While Mr. Collins was announcing Free State victories in the
south and asserting that most of County Cork had been freed from " irregulars," a large band of them suddenly appeared in the north, at Dundalk, on Monday and captured the town. The Free State garrison is said to have suffered a few casualties, but it was obviously unprepared and inefficient and was soon overpowered. The garrison was then locked up in the local gaol, while the " irregulars " confined there were released. After looting the town, the assailants set out in trains to attack Drogheda, on their way to Dublin, but they are said to have been driven back. Mr. Collins declared on Wednesday that the " campaign " would be over in a fortnight. But the Dundalk incident shows that the Free State Government are still very far from being in control even of Leinster. Until the whole population begins to show an active disapproval of the " irregulars," anarchy will continue to prevail.
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