The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-04-09
To Get True Line on Ireland To-day
That Turbulent Island Should Be
Viewed From Many Standpoints

The reason they did not is that more
than half OF this IS per cent. consists
OF elderly people, comfortable farmers
and priests who might be frightened
away from the polling booths by the
young Irish Republican soldiers, who
are out for complete independence.
Not that all the Republican army
wants q republic. I should say that not
more than 20 per cent. of that army
wants 1t; the rest OF the Republican
soldiers are either solid for free State
or else ready TO obey the orders OF wiser
men who are. Those wiser men are
confident that In three months the
present effervescence will have subsidized;
hence their postponement of the cleo
tions. Whether their decision Is good
or not time alone will tell.
Moderation Triumphs.
So far a policy OF moderation and
delay has been successful. Take the
case Of the Communist outbreak in
Dublin two months ago and the capture
of the Rotunda by Irish Boisheviki who
were not mown down with machine
guns but, on the contrary, allowed 10
hold the fort for three days until Messrs.
Cleary had removed their barricade OF
chairs (Which had been hired at fixed
price from Messrs. Cleary. furniture
firm, who were naturally Hverse from
seeing their property damaged) and UNI
til they themselves had got confound-
eddy hungry. At the end of three days
the Communists went to their several
homes for their several dinners. No
body has molested them since and they
have refrained from attempting any
further coups lest they might make
themselves even more ridiculous.
rrr. T....l tn M, TYfh r
have visited in their barracks. are. in
some respects the most remarkable
troops that I have ever seen. Young,
hardy, filed with enthusiasm. mobile
as quicksilver. they are commanded by
leaders as young as themselves. for II
ia apparently the rule in the Irish Re-
publican army that nobody who has not
been in the fighting or on the run IS
eligible for commission. The result
is that all heavy "duds' and dug
OTIS, are eliminated. with the result
that the army is almost too young, too
energetic. and too lively.
In most armies the private soldiers
nay no more attention to their rifles
than will save them from punishment,
but the Irish soldiers seem to spend all
their spare time manipulating their fire.
arms, inserting cartridge clips and work
ing the bolt and the trigger SO furiousy
that / felt nervous on one or two occa-
sions when passing near groups OF col
diers so employed, and was not surprised
to read afterward that accidents had
taken place. have never had much re-
spect for elderly "duds" and "dugouts"
in any army. but I do not think that a
slight sprinlkling of elderly and expert
enced officers In the headquarters staff
OF the l. r. A. would do any harm.
Young soldiers are hot and brave and
magnificent, but old warriors sometimes
possess a craft, a patience and a judg-
ment which Is also very valuable. Tn
doubtedly the old soldiers will come, for
the British army is full OF experienced
Irish soldiers many OF whom will be
available owing 10 the reductions that
are being effected in the English mill
tary establishment.