New-York tribune., 1922-06-11

.,a . ,.rmsnent government. Obvious
Iv. n IA hiKhiy important that during
XII perIod armed forces. which include
= isrrs proportion Of the youthful male
nonnistion. should be solidihed. The
r.rt hss given practical assurance that
III, will be accomplished. II Is a
aa,.hl, fact that since II was made
,hsrs have been few laviess incidents
In ~. ,outh Of Ireland, although Just
ario, 20 n robberics. attacks and
seirure, were reported daily all over
the country.
..Lawlessness Laid 10 Politics
MANY of the lawless acts Committed
before the pact was entered TO were
dictated by political reasons and u Is
a fact that many Of the young men
accused Of even such crimes as bank
robbery have given as their defense
that their acts were dictated by mo-
lives Of patriotism. Already the gen
ersi public 4 sbsginning 10 regard the
army rs a heavy burden and one which
must be reduced NJ the earliest pos
sible moment
The composition OF the army is
worth examining at this stage. After the
provisional government WAS formed
Minister Of Dsfsnie Muleahy had the
task Of organizing regular natonai
force and naturally the majority OF
those who responded 10 his call were
not of the same type as those who
fought the British during the Irish
war. Most Of them were men who
would have been found In any regular
army-ehaps who were perfectly salts
fed 10 make fighting their profession.
without making the slightest reflection
on the men the fact remains that there
10 a difference between the regular and
the volunteer. However. there are
many In the new army who are willing
to fight fro republican form OF
government
Along in March the breach In the
army began 10 grow vide and things
were looking exceedingly black. The
Colllns-Grihth men on one side and
the followers Of De Valera on the other
seemed to be drifting farther and
farther apart. With each fresh divi-
sion in the army conditions became
worse. At this juneture they got to-
gether and agreed that II would be
suicide to allow tho two forces 10 drift
any farther. Ultimately an agreement
was reached.
Army Is Now United
Instead Of the army being under the
sway Of politicians the latter received
their ultimatum from the army. That,
al least, IL the story told me by n man
who has been In constant touch with ne
gotlations. However, that Is OF llttls
Importance since the essential feature
Is that the army Is now united and the
formerly faction leaders,
are now speaking from the same plat
form. No army in the world is living
under better conditions than Is the
Irish republican army to-day. IL Is
we'll paid, exceedingly we'll fed and
housed. In fact, 1t is so
we'll cared for that IL is proving q
heavy burden on the national purse,
and for that reason, IL no other. the
public will be glad TO see the force re-
dueed.
The workers and the farmers are
seeking representation In the new par
lament, and that is another reason why
the Sim Fein organization should re-
main united. Some workers and some
farmers will be elected 10 the assem-
bly, next Friday, political prophets
agree, and though the Sim Feiners will
hold a majority. they are Jealous OF
those groups entering the political
arena. As consequence 4 desperate
effort Is being made by all elements
Of the Sim Fein TO reconcile their
and go forward united As
they did in the days before the truce.