continues the for British socialists.
'SHIT. Hell. I'm not going through this again. When I finish this tour, TAISI.
'We know we are winning. have the determination to see this through. And we shall.' The source of the first remark is a SOlOl! stationed Crossmaglen in South Armagh. The quote is taken from last week's New Society. The second, statement was part of the Easter address issued by the Provisional IRA.
The war statistics help to explain une tvo vas. soldiers kiled in she North of Ireland than in any year since 1972. Already in the first three months of this year five more soldiers have died. This is slightly down on the figure of seven in the first quarter of 1979, but other fatalities in the security forces have increased. No members of the RUC had been killed by the IRA by the end of March 1979.
In the same period this year seven have been killed. The increase deaths in the British Army-controlled Ulster Defence Regiment is similar: six in the first quarter of this year compared to oniy two in the same period the year before.
Totalling up the death count since British troops went in in 1969 the tally RUC/UDR) 560, IRA 20S. 'security forces The strain in the ranks British Army is beginning to tell. The article in New Society, based on conversations with serving soldiers in the North of demoralisation, , frustration and lack of disipline. The only recorded smile in five long pages is in the following paragraph: 'I asked Rod if he intends staying in the army. th', he grins. That's the day he gets out.' Somé cannot wait until they are discharged. Teenage soldier William Barstow was recently sentenced to six months for desertion. wrote Barstow in his diary when serving in the North.
Other soldiers go beserk. Gibson, who appeared in a Belfast THIS May Day Britain is at war. It is at war in the North of Ireland. And while that war internationalism which May Day is meant to celebrate remains an unfilled aspiration There is little doubt that if the British duty in suicide.
contrasting Ilany Sulula this Easter that: "This war, will, strides.
ment and its troops'. court in March, slipped out of his army camp on the last day of his tour of Belfast, and prowled alone with a rifle in the streets of West He shot two passers-by When finally captured by win. other soldiers he was about to commit These are only a couple of the most recent examples of the state of British Army morale, but they, and incidents, give substance to claims made by the IRA generation of (IRA) volunteer soldiers and the population which supports the war, in sacrifice and suffering, is proving too much for British rule. Our movement which is geared for, and dedicated to, a long nevertheless, see gains along the road to final victory, and the last 12 months, especially, have seen us take military and political 'In the past year we have inflicted serious blows on the British governIt is a measure of this crisis that Sunday Telegraph rumour that Lord Zimbabwe settlement fame, may soon be sent to the North held Margarel Thatcher that Soames is Britain's answer to Wonderwoman. Glass, Certainly onders are required by The 'constitutional talks' convened since the start of the year by Norworking class were to take up the cause of the Irish people, demand that Britain ceases to wage war and withdraws from Ireland, then the war itself would be over This is obvious from the current state of the Anglo-Irish conflict. Here are two and death toll increase.
It may seem remarkable that the with 20 times AVlIY many active soldiers stationed in the North of Ireland as the IRA But this is because they are not just fighting the Provisionals. face the opposition of hundreds o thousands of Irish people. they may think of the IRA take its side against the British Army.
But that is still not enough to secure withdrawal 1 ne British Army, IRA, has the ability to carry on for a long time yet. The struggle of the Irish people needs a new ally if it is to be ultimately successful.
bring the Irish question to the fore on May . Ine brilsn workuig class. Inc Icason. why British workers should take such tise nared on tiisd in the Torse pruilcd words may have been spoken over a hundred yearş ago but they remain Suse y cicyall for in 1867, the withdrawal of Britain from Ireland, is what the Provisionals and others are fighting for today. The enemy the British working class faced They then, its own capitalist class, is the same now; it shares that enemy with who, the Irish people.
Karl Marx insisted that the Irish question be the chief issue to be taken up at the rallies of the First International. Those who this stand in that inheritance should do as the the same.
test of internationalism is Ireland. On 1 May, or on any other day.
that liberators. altogether restrain And that is why it is appropriate to , because the most impor'It is talk of page.
'The What the Fenians were fighting both capitalist.
More than a hundred years ago French clas week claim to Today in Britain the first people could abjure such principles? Let us see of what value the reproaches are are adressed to the Fenians by the English would-be Fenianism wrong they say. bul of meetings and demonstrations 1 avow it is hardly possible to UHIC S indignation at hearing such arguments 'What is the use of talking of legal means to a people reduced to the lowest state of misery fro! centurv to centurv bv english or pression. Having destroyed ali prised that nothing should be but hatred of the oppressor well for the English legality and justice to those who on the slightest suspi cion of Fenianism are arrested and incarcerated, and subjected to physical and mental torture English Wor King Men who blame the Fenians commit more than a fault, for the cause o people is the same: they have the same enemy to defea the territorial aristocracy and the tugene wupont. leader o and
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in a matter of weeks. current views: