IN IRELAND

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1919, Page 2

IN IRELAND

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) ATTEMPT ON LORD FRENCH. , LONDON, Dec. 18. A determined ataek was made to kill Viscount French while passing through Phoenix Park. Several Sinn Feiners were engaged in the affair. They fired a number of bullets, of which two passed through Lord French’s motor car, one wounding a cyclist policeman who was escorting French. The military escort returned the fire and shot one of the attackers who was carrying a bomb. There is intense excitement in Dublin. DEATH FOR FRENCH TRAITRESS. PARIS, Dec. 17. A court-martial at Amiens sentenced to death Marie Totot, the widow of a distinguished French officer. She betrayed twenty Frenchmen to the Germans.

SUPPRESSION IN IRELAND. LONDON, Dec. 18. In the House of Commons, prior to Mr T. P. O’Connor, (Nationalist) moving the adjournment to call attention to the suppression of “The Freeman’s Journal,” Mr J. I. Macpherson, Chief Secretary for Ireland, said that the. Journal” had served a writ on the Government and therefore, the matter wag subjudice.

Mr O’Connor defended the articles for which the “Journal” was suppressed, condemning the enlistment of Civil servants as special constables, and another declared that crime in Ireland was England’s greatest asset. Mr O’Connor said there was evidence of a militarist plot to provoke Ireland to outrage, and drown Home Rule in blood. The Irish Government was creating crime.

Mb W. Adamson (Labour) said that Labour believed! that the frequency of repressive meaa'ures was closely connected with the prevalence of crime in Ireland Mr Denis Henry (Unionist, Londonderry) said that the “Journal’s” articles had long been tolerated, hut they had become too objectionable. The “Journal” had declared that Civil servants not joining the special constabulary would be marked men.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. LONDON, December 19.

In the House of Commons, Mr Mc.Pherson (Chief Secretary for Ireland), announced that in the Dublin Phoenix Park a bomb attack was made on the Head of the Irish Dublin Castle (Administration. (Lord French). Tliiere were four bombs thrown at French He escaped uninjured, but the assailant was killed in Broadway The bomb thrower fired a number of shots and twenty detectives were injured more or less. Others who veie with the assailant escaped. LONDON, December 19. It is stated that there was a fusilade against Lord French and the exchanges of shots resembled a pitched battle. Many bullets glanced off , the armoured plated Vice-Regal cars. The assailants expected Lord French to he in the second car which was bombed and shattered, but the head of the Administration escaped in the foremost car owing to its high speed.

FEELINGS OF POLICE AROUSED LONDON, December 10.

Tbe “Times” states there has been a new devlopment in Ireland as the outcome of the policy of the ruling faction. The Times says:—“lt is stated in Irish Government official circles that the Irish Government have provisionally arranged to suspend General Byrne the popular head of the Royal Irish Constabulary, who lias been opposed to some of the recent repression measures that are emanating from the ruling faction at Dublin Castle.'' “The Royal Irish Constabulary,” it ad<?[s, “Will BtlVr-gly resent General Bryne’s removal.” SUPPRESSION OF PAPERS. LONDON, Dec. 19. The Daily Herald’s Dublin correspondent makes a fresh revelation about Irish repression. The correspondent states: —“The Freeman’s Journal was suppressed simply because it stated that tbe Government has allowed certain criminals immunity.” The correspondent adds: —“It is firmly believed in Dublin that the real murderers of Detectives Downing and Carton some time ago have been allowed to go free owing to the Government’s an-ti-Sinn policy. One of them, a man or a woman known to Dublin Castle, has been left untouched, because Dublin Castle wants these murderers attributed to Sinp F ein - !?

STATEMENT IN COMMONS. (Received this day at 9.20 a.m.l LONDON, Dec. 19.

Hon Mncplierson announced in the Commons that four bombs were thrown at Lord French from behind a hedge in Phoenix Park. The militarist escort fired on the murderers killing one, who was in the road. He had two revolvers in his possession. A bullet wounded a detective in the hand, while attempting to fire his revolver. Gunfire also wounded a constable on duty 1 on the cross roads in the vicinity. The murderers after rapid shooting, escaped. The country would be glad to learn that Lord French was uninjured (cheers), and would extend sympathy to the men wounded while discharging their duty (cheers).