The New York herald., 1922-03-09
However, There Is Still
Danger of Tragedy; De-
cisive Step Near.
BOTH SIDES KEEP CALM
British Maintain Severe Aloof.
ness While Preparing for
Their Evacuation.

Special Cable 10 THE NEW YORK HERALD
| Copyright, 1929, by THE New YORK HERALD.
LIMERICK. March Sunless the
anti-treaty rebels Of the Irish Repub-
lican army make some aggressive
move their seizure OF Limerick is
likely to be recorded in history as an
incident parallel TO the maneuver OF
the famous French King who marched
his army up hill and then marched
II down again. In fact the men of
Limerick themselves seem inclined to
treat the invasion OF their city as a
joke.
Peace efforts thus far have failed,
but there are no war efforts. 1t is
generally believed that decisive step
viii be taken tomorrow. though the
nature Of it is unknown. II the in
vasion subsidies quietly It will have
been a comedy, but the fact cannot
be overlooked that the stage was set
for tragedy.
The anti-treatyites. as the irregular
troops are called. for both claim to be
Republicans. having Communicated the
principal hotels. unloaded about 800
quiet. unassuming country lads who are
doing nothing all day long but standing
drowsily in the corridors waiting to be
told what to do next. At each entrance
stand a couple OF sentries with rifles
with fixed bayonets and revolvers, while
bulging ammunition pouches are sus-
pended from their shoulders. All of
them obviously are the type Of youths
w 80 frl
More of them arrived tonight.
The regular troops mostly are well
fitted out, equipped with rifles. and some
of them have had military training.
They also have an armored car. which
occasionally is seen running through
the streets.
Their strength is believed now to be
in the neighborhood of 1000. with more
coming and still more available. The
leaders of the rival forces apparently
are on perfectly good terms. The Lord
Mayor. wishing to end the ridiculous sit
uation, had both staffs to lunch to-day.
Commandant Brennan. head of the regu-
lar troops, told THE NEW YORK HERALD
correspondent that they had discussed
the situation but were unable to see q
way out.
While no future meetings have been
arranged they can easily be called when
desired, Brennan says, because the heads
meet each other frequently In the the
aters and restaurants
The Lord Mayor, however, seems to
have another scheme because imme-
diately after the lunch he started for
Dublin and expects to return tomorrow.
1t is thought possible that he may have
gone to meet De Valera because he Is a
stanch Republican supporter.
The first move must come from the
irTegulars. as the regulars positively
state they will not take any aggressive
action unless necessary for self-defense.
At present neither side is interfering
with the other, neither seeks trouble
and both are keeping calm.
The reason for the attempt made
upon Limerick by the irregulars is
vague. 1t is chiefly explained as having
beer due TO a desire to give evidence
of sympathy and support to the Middle
Limerick brigade leaders who recently
issued a manifesto reiterating their ad-
herence to the republic. The insurgents
are composed OF a small number OF local
boys with small groups from various
other Irish Republican army units.
which in most cases have followed some
one OF their leaders here owing to the
dissatisfaction over the Free State
treaty.
Apart from this desire to show
sympathy for the cause. the only bone
OF contention seems to be the control of
the castle. The irregulars declare that
Ii should be given to them. but the
regulars refuse. and as It Is almost Inn
possible for the irregulars to take It
the matter ends there. Tho townMnen
go about their business unccncerned-