New-York tribune., 1920-10-10
Republican Police


teers is well known te the American
public, for it constitutes direct.
physical menace TO Br:tish rule IN
Ireland. The tendency in Ireland
to-day, however, is away from or
ganized violence ard resistance BIZ
force-away, that is, from he guer-
rilla warfare idea and toward a
"freezing out" policy Of undermin-
ing British rule. The volunteers.
said to number close to 100000, are,
therefore, now known as Irish Re-
publican Police II many towns
they wear black arm bands, with
]. R. P. in red letters.
One little incident ay suffice 70
show the character OF their work.
A member Of the Royal Irish Con-
stabulary had his lawn mower stolen.
He appealed to his own organiza-
ton without success, and finally
told of the matter to his neXt-door
neighbor, a member of the Sim
Fem volunteers. The local Sim
Fem club took up the matter. and
in few days the instrument was
restored to its owner. Moreover,
the man who stole it was taken by
the Irish republican police before
the nearest republican court and
fined for his offense.
A considerable portion Of an
average Irish day and night is de-
voted to raids and counter raids.
No property is violate. The mill
tary in the larger cities arc con-
stantly under orders to raid for
arms, stolen documents. secret hid
ing places of Sim F6iners and
other attributes of rebellion The
Sim Fein bands are constantly
raiding on their own behalf. always
in search of arms; the houses Of
British officials, when not closely
guarded, are favorite target for
nocturnal visits of this sort.
Sometimes the raiding parties are
responsible for considerable Of tha.
amusement without which an Irish
Incident is rare indeed. British
soldiers. for instance, visited the
house of a British colonel the
colonel was wrathy, but the sergeant
N charge Of the raiding party was
.nsistent that "orders were orders"
Finally the colonel acquiesced to The
7earch, and was 50 struck by the
soldiers' devotion to duty and the
Neticulous care with which they full
HE'D it-incidentally finding re-
V3lVer and a sporting gun. which
hey ccmmandeered- he stood
!rinks ali around. There was an
poplectic colonel at headquarters
9e next day when it was discovered
lat the "soldiers' were Sim Fem
RS in stolen uniforms.
Pcacefui Moments
1t would seem that Ireland was
n a state Of constant warfare: such
IS not the case. For one brief week
IN August, at any rate, all fa.tions
IN Ireland declared a truce. That
Is when the annual Dublin horse
show, long rated the finest in the
world, is held on the spacious green
grounds of the Royal Dublin So
,iety.
Political feuds fade into the back
ground, the tumult of outrage and
'eprisal and sectarian strife is
and loyalists and rebels
transcend their Differences in the
friendly rivalry of horscfesh. The
hunting field and the racecourse
ire in Ireland traditionally common
ground where differences of political
talth are laid aside; the Dublin
1orse show is the supreme occasion
If Irish hunting and racing.
There is an Irish society" para
ioxical though it may seem; and
lere it gathers, in high silks and
picture hats, to quaff champagne
and pose for photographers from
English society papers, and argue
amicably the points of hunters
West Britons," some Of tn, c...vIs-
SITS call themselves; but there ara
Sim Feiners aplenty at the SHOW;
attendance this year was slightly
over $4,000.
The horse show is perhaps too
to be really representa-
i've of the Irish gathered at play.
4 large race meeting, at Ballydoyle
'r Pa9nix Park draws the pro-
etariat. There are no more Dom
lybrook fairs