The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1921-04-08

ioCho anu cSConus IA0 ScGIcI exc.
cution" Of spies, traitors and enc
mics, of the Irish republic who have
been aojudged guilty" by its courts
and sentenced to death. 1t is ad-
mitted that the accused never ap-
pear before these Sim Fein tribun-
ais. NJ inor offences are punishable
by sentencing the guilty to enforced
absence from their home towns and
residence for stated period in ian
unknown locality" The commission
condemns the so-called legalized
killings.
British Methods Denounced
Many instances of alleged atroci-
ties and wanton destruction of prop
erty by the British troops are pre-
sented in the report but all of these
were testified to and publicly re-
ported at the time of the hearings
last winter. Denunciation of the
methods of the Auxiliary Cadets and
the Black and Tans, two forces OF
"irregulars" that supplement the
Royal Irish Constabulary and thu
regular British troops is expressed
in the findings. Evidence of wit
nesses and dispositions from victims,
according to the report established
the fact that these troops included
in their ranks "burglars and high.
waymen, gunner and petty thieves
Regarding casualties, the commits
sion says that it is justified in con-
Guiding that mot more than 600 of
the British have been killed in Ire
land from May, 1915, to December,
1920. These 600 casualties would
seem to have occurred in force of
$4,000 during period of four and
one-half years, it is pointed out, or
at the rate Of not more than .26 vof
one per cent per annum.
On the other hand, according to
lists compiled by the Irish Repub-
lican government and submitted 10
the commission, more than 200 un-
armed Irish civilians were killed by
the military and police during 1920
alone. This number, it was stated,
included six women, IL children, 10
old men and two priests but did not
include persons killed in the fight
ing. The commission says it does
not vouch for the exactness of the
figures but "direet testimony" it
says, showed the killing of civilians
in 1920 ran into smany hundreds.
$4,000 Raids Reported
The testimony attributed to the
British forces approximately $4,000
raids, entailing "wreckage of prop
erty, robbery, murder of citizens.
brutality of priests and women and
children, and indiscriminate fog
ging" Many of the raids, it was said
were made at night by members
of the British forces dressed in civ
ilian clothing"
Stress is laid upon "the moral
consequence to the Imperial British
forces 'of the British governments
military policy in Ireland" License
instead of discipline, the commission
says, now prevails among the troops
"Citfzens of the Irish Republic" are
held blameless for Incidental acct
dental and disciplinary casualties in
the British forces, and for casualties
incurred under circumstances of
general violence and disorder. .
Many of the excuses of the $4,000
British troops are attributed to the
Indictment of the fear of assassina-
tion in the soldiers minds by their
superiors.
eve would extend our sympathy
to the great British people, says
the commission in concluding its re-
port. 1.-The army which is the in.
strument of their government IN
Ireland would also seem to be the
instrument of the destruction OF
that moral heritage which was theil
glory and which cast its lustre OF
each and all of them. The sun Of
that glory seems finally to have SCI
over Ireland. British Justice ha:
become a discredited thing. The Of
fetal Black and Tans in 1relanl
compete for the dishonor of Anglo
Saxon civilization with our unoffi
cial lynch mobs. We hope that TIL,
wrong done to Ireland may b,
righted and the agony Of her pee
pie will cease. When these thing
shall come to pass, then the grea
British people will emerge from tn
Darkness that now encompass
them into the glory Of new day.
Thirty-six states were representa-
in the committee which initiated tn
inquiry, the report says, includin
five governors, IL United States sen
ators, 10 congressman, mayors q
p