of geniality and deadly feuds is possible
only in Ireland. The case of Gen.
Lucas. who Is a prisoner In the hands
of the Sim Fein. is typical.
The correspondent of THE SUN AND
New YORK HERALD here learned from
a supposedly informed source this week
where Gen. Lucas was being held. He
applied to the Sim Fein Minister Of
Information for an interview with Gen.
Lucas.
II think that l can arrange it," the
Sinn Fein Minister replied. AT least,
will do everything possible to arrange
it." 4
The correspondent applied to, him
again forty EIGHT hours later. y.
II am sorry that | cannot arrange
for the interview" he said. I'VE would
be glad to do so, but the General him
self wont talk The poor fellow is
going to got the devil from his own
people when he is released. Don't make
il any worse for him il you can help It."
Held in Mountain Monastery,
It was reported that Gen. Lucas was
held for long time In a Trappist
monastery in the Knockmealdown Noun
tains but now is enjoying tour of
ireland In circumstances which he him.
self was reported as having described
as delightful.
But the Sim Fein are not all OF such
airy persiflage. No less than five police
men have been killed this week and
score OF them wounded seriously
1t Is the warfare against the police
that is rapidly infuriating the latter TO
the point where it effects further serious
dufe,.tions from the force through such
incidents as that which occurred In
Listowel A divisional officer in Cork
went to Killarney and reviewed the
police there this week, when he informed
them that no more policemen would be
required to face coroners' inquiries after
killings and that whenever police
patrol saw a Sim Feiner approaching
him and suspected that he was going
to attack him to shoot first and there
would be no further inquiry and 4. no
facilities for an inquiry.
He drew a chalk line on the floor
and asked the men who were not
prepared to cooperate with him to step
across It and he would pay them or
on the spot. Five Of them stepped out
and the remainder cheered. However,
he did not pay of the men who declared
their unwillinSncsS 20 cooperate with
him and soon afterward he left the po-
lice station.
While this describes the existing mill,
tary situation in Ireland. the civil situa-
ton Is equally as interesting. Ireland
is preparing TO settle down to the isola-
tion which Is predicted when the rail-
roads close down in general strike.
Cities are organizing motor food trans
port facilities and the country districts
are making similar Preparations A
shopkeeper In ClaTemorris asserts that
he sells more spinningwheels than
ounces OF tobacco as the prosperous
farmers are preparing to make their
own winter clothing.