 The Crown responded with escalation of the war, with the importation of special forces such as the "Auxiliaries", the "Black and Tans", the "Cairo Gang", and others.Officially or unofficially, many of these groups were given a free hand to institute a reign of terror, shooting Irish people indiscriminately, invading homes, looting and burning.As the war began in earnest, de Valera travelled to the United States for an extended speaking tour to raise funds for the outlawed Republican government.