-In January, the British Government applied to Sweden for an extradition order. It was for a deserting soldier. When he heard his unit was to be sent for another tour of duty in the North of Ireland he preferred instead to walk for three days across snow covered mountains to find asylum in Sweden. He saic he wanted no part in the killing. His case was the tiny tip of a very large sceberg Everyone living in the minonly areas of the North knows of the soldiers that "break" the men who run from the barracks secking escape, usually only to be dragged back by the snatch squads. The demoralisation of the British Army is not surprising. They have used every tactic at their disposal in an attempt to bludgeon the anti-unionist people into submission, and they have clearly failed. Morale is disintegrating, the soldiers whose consciences are ammune so som anti-working class activities are shaken by the unabated resistance they are Tacing.
The soldiers have found many outlets for their frustrations, and they are not merely the petty bullying of the foot patrol and the searches. In one recent month alone, 27 "guardians of law and order" were .con. victed in court on charges ranging from theft to rape. But they have some other, more sinister pastimes - the shooting of innocent civilians, whether openly while in uniform, or hiding behind the guise of sectarian murders, in plain clothes from passing cars.
Only last month there were the open murders of two supposed "gunmen".
Above: Snipers to the right On 13 Märch, Mr. Eddie Sharpe was shot dead by an Army sniper as he stood in his own doorway in Ardoyne. Only one shot was fired around that time-it was by a British the paratrooper. On 4 March. 12 year old Kevin reatley was murdered as he stood with some friends in his home estate, Derrybeg in Newry. of Ireland. Only one shot was fired that nightit was by a drunken British soldier. FACTS CLEAR These have been no isolated incidents but just a part of the pattern morale are clear. that makes up occupation by the British Army. These murders have been regular occurrences since the on the previous year. arrival of the troops in 1969.
HIGH CASUALTIES The British Army has admitted to nearly 170 men killed since 1969. though the true figures are somewhat higher. These are their biggest losses since the Korean War. Now. especially since the introduction of the RPG-7 rockets at the beginning of the year, the IRA is fighting with oetter equipment than ever before, and British soldiers are more vulnerable than ever. The rockets were a development the British just had no answer for. Soldiers were made vulnerable everywhere, at any time, whether in armoured car or in barracks. A weapon designed specifically ested on drugs charges. for use against armoured cars has been proved effective on several occasions, despite Army denials.
There is another factor which the British Army has never had to cope of the barracks. with in war before. Because advanced English hospitals are comparatively near, the injured and maimed are getting unusually good medical treatment. This has saved the lives of many soldiers but has also had return to the Six Counties. the effect of keeping alive casualties Camera catches worried look on troops' faces.
as little more than vegetables. This- entally leaked, to the Press in only has obvious consequences on wives three recent months. Obviously, they and relatives of the patients and are just the affairs the authorities their reactions reverberate through could not hide, and they indicate married quarters and home far deeper crises in the Army which towns. Clearly this not only shatters have been kept from general knowBritish Army morale but also builds ledge. up a desire in Britain for pulling out EFFECTS IN BRITAIN And all these British Army casualties and the continued resistance is having political effects in Britain itself.
The facts of collapsing British Army British war weariness is beginning to be reflected in Parliament. in October last year Army enlist- cracks have been appearing in the biment figures were 25 per cent down partisan approach to Ireland by the two major parties and several LabIn November an "over tired" mem- members have been making speeches calling to "bring our boys ber of the Labour Party front bench back home". It revealed in the bars of the House of take only one major political figure Commons that the British Army had to express similar sentiments to unexperienced its first mutiny of the leash a tidal wave of public opinion present campaign. Units stationed in demanding withdrawal from Ireland. Germany, believed to be from the 2nd Battalion, The Light Infantry And if the White Paper fails to pacand the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, ify the North, imperialism will be in refused to contemplate a return to crisis. The British will be forced back on their usual tactic-sheer mil itary force. But that is a strategy In the same month it was admitted, they have been following for three and published in most English news- years, and it has not paid off. The papers, that large numbers of sold- Army is war weary, the British peop iers at Colchester in Essex, where the Brush Army dries out soldiers le are war weary. The only comparatively new factor on the side of returning from Ireland, had been arrBritain is the willingness of the Southern regime to attack anti-impOn 9 December, a short paragraph erialists just as, vehemently as the in the Daily Mirror reported that imperialists themselves. British soldiers at Colchester had op crucially important aspect of the sitened tire on the administrative block uation and must be combatted by socialists and Republicans North and Later in the same month the Daily South.
Mail reported an attempt by just un- But the way forward for the antider 30 paras to buy themselves out unionist people of the Six Counties of the Army. Their regiment was to is clear-resistance in all its forms must• continue against the British Those were incidents given or accid- Army, against imperialism.• /Plough/ 88, Roslyn Koad, London N.15 A committee has been set up to help defend the ten people charged in connection with the recent bomb explosions in London. It is in urgent need of support. It calls on all those willing to defend democratic rights, and who are op posed to the continued repression of Irish militants, to assist it in launching a national campaign to highlight the way in which the Belfast Ten have been treated since neir arrest ane to deman their unconditional release.
The committee has been in touch with the families and associates of the Ten. and with their agreement has assumed responsibility for the welfare of the pris oners - insofar as the prison authorities are willing to have any provision for their welfare made.
The following facts illustrate the general attitude of the police and prison au nontes to care *In defiance of regulations and general practice, the ten were denied access to solicitors, and relatives who tried to visit them between March 8th, the day of their arrest, and March 12th. *In defiance of regulations and "normal standards of decency", nine of the ten were kept completely unclothed in Ealing Police Station for the same period. *In clear breach of the "legal rights of the citizen", the finger-prints of the ten were taken forcibly without any warrant being produced or sought. *Against all precedent, the three girls, Dolores and Marion Price and Roisin Mcinerney, are being held in a male prison, Brixton. *The visiting rights accorded all remand pasoners nave been denica tne sen. Most visitors are simply not admitted. Their Belfast solicitor, Mr. Patrick McGrory, has not been allowed to see Slight them.
Not one national newspaper has made any complaint against this erosion of civil liberty. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the committee's campaign be given all possible support. would probably The committee needs money - - to bring the families of the Ten to London to visit them, to ensure that food, cigarette books, ete, are made available, and for printing, the hire of halls, etc. At present the committee has no funds at all.
The committee hopes that a campaign for normal visiting facilities will soon be successful. We want to arrange a rotasystem which will ensure that each of the Ten has the statutory one visit per day. We therefore urge people to send their names to be put on such a rotalist.
All donations, names for the visiting rota, and other communications should be sent to Maureen Maguire at the above address.
This is a THE BRITISH LABOUR MOVEMENT AND THE BRITISH ARMY IN IRELAND Conway Hall Red Lion Square, (Holborn Saturday. 19th May 1973 Details from Anti-Internment Leagur 88, Roslyn Road, London N.15.