Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-02-10
SAYS U. S. FUNDS
HELP IRISH ARMY
LEADER OF IRISH REPUBLICAN
ARMY DESCRIBES FORCES
USED AGAINST BRITISH
HIGH OFFICERS STATEMENT
piseloses Irish Plan OF Campaign, But
Will Not Allow The Use OF
Own Name

Dublin. Ireland.-A high officer OF
the Irish republican army has given
TO the Associated Press a lengthy
statement on the army and its oper-
atoms. This is the first authorized
statement thus made public, but the
| identity of the officer and the cir
cumstances of the interview cannot
be disclosed, nor is the correspond
ent permitted to publish the statisti-
cal information supplied in regard TO
the total number of forces, both reg
ular and irregular, as the flying col
umns composed of men on the run
are termed, now in the field.
The Irish republican army is not
hampered by lack of funds, a large
mart of which, the officer declared,
comes from America in subscriptions
to the republican loan. Local quarter
masters. he went on, look after the
flying columns and provide billets'
and supplies.
The officers who viii be designed
in the interview as Colonel X, spoke
frequently, answering unhesitatingly
every question propounded, but he en-
Joined non-publication of various
statements, which he said might give
information to the enemy"
I'VE are undermining England eco
nomically," he said. THE cost to
England, we estimate, is a million
pounds weekly to maintain armed
forces in ireland, and it will be nee
esssary to increase the forces ire
mendously before they can make any
Roadway against us. Furthermore
we are undermining England's repu-
! tation abroad"
He emphatically denied the recent
declaration of Major General Strlck-
land. in command of the British troops,
that the Irish republican army organ
ization was dismembered and repu-
dated the suggestion that the re-
markable activity in the last fortnight
was a demonstration to disprove the
assertions that the moral of the vol
unteers was impaired.
1.-THE recent increase in the num-
Der of attacks on the crown forces,
said Colonel X, was only natural
development due to the perfecting OF
our organization. From now on there
will be further extension and inten-
sification of our operations IN all
aarts of the country"
sHe- intinsA4ed~-that the republican
armv would soon begin the Issuance
Of a military communique, probably
weekly, and added:
"Our system of communication is
not yet very rapid, but 1t is certain.
He smiled at a reference to his at
tention that Michael Collins was head
of the republican army, saying: Ihat
is a deIusion persisted in not only
by the public, but by the British gov
eminent" He did not say whether
the direction of the republican army
was in the hands of one man or
committee. There is a large reward
outstanding for the arrest OF Coiiins'
Colonel X began:
"The Irish republican army dots
the entire country. Our plan is 10
account for every district either by
battalions or companies; every foot
of ground is being surveyed and stud
ied with reference to the most prom
ising spots for ambushes with re-
gard to the dispositions of the crown
forces. The size of our forces va
RES according to the nature OF the
country and the number and cnarac-
fer of the inhabitants County Meath,
for instance, is sparsely settled ana
the terrain is flat - making conui
tons for fighting unfavorabie'