The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-19
REVOLT GENTERS
AT CORR
Irish Republicans Control I'm
portant City of South

London, July 13.-Present inter
est in the Irish situation here CEN
ters upon conditions in the south.
In the absence of any definite au-
thentic news regarding the situa-
ton prevailing in Cork and the
southwest generally great anxiety
prevails in Dublin. This is. being
increased by reports. emanating
from the headquarters of the re-
publicans who claim to control
completely the whole country from
Kerry to Newtonberry, County
wexford, and from Kerry to Coan-
ty Mayo.
Copies OF, the Cork Examiner
reaching London show that its of
fee is. in possession Of the irregu;-
lars. who censor all its news. but
permit the editor to publish a state
ment that he is not responsible for
what they say. The newspaper is
filed with accounts Of alleged re-
publican successes in Munster. a
great part of Munster which, is
usually lively is now quiet, how
teyer.
From the conflicting claims Of
the republicans and Free State au-
thorities, it is inferred for the mo-
ment in parts Of County Cork and
in Limerick, Waterford. and Kerry
the irregulars have the upper
hand. They seem. to be directing
public activities and train services
are progressing apparently by their
permission.
Trouble begins only where there
is conflict between two jurisdictions.
The Great Northern line .is op-
Grating from Dublin to Thurles, and
in the far south it seems to be run
ming trains without opposition
from the rregulars, but ins the iIi-
termediate districts the lines have
been torn up.
Sooner or later, it appears evi-
dent that the provisional govern
nent will assert its authority every
where, but in the meantime it is
certain to be faced with the same
sort of campaign as that once en-
ployed against the British.
From many places come reports
of the familiar type Of ambushes.
snipings and ,burnings Of barracks.
But there is an important difference
between this guerilla war and the
last one against crown forces. At
that time the sympathy of the peo-
pie was almost entirely on the side
of the opponents of British au-
thoritv. Almost the entire popu-
lation cooperated more or less with
the guerilla fighters. Now, how
ever. so far as it is possible to
Judge. virtually the whole civil
population is in sympathy with
the efforts Of the Irish govern
n1ent. The irregulars are regard
ed as a dangerous nuisance.
At this period about what the
guerilla fighters are doing is de-
rived from Free State and repub-
licans' communiques. The Free
State side tells what the national
forces have been doing and as soon
as some success is scored against
them. the republicans frequently
report them as vacatins places
where. after a few days. COM
muniuues show them to be still
causing trouble.
In many cases the irresulars do
not belong to the localities in which
they are operating. There are men
in Donegal. for instance. who
came from Tipperary and Clare.
Numerous towns and villages in the
west and southwest are entirely iso-
lated. A typical instance as Cas-
tlerea. County Roscommon, which
is reported to have all the ap-
pearances of a beleaguered city
and is completely cut off from the
rest Of the world. The irregulars
are entirely in control. The rail-
way has been torn up, wire COM
munications cut and the roads
blockaded and business there is at
q complete standstill.