A Tribute to Our Army in Ireland.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1921, Page 4

A Tribute to Our Army in Ireland.

(London Daily -Mail). s It is time that a tribute be paid to I our Regular Army in Ireland, for this reason, if for no other, that they havr I been described and criticised in Britain t and abroad as if they wee identical ’ with the Black-nnd-Tans ami police. The two forces have nothing to do with one another; and their record is entirely dissimilar. No one in Ireland at any rate would dream of “lumping them 1 together.” These young and inexperienced soldiers have been plunged into circumstances infinitely t rying to nerves and temper: and not in one single in- • stance have they acted unworthily. | Their patience and steadiness have been admirable even beyond likelihood. I liey j have stood the severest test to which , any man or soldier can he subjected; | they have refrained from vengeance, and kept strictly within orders. As to the Irish police, no finer body existed in any country, and their courage lias been unvarying. But tlie early recruits who were first called Blaek-and-Taiis had neither the advantage of the Army discipline nor the prestige; and less well-disciplined units have broken out more than once into acts of primitive reprisals. This confession ' must he made if we are to pay the tri- ' liute we owe, to our Regular Army.