New-York tribune., 1920-12-24
Britain to Put
Check ON Black
And Tan Raids
Regular Army Forces Being
Sent Into Cork and Gov
ernment Will Prosecute
Breaches of Martial Law
Opens Way to Farley
Irish Prefer 1t to Terror
Reign; Maurice Condemns
1t as Blow at Crown Forces
From The Tribune's European Bureau

From The Tribune's European Bureau
Copyright. 1920. New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, Dec. 23.-The government
is developing it's policy of employing
strictly military methods in the paci-
Gcation Of Ireland, while the chances
FOR an immediate -eace are STEADILY
diminishing. Lloyd Georges reply to
ratner O'F'lanagan, that i. was I'M
possible to consider recognition of
the Irish Republic, and the first order
CT General Sir Nevii Macready, under
martial law, make = definite declara-
ton of this policy.
After the Premier's speech. in which
he extended to Ireland the olive
branch in one hand and the sword in
the other, no one across the Irish Sea
harbored much hope for the eventual
iru'tlon of the truce negotiations. Also
at every stage of the peace conversa-
tons there was doubt expressed as
70 the extent to which any Irishman
could claim to speak for the whole OF
South Ireland
While there can be only one ending
If the military leaders in Ireland
carry their present policy to it's logical
ilcIusion-the extinction Of Sim
telr as military organization-it is
noteworthy that both Ireland and Eng
land prefer a straight military cam
palgn to the regime of the last few
months, wherein the greater part Of
the Crown forces work was carried
out by the Black and Tans and the
constabulary forces.
Directed Against Crown Forces
Major General Sir Frederick Maurice.
commenting recently in The Daily News
on Genera! Macready's Saturday proc
lamation, aaid: "This first order under
martial law Is directed not against the
Sslnh FEN, but against the Crown
torces General Strickland has ordered
lhe auxiliary division from Cork since
then and reinforcements of regular
troops have been sent there. The aux-
lliarles were ordered out Of Cork be-
cause they mad shown themselves bv
their conduct to be q danger to the
cause of order. Next we have the or
der to al the Grown forces that any one
committing an ofFense against the
property or person of any inhabitsnt +
or who breaks into any house or other
place in search of plunder is liable to
the death penalty. No general ever
issues such an order unless he
has very strong evidence that the
onenses against which the order is di-
re, rected nave become very prevalent.
rms order Is q public admission of
what every well-informed person has
long known to be the case, namely.
that the Crown forces have been guilty
OF oHenses against persons and prop
erty and Of plundering"
General Maurice foresees the dis
banding of the Black and Tans and the
auxiliaries by General Macready and
1ntrusting the entire task of pacifca.
tion to th4 military
Hailed as Right Step
The leading editorial in The Times
on the same morning was Of SINH
ar tenor. 1t sad "Sir Nevil
Macready's $ warning is long step in
the right direction. If the Premier and
ms colleagues bring the auxiliary divi-
sion under resolute control and concen-
trate it in legitimate work their pres
ent optimism may not be unfounded.
But passing the governments Irish bin
VIII not itself bring a respite. It is
rather the duty of the government to
fedouble Its efforts so as to make the
lflsn bill the basis of a lasting settle
meIt."
An example Of what difference mar
tlal law will make is seer in the order
rom the commanding general of
County Kerry that Irish republic army
officers and leaders in military custody
Will be taken as hostages with all
armed transport forces of the Grown in
martial law areas. This renders am
bushes far less likely; consequently, it
lessons the occasions for renris.ls