The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-05-14
Irish Guerilla Warfare
Reports From IrisEa Commanders
of Attacks

London, April 6---fnsi1e stories Of
the ambushes laid ~ tn, Isasl tss-
publican Army TO s:a!1 ana k,ls sasads
of British constablcs in Ireand. ara
disclosed in the reports from irssa
brigade commanders which have jstss
been given out at tises headquarters Hf
the Volunteers in Duolin: Hosi az
these attacks have been re7ozsea by
the British but the sg,ish acco1ntasass
now given for the 6rst time,
They give the details OF desperate
lights in which, sometimes. the little
British commands have been aecs.
mated and at other times the 3rasa
have been driven Off with several loss
es for the Irish volunteers occasionally
run into counter traY, and hnd them
! selves exposed to tie withertng blast
OF machine gun.
These reports show the methods
employed to carry on the guerrilla
fighting, the hurried calls to assemble
the Irish attackers, efforts 20 surprise
the British consrablea in some isolated
spot and tell Of the use Of mines. .to
block the passage Of motor caTs.-sa
that the attack can BE delivered with
greater execution.
A typical ambush is described ina
report Of the commander Of the East
County Clare brig;.de. Thirty-fre
men, five acting as scouts attacked
a police lo1y containing district ine
spector and nine constables at Glen
wood Belvoir, killing all but four
who escaped. Twenty of the attacs-
ers. il is said, were armed with rites
and ten With double narrelled shot
guns. They were concealed on eae
side Of road near q stream. So
.'As in a previous ambush, the
commander reports. the, main body
was divided into three parties. The
position which was occupied: at ia.
M, was not favorable, but We count
ed on the element Of surprise and the
concentrated fire Of Is Of the rifles
and the ten shotguns in the first Tol.
ley to make up for SHORTCOMINGS an1
in this we were successful -:f
They waited, it appears, until 4onf
O'clock ia the afternoon before s:the
lorry came in sight. "Wheu the caR
came into the centre position" tea
report continues, ''it was raEed wtsA
the fire Of the 25 ganH, most. OF sae
police were shot of and the car came
TO a dead stop. Some Of the pal1sa
when they got on taa road made 90
attempt to put fgn> but thes seeon4.
volley, which included all the rifles
wiped them out. ~:
What is termed ''an ezcee6ingH
risky operation as He were half the
enemy strength was, the attack II
County Donegal on q military tfatn
from Derry. According TO ths hts-
gade commanders report the attach,
ing. party numbered Co. Informatdp1
was received at $50 at, night. the re-
port says, that the special train Taa
to leave Derry at a. m. the, neeggS
morning. ss-- .s.,,sl2I ss
Little time was lett to cheosfaa
position and get settled. :sbRsxA
train was late, giving us thEee-etaAT-
ters of an hour to get reaAy.S,li-
chose cutting one side Of Which Wa3
ON level with the ca rrssga WaRa9Hs
At the ends Of each .aae we ps4eeA
bombers aud riffs men and between
were placed the reraasniIg .rtaepsAN
and the others differently armed Te2
largo boulders were placed on .t1a
rails and the wire feEase az eaeA A1a
were pulled up 70 afford a safe sS4.
The station building s short distance
away was taken posses ssoo Of aadA
green light displayed. -: 3. ~; ~
There were seven carrtasea o1 N1A
train and It was trayezsng at q sTsz&
speed when it struck the s3aaeS
Fire was opened from both Aaea
and bonts were hur!ea through ths
windows The Are was returned
from the cab OF the engine. where g
Lewis gun was in position. Our x3te.
men, at the rear end Ut the tsatn gsI
down on the line for snfiladtnS dta.
bat after about ten minntes.. ! VA
forced to order retrea.t TO elect fAa
safe escape Of our men, Eight bombs
were thrown, two Of which va 5EA
certain landed ia ca1sage&
In the retreat one u our two PSF.
ties was surrounded ssice but SoHgat
its way through on e4ca occasion Dne
of our men is missing and re beAeTe
he has fallen into the hands OF tnA
enemy. No other casualties were SUE
fered on our side apas despite their
denial, we have every reason 70 as,
lieye that at least ten nen were eSsae
er killed or wounded On she enemy
side.'