The New York herald., 1922-03-08
Mutineers Concentrating as
Dublin Sends Regulars to
Reinforce Army.
HOPING FOR SETTLEMENT
Minister of Defense and Adju-
tant-General Begin Nego-
tiations With Rebels.


Copyright. 1922 by THE NEw YoaK HERALD.
LIMERICK. March Though Linn
erick Is quiet tonight, the presence OF
bodies of the Irish Republican army,
the hundreds of rebels and British
military forces gave the city war
like appearance, which was enhanced
by the entry of 500 I. r. A. reinforce
mcnts for the provisional troops from
Clare.
The present position Is this: The
I. r. A. forces from headquarters in
Dublin. about 1000 strong. have taken
possession of two military and four
police barracks. The rebeiiious troops
who invaded the city. numbering less
than 400, have no barracks. but are
billeted in hotels and buildings in diff
ferent parts of the city.
1t still is hoped the difficulty will be
settled without any conflict. Richard
Mulcahy. Minister OF Defense in the
Provisional Government, and Gerald
OSullivan. the Adjutant- General of
the I. r. A.. visited the city to-day and
began negotiations with the dissatis-
fed Republicans.
Three Forces ia City.
The first party-the /. f.. A. mutt
nccrs--aurarcntly are concentrating
here from othcr sections OF Ireland
though there is as yet no great aggre-
cation OF strength. They have fairly
ample supplies Of arms and ammunition.
undoubtedly due TO numerous thfets in
this vicinity during the last two months
from the regular l. r. A.. besides the
Royal Irish Constabulary and other
organizations, eliminating in the recent
theft OF some hundreds of thousands OF
rounds of rifle cartridges and arms
from the temporary r. I. G. barracks
The inhabitants are Inclined to sympa
thze with them and believe them to be
supported partly By Republican party
funds.
The second party is composed OF the
regular I. r. A. forces. acknowledging
the authority of the General Staff in
Dublin. who were sent here to cope with
the situation.
The third party comprises the British
troops who have not evacuated Ireland.
In the last two parties there IL not
troops however. find no sympathy on
the part of the majority OF the city's
population. who are inclined to show by
their talk that they are In favor OF Re-
publican ideals. The mutnous troops
or the I. II. A. naturally are most likely
to use the British troops as their OBJ
jec.ive target In order to express their
subjective love for the republic. That
Is one way in which an explosion may
be touched Off.
Friction Inevitable.
Friction IL inevitable between unc reg
ulars and the mutineers. neither recoE-
nizng the other and both claiming full
authority. The latter already have ar
rested two regular officers. subsequently
releasing them under a sort of iaison
arrangement. There lies the second dan
ger. The good sense OF the regular
Irish forces and the British havc pre-
vented disaster as yet. but II can be
seen the situation must be handled deli
cateiy.
The irish Republican army leaders
bslleve they have the backing Of mos.
Trishnlen and say II the mutiny does
not quiet down the army ir prepared
for drastic action. Such n course would
be extremely dangerous. for II would
make martyrs Of the mutineers. Tint
such n complete evolution that is going
on In ireland with the reins of gov
ernment changing hands entirely should
occur without some internal strife seems
unbelievable. and II appears TO be only
a question OF when the new government
feels itself sufficiently consolidated for
arming responsible citizens to preven.
outbreaks.
II was just such contingency that
Michael Collins. Father Gaynor and
others at the Ard Fheis meeting sought
20 evadc by an agreement. but one can
hardly hope for tranquility in the face
OF the declaration OF Charles Burgess,
former Sim Fein Minister OF Defense,
when in discussing the inability OF men
under % TO vote, lie said: II know the
Republican army and ] know the spirit
Continued on Page Four.
The Grrenbricr. white sulphur Springs, w
Va Over nfuf,t from New York gnlengi1