The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-03-21
BONAR LAW OUT,
IRISH SEE CHANCE
Think They Could Get More
From a Straight Out Tory
Government.

Special Gable to THE New York HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, BIZ THE NEW YORK HERALD.
DUBLIN, March 20.-Irish leaders see
their opportunity in the retirement of
Andrew Bonar Law--but it is an oppor-
tunity OF which they can only take adj
vantage by the bitterest kind OF fight
ing-and while the new political stu
alton in Parliament is crystalizing there
will be dark and bloody days here.
Last nights events are an index of
what may be expected. There were
more than a score of casualties in the
Dublin streets and pitched battles were
fought at Bandon and elsewhere be-
tween large forces.
The Irish theory Is that even If Pre-
mier Lloyd George becomes a straight
out-and-out Tory. or If there is a change
in the situation, which they feel certain
will be due as a result OF a straight out
Tory Government at Westminster. it win
mean that the coalitions Irish pro-
gramme will be wrecked and the "Plun-
der and Partition bilr' (Home Rule act)
wiped off the statute books and an OPP
portunity presented for starting nego-
tiations with a clean slate.
This is not the opinion of the leaders
of the murder gang or any OF the So
called group of extremists. 1t is the
considered opinion which THE NEW YoRts
HERALD correspondent hears in many
quarters and from all sorts of men in
Dublin. One OF them describes II as a
reasoned programme evolved from ire
lands bitter experience.
There will be no new Easter rebel
lion. Sim Fein has learned the futility
of graphing in pitched battle with the
British forces as whole. But recruit
ing has been going on at n tremendous
scale, as many of those who have hither-
to been neutral have been driven to the
active ranks by the martial law reprisals
and other measures of fierce repression
during the last seven months There will
be tremendous increase of sporadic at
tacks and ambushes not only against the
police, but against bodies of soldiers in
units. the size of which will only be
measured by the forces which Michael
Collins, commander of the Sim Fem
army, and Mulcahy think they can mus
ter up against them.
They plan to demonstrate such n con-
dition in Ireland that, no matter how
reactionary the Tories may be who be-
come the new heads of affairs, they will
be willing to make a new settlement
along lines which Sim Fem can accept.
The boycott against Ulster is mean
while beirg extended and intensified
planning that their business of whole
sailing to tho rest Of Ireland has been
ruined. Sim Fein believes that when
the time comes to talk Of a new deal
Ulster will be more willing than ever
t make fair settlement with the south.
1t is indubitable that the morale of the
Irish Republican Army has bucked up
tremendously during recent weeks. A
careful toll has been kept Of both collins
and stretchers coming from scenes of
recent fighting. and the Irish say that
there were many more in both killed and
wounded than was officially admitted.
Some British officials admit that
there has been a change in the char
acter OF the Irish fighting. 1t is also
true that there has been a valiant eff
fort to reform the Black and Tans. This
has been carried on as the result Of
direct orders from Downing Street. I'VE
are not carrying on any peace moves,
one important official said. I'VE are
too busy trying to discipline certain or
our forces"
The Government policy inevitably
tends toward the extension of martial
law and is turning over more and more
power into the hands of the military
as well as the district police auxiliaries.
Crown officials point out that what
they have done has been to round up
particularly the ablest Irish leaders.
The official report shows that the fol-
lowing have been arrested and informed
UP to February 81: Brigade command
ants, Is; brigade staff, 80; battalion
commandants, 40; battalion staff. 90 :
company officers, S04 others or I'M
known RAMS. 9s2.
These officials believe that II will be
ireland who will tire first and that Eng
land will name terms to her under the
new regime. 1t may be matter Of
months before the struggle can be fought
out, they say. and both sides are settling
down to a campaign Of no quarter given
from this time onward.