Another illustration of the anarchy which prevails in the south
and west of Ireland is given by a letter which appeared in the Times of Tuesday. Mr. C. W. Warden vividly records his experiences, as a loyalist living near Kenmare, during the last year. Since the declaration of the " truce " his property has been raided nearly 100 times ; seven armed raids have been made on his house, everything portable carried away and the occupants treated with every indignity. Mr. Warden reported the facts and applied for protection to the Prime Minister, the head of the Free State, and the Chief Secretary, but only received the stereotyped reply that his letter would be considered. Last August, when the raiding became intolerable, Mr. Warden personally applied twice for protection or arms to the officer commanding the Free State troops in Kenmare. He was refused each time, and on the second occasion was warned not to return home. Two nights later his house was burnt down, his garden and outhouses destroyed, his cattle driven off, and it is said that "a favourite old dog had his paws cut off and was then thrown into the sea." Mr. Warden and his household escaped in a small cargo vessel. He adds— though the fact is scarcely credible—that "English warships were looking on, but no offer of help or succour was made." Contrast this with the action of our naval men at Smyrna, and consider what kind of policy it is that can deliberately paralyse the warm hearts of English bluejackets.
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