New-York tribune., 1921-02-06

Its own signalIers, engineers and ma
chine guns.
THE tendency, though" no CON
ttnued, "is to operate In smaller units
In areas like Ulster where certain dis-
the population is hostile. We have
Only small groups engaged in recon
naissance and intelligence work. In
some areas, where conditions are
wholly favorable, the companies are
formed into battalions and brigades.
This la our regular army The men
on the run are somewhat similarly or
ganised, but In small units. They work
In conjunction with the regulars and
are kept we'll armed, clothed and
equipped. But the vast bulk of cur
available for operations in the daytime,
others at night"
Questioned as Co who directed the
attacks, Colonel X replied: "If 1t be
M attack on Il barracks, or other ma
5or operation requiring large number
of men. the officers In The district must
satisfy 40 at Headquarters that 1t won't
mean throwing away men or ammuni-
tion. In small operations, however,
such as an attack on one or two lor-
ries. or the seizure Of military supplies
on traina or roads, or raids on mails,
the men act on their own initiative"
Easy TO Obtain Recruits
Colonel x asserted that the organ
izatior WAS growing rapidly and that ii
was easy to obtain recruits.
"0f course" he explained, "we do
not take every applicant. In order to
Join man must have a good standing.
This is easy to determine In the coun-
try. In the cities he must be vouched
for. A good proportion Of the repub-
llcan army Is composed of ex-soldiers.
of whom only the best are taken. They
are particularly useful In machine gun
work"
No pay Is given to any OF the mem
bers Of the organization, except in
structors. Martial law has thus far
not affected the operations OF the re-
publican army, said Colonel X. Since
martial law has been proclaimed in the
South, the commanders of all brigades
and districts concerned have met for
the purpose Of dealing with the new
conditions.
Regarding ths maintenance Of sup
plies, arms and ammunition, Colonel
said; There Is no danger of any
| shortage. Besides what is captured in
attacks the usual supply continues to
trickle in from the outside. Our meth
DDS Of fighting, short sharp engage
ments economize ammunition to the
utm ost"
ARMY Funds From America
The Irish republican army is not
| hampered by lack of funds, a large
part of which. Colonel x declared,
came 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 men are all well fed and are
in good health" he added. "and their
continued residence is amazing. Moth
ing depresses them; They are always
game for new job, even if knocked
about night after night"
Asked why individual policemen
were shot down, he said that no police
man was picked off because he hap
pened to be an officer, asserting: "No
attack is made unless something is
wrong with the policeman's record,
such as engaging in intelligence work.
Discussing the republican army s
methods of warfare, he explained:
Guerrilla fighting is not as futile as
many people may believe. Our people in
1898 came out In masses against the
British and were moved down in one
summers campaign. We would be
quickly annihilated, too, if we at
tempted to oppose the military in bulk,
But we hit them without being hit.
We have kept on for year, and the
boys are still full of ginger and eager
to continue.
Breaking Crown Forces Morale
"Our methods are undermining the
morale of all the crown forces. Take
the auxiliaries, for example. At first
the auxiliaries were dashing lot and
handy with their guns. But now, since
they have been forced to take refuge
in armor- plated cars covered with net
ting, their prestige is gone. We no
longer fear them.
1--WE are also undermining England
economically. The cost to England, we
estimate, is q million pounds weekly
to maintain armed forces in Ireland,
and it will be necessary to increase the
forces tremendously before they can
make headway against US. Further
more, we are undermining Englaud's
reputation abroad"