The Washington times., 1920-12-10
Refused to Turn Machine Guns
on Unarmed Irish, Crowley
Informs Probers.
CENSURED, HE RESIGNED
Others 0beyed Orders, Killing
Two RepubIicans-Girls
Beaten by Soldiers.

Refusing to obey orders to shoot
down with machine guns unarmed
Irishmen in county Kerry, Daniel F.
Crowley, former member OF the
ROYAL Irish Constabulary 1.-THE Brit
ish police force), resigned from the
force, he testified today before the
American commission on conditions
in Ireland, which is sitting at the
lafayette here.
He testified that, with twenty other
members of the fofce, he had been
ordered by General Lucas, COM
nandant Of British military IN Ire
and, to man motor truck and shoot
down all Irishmen who were identi-
fed in any way with the Irish repub-
lican corps and to burn their homes.
REFUSED TO OBEY.
Refusing to carry out such orders,
he and three other members of the
corps resigned. The other, three,
John J. Caddon, John Tangney and
Daniel Galvin-also arc here to
testify.
"I was bitterly censured by General
Lucas and by other members OF the
corps for refusing to carry out the re-
prisal orders" he declared.
He testified that. after nc hnd
turned In his resignation, the truck
proceeded on it's mission, and that
Morris welch and william ConneN,
both me embers OF the Irish Republican
CORPS, were shot down, and their
homes burned.
He stated that in the town of
Clohohin, with 400 population, there
were stationed 100 soldiers. three
Black and Tans, and the regular
police force.
aAfter my resiGnntiou." nc said. "t
saw soldiers knock down two Irish
girls sud bent them with gun butts.
succeeded In persuadinw them to
stop, but not until the girls had been
badly hurt These events, he de-
eisred, took place in March. 1920.
Crowley testified that about 200
members of the Black and Tans, tnc
Royal Irish Constabulary and the reg
ular military were assembled in -hc
Listowe barracks to hear a talk by
Colonel Smith. the new commandant
of the barracks. Colonel Smith. ne
said. had Just returned from Germany,
where he had served with the army OF
occupation.
.shoot every man on sight who has
anything to do with the Irish repub-
ItrAn army OfoGre0 SOhV"Vt SF"hs"s
according to Crowley. "The Drfttsh
government will back you In every
yyay and will furnish you with all the
nrms and ammunition needed. IL
there is my mnn in this room who Is
not willing to carry out these orders,
let him resign at once"
CALLED .MURDERER.-
A Sergeant sullivan then stepped
laI
said. ct can tell by your accent that
you arc an Englishman. You have
no right to order troops about in Ire
land, and you are a downright muir
derer."
The sergeant was placed under ar
rest, charged with insubordination,
Crowley stated, whereupon. =. another
member OF the constabulary stepped
forward and shouted, "If hand is
laid on Sergeant sullivan, this room
will reek with blood"
After his rcsignatson- Crowley said.
he heard Of deliberate orders given
the constabsIsry and the military for
the burning of crenmcrie~. He said
thc~~ orders had been carried ont In
every Instance.
Blame for the campaign OF arson
and assassination now being waged
in Ireland by the British Black and
Tans" and members of the Republican
army. was laid at the door of England
today by Miss Mary McSwiney, sister
of Lord Mayor Terence McSwiney of
Cork. when she resumed her testimony
before the Committee on Conditions in
Ireland.
ASKS HER FOR FACTS.
Rev. Norman Thomas, a Presby-
terian minister, told Miss McSwiney
many Americans were OF the belief
ireland had made big blunder by
using violence and force instead OF
going quietly about the business of
their government lie asked who had
started the violence.
"Tho British did" replied Miss Nc
Swiney promptly. "I can honestly
say tho Irish never resorted to vio-
lenoe until England rcsorted TO ham
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