Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-15
Rebels Gaining
in Strength as Free
State Seems Weakened
Forces Unable to Counterfeit Doings
of Republicans; Cabinet May Be
Divided on Problem.

Dublin. Nov. 14.-tBy The Associat-
ed Press. 1.-THE current increase OF
activity of armed forces opposing the
Irish government is attributed to re-
union of the political and military
wings Of republicanism. This, among
other things, resulted in the %reappoint-
ment of Eamonn De Valera as "presl-
dent Of the Irish republic" with a coun
Gil of state claiming sole legitimate au-
thority in Ireland.
There is a wide divergence between
the accounts published by the govern
ment of its successes against the II
regulars and those put out by De
Valera's party. The government CLAIMS
to be winning and gradually restoring
order. while De Falera's followers re
cord the severe losses they are infllct-
ing and assert that the Free State Is
already beaten.
These assertions are made partly
IN propaganda sold upon the streets
and partly through large inscriptions
painted nightly all over Dublin on lamp
nosts. bill boards and bridges.
The civil guard and the metropolitan
police parade up and down all the thor
oughfares, but they seem unable 70
check these manifestations of lreiands
internal d%issention.
Every day government agents go
about and smear paint solidly over the
inscriptions. but the next morning they
appear AGAIN.
The intensification OF activity by the
irreeulars is supposed to be partially
aimed at the British political crisis,
with the design of bringing home to
the British the thought that the Irish
question remains unsettled despite the
treaty. When the new British parila-
ment assemblies and the constitution of
the Free State is submitted for ratifi-
cation it is anticipated that the actlvi-
ties Of the lrregulars will be further
intensified.
Except III the south, all large bodies
of republican forces have been dis
persed il Il wholesale manner by ma
tional troops, but small bands are able
to inflict constant losses and humilia-
ton upon the government by their
activities ia Dublin and elsewhere.
Reprieve power has been granted TO
the government BY the Irish parliament
but the republicans faye never believed
these powers would be fully exercised,
and SO far their forecasts have been,
for the most part. accurate. The Free
State government has 10000 troops
fully equipped and costing nearly
5000. 900 q year. Yet the attacks of
the irregulars are made in confidence
of escape and with the thought that
even if they are caught, they will suffer
nothing more than detention in prison.
If members Of the Irish parliament,
which resume Wednesday. express in
public what some of them have been
saying i'll private, there is sure to be
| searching criticism of the governments
ineffectiyeness against the irreguiars.
The l~atter's policy of dislocating rail
way traffic is witnessed daily in the
wholesale burning Of signal boxes, some
Of them on suburban lines close to the
city. 1t mas become Il common, thing
TO seize a train and let it run loose at
full speed Appalling consequences Of
this wild practice have been obvlated
SO far only by good luck.
Considering some arrests which have
been made and others which have not
been made. il is inferred that there are
differences of opinion in the Irish cab