Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-31

and enemies of the Irish republic who
have been adjudged guilty" by its
courts and sentenced to death. 1t is
admitted that the accused never ap-
Minor o6enses are punishable by
sentencing the guilty to enforced alb
sence from THEFT home town and resi-
dence for a stated period in IAN un-
known locality" The commission
condemns the so-called legalized
killings. T..
Many instances Of alleged atrocities
and wanton. destruction Of property
by the British Troops are presented in
the report but all Of these were tes-
tired to and publicly reported at the
time of the hearings last winter.
Denunciation of the methods Of the
Tans. two forces of "irregulars" that
supplement the royal Irish con-
stabulary and the regular British
troops is expressed in the findings.
Evidence of witnesses and dispositions
from victims. according to the report,
established the fact that these troops
included in their ranks burglars and
highwayrnen, gunner and petty
thieves"
Regarding casualties, the commits
sion says hat it is justified in con-
Guiding that mot more than 600 Of
the British have beer killed in Ireland
These 600 casualties would seem to
have occurred in a force Of $4,000
during a period Of fur and one-half
years, it is pointed but. or at the
rate Of not than .26 Of per
cent per annum.
/, On the other han1, according to
lists compiled by the: Irish republican
government and submitted to the
commission. mor than 200 unarmed
military and police during 1920
alone. This number; 1t was said, in
c!uded six women. 3 children. 10
old men and two priests but did not
include persons killed in the fighting.
The commission says it does not
vouch for the. e%Xactness of the figures
but direct testimony" it says,
showed the killing. Of civilians in 1920
a into many hundreds"
| Declares Many Raids Made.
!. The testimony attributed to the
British forces approximately $4,000
rakls, entailing "wreckage Of prop
erty. robbery, murder of citizens, bru-
tally to priests and women and chill
dren, and tndiscriminate flogging."
Many of the raids. it was said. were
made at night by members of the
British forces dressed in civilian
clothing"
Stress is laid upon 1.-THE moral con-
sequence to- the imperial British
forces of the British governments
military policy in Ireland" License
instead Of discipline. the commission
says. now prevails among the troops.
""Citizens of the Irish republic" are
held blameless for '%'incidental acct
dental n disciplinary casualties in
the British forces, and for casualties
incurred under circumstances of gen.
eral violence and disorder" Many Of
the excuses Of the $4,000 British
troops are attributed to the Indictment
Of the fear of assassination in the
soldiers minds by their superiors.
I'VE would. extend our sympathy to
the great British people," say the
commission in. concluding its report.
1.-THE army which is the instrument Of
their government in Iceland would
also seem to be the instrument of the
destruction Of that moral heritage
which was their glory and which cast
its lustre on each and all of them.
The sun Of that glory seems finally to
have set owe Ireland. British Justice
has become a discredited thing. The
official Black and Tans in Ireland
compete for the dishonor Of Anglo
Saxon civilization with our unofficial
the wrong done to ireland may be
righted and the agony Of her people
cease. When these things Shall be