Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-06
IRISH OFFICIAL TELLS
OF ARMY OPERATIONS
flrst Authorized Statement rhus
Maae Puhlic-Circumstances OF
Interview Not Disclosed.
NOT LACKING FOX FUNDS
'osis Estimated at Million Pounds
weekly for England to Maintain
Armed Forces I'm IrcIand-Can't
Make Any Roadway.
INy AssocLntcd Iroesl

l''y Associated I'rc&sJ
hA-lN. F"b. "a high officer OF
'He Irish Republican army has given
TO the Associated Press q lengthy
"'''''"eht on the army ana its opera
ions This is the FIRST au,horlzel
statement thus made public. but the
'"eh'ity II the officer and the cir
cuhetanccs OF the interview canno;
De disclosed. nor IL the correspond
'ht permitted to publish the statls,!-
val information supplied regarding
'he 'otai number OF forces. both reg
"'ar hhd "!rrcgular"-as the ny;np
''"'hhs composed. Of mon On the run
arg terincd--now in the field.
nc officer cmphat!caIiy denied tho
recent declaration OF MaJOr<Gencra
'ilch!ahd, In command OF the Brit
'Sh troops. that the Irish Eepuhl!-
can army organization was disn.In-
"ef'". II" rcpudiatcd tho euggcstton
'Hdt The remarkable activity In the
iast fortnight was denomination
10 d!sprovc the assertions mat IN.
morale OF the Volunteers was i'm
paired
VIII lSsuc COmniItnIuuc.
he lntimntcd that the Republican
ARM would soon begin the issuance
@! a military communlquc, probably
weekly. and added: Our system Of
communication is nc. get very rapid.
but II IL certain" lie smiled at a
reference called TO his attention that
M!chae! Collins wap head Of the Re-
publican army. saying: That is i,
dclns.on persisted in not only By the
rNblic, but by the British govern
mont"
The Irish Republican army is not
ham pcrcd by inck OF funds. "A large
part Of which. the officer declared
comes from America In subscription
tr tn" Rcpublicun loan Local quar-
ictinasters. he went on. look after
The dying columns ana provide bill
let's and supplies.
''Ihe men are all well fed and are
IA good hsalth,' ne added. and their
continued residence is amazing. Moth
iig dcprcsscs them; they are always
game FOR now job. even II Knocked
about nigh, after night"
Asked why individual policemen
we're shot down. ne said tina, no 20
liceman was picked OF because he
happened TO be an officer. asserting.
No attack Is made unless something
~ wrong with the poiiccman's record.
such as engaging IN Intelligence
work"
Guerilla Fighting Not Futile.
Discussing The Republican army's
method OF warfare he explained:
Guerilla tirhting is not as futile as
nanny people may believe. Our pco-
bic in 'ss came out in masses aga MT
the British andewcre moved down in
one summers campaign. We would
be quickly annihilatcd. too, II we at
tempted TO oppose the military in
bulk. but We hit them without being
III. We have kept on for a year.
and cage 10 continue.
our methods are undertaking tho
morale OF all the crown forces. Take
the auXiliaricS, for example At
first the auxilIar!cs were dashinG
lot. and handy with their guns. hut
row, since they have been forced to
take refuge in armor plated cars COW
>rcd with netting, their prestige is
gone, We no longer fear them.
I'VE are also undermining England
economically. The cost to England.
We estimate, is million pounds
weekly to maintain armed forces in
ireland. ana it will be necessary to
increase the forces tremendously be-
fore they can make Roadway agains,
US. Furthermore We are undermin-
ing England's reputation abroad"