The New York herald., 1922-04-03
new Oath TO irish
REPUBLIC IS SWORN
in DUBLIN BRIGADE
Extent Of Split in Republi-
can Army Shown by 1000
Leaving Its Ranks.
SUPPRESSION DENIED
O'COnnOr Says Failure of
SeceSsiOniStS Means
Civil War.
FOUR DIE IN BELFAST
Children Are Shot in Reprisal
for Killing Of Constable
Saturday.
-FOUR DIE IN BELFAST

Special Gable to THn New YORK HERArp
Copyright, 1922, by THE New York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Dublin, April e.
While the secessionist army was
mastering its members of the Dublin
brigade this afternoon in TIE attempt
to prevent the operation Of the Dali
Eireann and the Provisional Govern
ment. Michae! Collins. head OF the
latter body, speaking at Castlebar
took another step in the open diplo-
macy between him and canon de
Valera to find common ground on
whict' both can work harmoniously
for the good of Ireland.
The extent of the split in the Irish
Republican Army was clearly indicated
by the fact that about 1000 members
Of the Dublin brigade. which before
tie split was generally believed to
number 5000. gathered In Smithfield
market and formed into companies,
taking new oath OF allegiance to the
Irish Republic. A few thousand spec
tators were present besides two COM
panies Of the Kumann Ma Bman,
woman's organization, and some Irish
Boy Scouts.
Several speakers addressed the men
assembled in two large groups, the
principal speakers being Roderick
OConnor and Oscar Traynor, COM
manding officer Of the Dublin brigade.
Traynor spoke indistinctly. but tte
tenor of his remarks was general
indictment of the regular army lead
ers for abandoning the struggle for a
republic. He insisted the orAy thing
that would bring about civil war
would be the failure Of the rest OF the
army to join the secessionists, because
Collins and Griffith could not conduct
war without an army.
Suppression Denied.
O'connor denied the charge they were
aiming to suppress the Dali Eireann
saying this was needless. because the
Griffith members who voted for the
treaty were doing that He accepted the
responsibility for wrecking the Free
mans Jou71scl plant. justifying 1t by
saying the Irish newspapers were not
free. as an example Of which he cited a
large front page advertisement in a
local paper urging all soldiers, in behalf
OF army headquarters. to remain loyal.
There was a discrepancy here, as
1'raynor had previously charged that the
leaders OF the regular army were using
money to disrupt the army ranks Of the
secessionists. saying that they must have
paid fi5 tor that advertisement.
The men composing the Dublin bri-
gade Of the secessionist army are in
ferior In physical appearance. The
great majority appeared to be from
eighteen to twenty-rour years old and
few appeared in short trousers Most
of them were shabbily dressed and
dull looking, giving the impression that
they were not representative of Dublin
youth.
Freedom, Not Complete.
IL Collins's open covenant and olive
branch plan finds favor with the DE
yalerists the Importance of this muster
dwindles. He admitted that complete
freedom had not yet been gained. but
that the North must be converted to
Irish nationality so that on the day
when the nation speaks to the world
with n united Gaelic voice" full and
complete freedom would be gained. He
asked De Valera and his friends II
they would not join for united Ireland
and added, Can they not adopt a policy
OF live and let liver"
will they not admit the facts and
recognize that the Free State in the
immediate future Is the only possible
government Collins asked. The agree
ment with Sir James Craig. Premier
OF Ulster, he said. added immensely to
the prospect OF union which would be
made almost certain IF we could arrive
at an understanding among ourselves
Intimidation and violence. Collins said.
gave England chance for the old ex
cusc Of Intervention. the old divide and
rule" system. He prescribed two con-
dItions TO which both sides must con-
form: First. no military violence: sec
ond. the Free State force must be the
nucleus OF a national army.
While II Is expected DE Valera will
taken a keen interest In Collins's speech.
this was not indicated by his talk AT
DundallS to-day. where. in referring to
the new peace pact. he said that In
North ireland II was already cons;d-
cred TO be scrap of paper.