Arizona republican., 1921-02-06

{Continued from Pass One)
being surveyed and studied with ref
ercnce to tho most promising spots for
ambushes and with regard to the dis
positions of the crown forces. The size
of our forces varies according to the
nature of the country and the number
and character of the inhabitants.
County Meath is sparsely settled, and
the terrain is flat, making conditions
for fighting unfavorable.
Complete Army Equipment
I'VE are slowly but steadily carrying
out our plans. 1t should be understood.
however, that we must organize and
train men while we are fighting
The unit of the organization, he said,
is the company, whose full strength
normally is 100 men, each company
being tactically self-contafned and fur
nixhfne its own signaller, engineers and
machine guns
THE tendency, though" he continued
els to operate in smaller units in areas
like Ulster. where certain districts are
either too thinly peopled or the popula-
ton Is hostile. We have only small
groups engaged in reconnaissance and
Intelligence work In some areas, where
conditions are wholly favorable, ene
companies are formed into battaltons
and brigades. This Is our regular army.
The men on the run are somewhat
similarly organized, hut in small units
ulars and are kept well armed. clotneo
and equipped. But the vast buik OF our
men are not on the run; they are avail
able for operations in the day time
others at night"
Questioned as to who directed the
attacks, Colonel x. replied:
ere IL be an attack on . barracK, OF
other major operation requiring many
men. the officers in the district must
Uatisfv us at headquarters that it Will
not mean to throw away men or am
munition.
In small operations. such IS an at
tack on two or three lorries. or the
seizure of military supplies on trains
or roads, or raids on mails. the men
act on their own Initiative"
Easy to Get Recruits
Colonel X asserted that the organ
tzation was growing rapidly and that
n was easy to obtain recruits.
"Of course" he explained. we do
not take every applicant To Join, a
man must have good standinG- A
good proportion of the Republican
army is composed of ex-soldiers, ot
whom the best are taken; they ar.
especially useful in machine gu
work.
No pay is given to any members ex
cept Instructors. Martial law has thu
far not affected the operations of ii.
Republican army, said Colonel
Since martial law has been proclaimc
in the south. commanders of al
bridges and districts concerned have
met to deal with the new conditions.
Regarding the maintenance of sup
plies. arms and ammunition. Colonel
X said:
There is no danger of any shortage
besides what is captured in attacks
the usual supply continues to trtckle
In. Our mode of fighting short. sharp
Re
The Irish Republican army is not
hampered by lack OF funds, a large
part of which, Colonel X. declared,
comes from America in subscriptions
to the Republican loan. Local quar-
terrnasters he went on. look after the
flying columns and provide billets and
supplies.
good health" he added, "and their con-
tinued resistance is amazing, Nothing
depresses them; they are always game
for new job, even IL 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 that
no attack Is made unless something Is
wrong with the policeman's record.
Discussing the Republican army's
methods of warfare. he explained:
Guerrilla fighting Is not as futile as
many people may believe. Our people
IN '9S came out in masses against the
British and were moved down in one
summers campaign. We would be
quickly annihilated. too. II we attempt
ed to oppose the military in bulk. But
we hit them without being hit We
kept on for year and the boys are
still full of ginger and eager to con-
tinue.
Our methods are undermining the
morale of all the crown forces. Take
the auxiliaries. for example. At first
the auxiliaries were a dashing lot and
handy with their guns. But now
since they have been forced to take
refuge in armored cars, their prestige
is gone. We no longer fear them We
are also undermining England eco
nomically. The cost to England we
estimate is q million pounds weekly tc
maintain armed forces in Ireland and
II will be necessary to increase the
forces before they can make headwaJ
against us. Furth ermore, we are
undermining England's reputation
abroad"