NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE laying waste of Ireland has continued without a check during the week. The official Free State reports speak of the successful scattering and final rounding up of the Irre- gulars, but nothing is said about the terrible fact that communi- cation over a large part of Southern Ireland has become impos- sible. The destruction of bridges, roads, railways and houses has been appalling. But though this fact overwhelms all others when we are considering the future of Ireland, it is perfectly natural that attention should have been absorbed during the past few days by the killing of Mr. Collins. His death is bound to make a great difference ; first because he was trusted and was willingly followed by the Free Staters and it is not to be expected that any other man -will be followed in quite the same way, and secondly because the Irregulars will be encouraged to continue the policy of murder.
