The Washington times., 1921-04-26
BY DANIEL O'CONNELL.

International News Service.
DUBLIN, April 26. is not
generally recognized that what is at
present going on in Ireland is a war
of independence, neither more nor
less" said a statement issued today
at the headquarters of the Irish re-
publican army and passed by the
Sim Fein military censor.
STILL UNDER FOREIGN HEEL
Events in Ireland cannot be under
stood unless this fact is kept clearly
In mind. Ireland Is the one nation
in Europe that is still under the heel
of the foreigner and the Irish people
have made up their minds that they,
too. will rid themselves of foreign
dominion.
ain its fight for independence the
Irish nation is employing as its in
strument the Irish republican army
that is TO say the Irish volunteers
now formally taken over by the ma
tional government. Like any other
army the Irish republican army is
bound TO the national government by
an oath of allegiance sworn by She
individual volunteer. The text OF this
oath follows:
.T - do solemnly swear for
affirm) that I do not and shall not
yield = voluntary support to any
pretended government. authority,
or power within ireland hostile or
inimicaI thereto; and I do further
swear Cor affirm) that. to the best
OF my knowledge and ability, ! will
support md defend the Irish repUb-
lie. which is Dali Eireann. against
all enemies. foreign and domestfcI
that ! will hear true faith and al
leGianee 10 the same, and that I
take this obligation freely without
any mental reservation or purpose
Of evasion. so help me God.
MEASURES JUSTIFIED.
The Irish Republican Army is
carrying out its task according to
well defined principles and with a
careful estimation of the means at
its disposal. 1t is adopting the meas
ures that in the opinion of it's COM
mand appear most likely to win, and
which, in point of fact, have up to
the present completely justified them
selves by the degree OF success
achieved.
Having carefully weighed all OF
the circumstances, the Irish Repub-
lican Army command elected to adopt
the methods of guerilla warfare
suiting that method to the highly
duped industrial, social and economic
conditions of western Europe. This
guerilla warfare has many charac-
teristics distinguishing 1t from for
mer wars of a similar type.
For the first time the guerillas
-. Ii
keenly intelligent people, and, in ad-
dltion. strongly imbued with a liv-
ing national feeling, in education
and culture being on appreciably
higher level than their aggressors.
Hence. methods calculated to i'm
press and overawe less developed
peoples will naturally fail altogether
in such a case. And this is so in
herently and quite apart from the
fact that such people Is we'll cir
cumstanced to gain the ear of the
civilized world.
"The cost imposed upon England by
the, Irish war is estimated at about
81 900, 900 per week-which includes
both military and police expenses
Apart from the financial strain, the
English army is gravely incon-
by the special type of
operations imposed upon it,
ACHIEVEMENTS CLAIMED.
"The Irish republican army can
fairly lay claim to the following
achievements in 1920:
T-It hns destroyed the efficiency
Of the royal Irish constabulary and
thus struck nm irreparnble blow at
English administration in Ireland.
"2-It has militarised the young
men of ireland.
"3-It has pinned In ireland very
serious forces of troops and war
materials and thus has in q marked
degree hRmpered the powers OF
England to Interfere In other
spheres.
"%-It has inflicted on EnaIish
prestiGe very serious blows, both In
the ethical sphere and ny reason sf
exhibiting Row Tar England IL from
e.--n.A~aAass