LORD FRENCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1919, Page 5

LORD FRENCH.

THE LATEST ATTACK. '.VICE-REGAL LODGE AFFAIR. Hy Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Dec. 28. Twelve men attacked the Vice-Regal Lodge in Dublin this morning. An officer and two of the guards replied with firearms. A farmer and a civilian were shot dead. The latter 'belonged to the attackers. Four were arrested on suspicion while leaving Phoenix Park. The attackers fired from tlie main road a quarter of a mile, distant. The dead attacker was dressed in an old military : uniform. His body was riddled with bullets.

The Dublin correspondent of the Evening Standard says that Lord French is convinced that the first step towards the restoration- of normal conditions in Ireland is to deal with the intimidating forces. It is reported that action will shortly be taken to arrest every active Sinn Feiner. Though the task is gigantic, upholders of this clean-sweep policy believe it can effectually be done.—Aus'N.Z. Cable Assn.

A BRITISH OFFICER KILLED. London, Dec. 28. The sniping attack on the Vice-Regal Lodge lasted a few minutes on Sunday morning. Lieut. Boast, of the South Lancashire Regiment, was the only fatality among the defenders.

j Received Dec. 29, 9.20 p.m. London, Dec. 28. Shortly after midnight on Saturday, the occupants of flce-Regal Lodge were awakened by shots from the main road, through Phoenix Park, about half a mile away from the Lodge. The guard turned out, including Captain Boast and two men. It was impJsSs* *i e owin S t0 pitch darkness. Uptam Boast's party crossed the polo ground, and suddenly came face to face with a gang of men, whose numbers were not ascertainable.

An encounter occurred close to the momnaent marking the spot where Cavendish and Burke were mtfrdered. Both parties fired, with only the width of tha road separating them. A bullet entered Tt The two soldier s firing until the attackers dispersed, leaving the dead body of a comI" 7 1 there were six tulles. The dead body was not identified. The deceased was about forty years of age, and was wearing civilian clothes, military putties, and bandages round his head instead of a hat.

th^pT en ! iy thr6e mm loiteri "g inside the Park gates were arrested. It is not Ti, her P art ' e! pated in the f? a p ge , The authorities intend dosing th ® Park nightly a t six o'clock The reticence of the Dublin authorities regarding the aftack has resulted in many conflicting accounts. It is rumored that only one man attacked, and that he was armed with an automatic jßstol No weapons were found where tbe man tos killed, and no shots struck the

The police withhold the names of the hree unarmed men who were arrested Phr il" 3 r the footing. They denot aware of the outrage, Sk -"fr "*•-« -

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mystery of the attack. WAS IT ON THE LODGE? Received Dec. 29, 9.30 p.m. „ . , , London, Dee. 29. Considerable mystery surrounds the Phoenix Park affair, and probably only the inquest will throw light on the matter. It is now doubtful if the shots were meant as a serious attack on ViceRegal Lodge, as they proceeded from a S ? uter ed 2° o f the Park on the Duibhn side, over a mile from the wage.

It is now stated that Captain Boast challenged a man, who refused to haltIhe man seized Captain Boast by the throat, firing at the same time, yet there is no trace of a weapon. Another version is that the dead man is Laurence Carey, a demobilised soldier, who was employed within the Park, and was probably returning from festivities Ilus report is unconfirmed, and there is no official report.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn