The Washington times., 1922-05-22

body, in the endeavor to rid itself
of the nuisance. quietly murdered
such agents as 1t knew. The Sun
day murders OF November 21. 1920.
were an attempt, only partially sue
cessful, to deal a crushing blow at
the intelligence and investigation
sections.
At last, however. the chaos was re-
duced to order. and an intelligence
service IS efficient ais the extremely
difficult conditions allowed was
evolved The titular heads of the
Irish Republican army were known,
and II was also guessed whence the
true inspiration was derived. Two
men-Michael Collins and Richard
Mulcahy, the adjutant general and
chief of staff. respectively. Of the
Irish Republican army-were deter
mined TO be the brains Of the organi
zation. From the moment Of this
discovery 1t was against these two
men that the secret warfare was
principally directed.
Raids Were Planned.
The main strategy Of this warfare
was briefly as follows: Information
was sought first OF all as TO the
agents and means OF communication
employed by the directing Ybrains"
to transmit their orders to their re-
cipients. Based upon any such in
formation obtained, raids were made
upon likely spots with the OBJECT Of
capturing the messenge:s themselves
and the documents they carried
Further information CLEANED from
these was used as the basis OF fur
ther raids, with the final object OF
gaining such complete knowledge as
would make II possible for the au-
thorities to lay their hands upon the
wanted men themselves. There were.
Of course. many side issues s,.-h as
the suppression OF other ac'IVit."-
arrayed against the autho. ttte1.
but the capture OF the directing
brains Of thr Irish Republican Rrt..y
was the main consideration.
1t must he Acknowledged that In
the preliminary collection of in
formation the British were emf
nently successful. but that in their
final object they failed time after
time. An enormous quantity Of
documents fell into their hands.
yielding the most valuable informa-
ton and giving them the means Of
circumventing some OF the main
schemes of the Irish Republican
army.
Prisoners Examined.
Many subordinates were also
taken and examined and their ex-
aminations were also extremely
profitable. But time and again
when Collins or Mulcahy seemed
within their grasp they slipped
away as II by a miracle.
OF these evasions more anon.
The system Of examination is worth
= passing glance. The prisoner was
aiken TO the Castle. in itself a
place % legendary terror to the
average uneducated Irishman. At
~ dead Of the night he would
Or Only ~ ore lamp whose light
f-u srnaIl circle upon the
tab8s - the tnqui-itor. leaving the
rs-t . space fIned with menaclng
shadows And the inquisitor him.
--If. he fare In shadow. the lamp
showing only the upper part Of
hrs body clad in a hlood-red coat.
sat quietly beyond the circle Of
hight asking question in gentle
but persistent voice and displaying
knowledge OF the prisoners do.
inEs and history that must have
seemed supernatural.
Now and then-at any stage in the
proceedings where evidence Of the
wretched victims own participation
in crime seemed ominously impend.
ing-the long fingers of the inquisi.
tor would stray into the circle of
light, playing carelessly with a piece
OF cord which they fashioned into
the semblance OF a halter and pulled
tighter and tighter as the evidence
grew more damning. What wonder
II, after some hours OF this treat.
ment. the prisoner broke down and
made a clean breast of what he
knew? And more than one has been
known to collapse with relief when,
his confession complete and it's genu-
ineness established. the knot has
been unpicked, as slowly and aim.
lessly as it was formed, and the cord
raplaced in a drawer NJ tho tahle