San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-15
Irish Republicans Seek Host
ages Among Leaders Of
Government.
THEY ARE UNCHECKED
Murmurs Heard About In
ability Of Expensive Army
to Meet Situation.
BY WILLIAM II. BRAYDEN.


Dublin, Jan. 15.-The Republicans
are hunting for hostages. One OF the
most prominent of their leaders, Arrest
OMalley, is recovering from wounds
received in capture. He is about TO be
sentenced and his execution is feared.
Memories of his fight against the Brit
ish in which he was daring and sue
cessful cambine with his resolute ac-
tivities against the Free State to make
him the chief republican hero. The idea
of his execution is so intolerable to
the republicans that they will do any
thing TO prevent it. Hence they have
determined to kidnap prominent sup
porters of the government and hold them
as hostages for O'Malley's safety.
So far they have been unlucky for
Senator Fogarty, one of Dublin's most
eminent surgeons, escaped his captors
by swimming across the Liffey river
while in another case the lrregulars
captured a Dublin merchant by mistake
for a member of the dali. But there
seems to be no reason why the kidnap-
ing plan should not succeed for the ex-
perienCe of last week-the worst IN
mOnths-show that no trustworthy
checks on the schemes of the rcpubli-
cans exist. They have walked undis-
guised into business assemblies in Dub
lin seeking their victims. They have
cross-cxamined all present, making
them prove their identity and when sat
isfied that the men they wanted were
absent have been able TO leave undis-
turbed. There is no safety for any
man they seek except in the protection
of a military guard such as is row at
forded to the ministers and deputies by
the fortress of the government build
ings. Any cabinet member wEO leaves
its shelter is accompanied by soldiers
and urIuored GAGS. To spread terror TO
those inside, the buildings were bombed
Saturday night.
Homes Are Burned.
In come cases like that of President
COsgrcve's residence the homes which
the legislators have abandoned have
been burned and it is startling that this
torch policy is applied not merely u
the protagonists of the Free State. hut
t. all who have assisted in working the
Irish constitution. senators support OF
home rule has provoked the punishment
they escaped Will OpJOsing it az their
houses have beel burned. The destlu
ton on the railways Las beeu ;ntpn-
sified and each day sees some new dis
location Of traf.I'.
Hitherto the gn:1Tnment has had No
critics. Lut publ. dissatisfaction at the
inability of a large and expensive army
to prevent these CGira.;es is nov being
expressed freely. Though the irregulars
in Sligo have long FrCn defeated forty
Of them were able 10 destroy the fine
railway station thcro with boc.b and
torch and to ruin large quantity of
rolling stock within n few hundred
yards of garrison of six hundred Free
State soldiers who were deceived by a
feigned attack on their barracks and
rushed in armored cars to the railway
station after the damage was done and
the raiders had escaped.
Army Discipline Lax.
There is much talk Of an extensive
army reorganization. The discipline of
the rank and file has been slack per-
haps because assertions to the irregu-
lars were feared. Some desertions have
occurred and their spread has been met
by executing five descrters on one
morning. But the main weakness is
attributed to Junior officers who have
rot had strict training. At first the
Free Staters "cold shouldered" Irish
officers with experience in the Euro
pcan war, but lately there has been
some change in this attitude and
throughout various divisions such men
with real knowledge are beginning to
be welcomed
The new army chief next in authority
TO General Mulcahy is now Gen. vii.
liam English Murphy who entering the
war as n subaltern, rose to be lieuten-
ant colonel before the great struggle
ended. He was accepted by the Free
States and helped TO subdue the opposi-
ton so far as it has been subdued in
Kerry. His promotion is expected to
lead TO increased efficiency. There arc
several Irish generals who held high
posts in the British army in Flanders
and Saloniki woh are available for con-
sultation, and Gen. Sir Bryan Mahon is
an active member OF the Free State sen.
ate.