NO WARNING GIVEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1922, Page 5

NO WARNING GIVEN.

SEVERAL SHOTS FIRED. ASSASSINS FIRE ON POLICE HOT CHASE ENSUEb. By Telegraph.—Press Amt.—copyright. London, June 22. Field-Marsha! Sir Henry Wilson was shot dead outside his home in Eaton Place, as he was leaving his motor-car in front of his residence, shortly after 3 o’clock in the afternoon, after returning from unveiling a war memorial at the Great Eastern railway station. Two men suddenly appeared and fired three shots, all of which struck Sir Henry Wilson, who died immediately. • The assailants were hotly pursued. There is I’.th doubt the assassins are Sinn Feiaers. A policeman rushed to the scene and the miscreants fired and wounded him in the stomach. They also wounded a civilian who came to Si» Henry Wilson’s aid. The assailants dashed down Eaton Place with , revolvers covering the police. j TWO YOUNG ASSAILANTS. A later message states that the assassins are James O’Brien and James Connolly, both 24 years old. They are believed to be associated with the Irish Republican Army. An eye-witness relates that Sir Henry Wilson wr about to open the door of his bouse when the men., who had apparently taken refuge behind a brougham, fired with heavy revolvers. Sir Henry ducked and, the first shots missing him, he turned his face to his’ assailants. Then a shot struck him on the head and he fell. The brougham mysteriously vanished when the firing began. A Scotland Yard communique states that O’Brien and Connolly were chased by Constable March, who was seriously wounded, detective Sayer continued the pursuit and received a shot in his leg. A civilian also was wounded. Constable Bush joined the chase and succeeded in knocking O’Brien I down with his fist. The revolver fell from O’Brien’s hands. It contained a live and i two spent cartridges. The. other man, who was overpowered by | • constable, had a revolver in which were two spent cartridges and one live one either in his hand or in his pocket. The revolvers were of the Webley service pat- . tern- , Sir Henry Wilson was shot three times, | once through the body, once through the j leg. and once through the arm. One of the captured men, with blood streaming from his face from someone i striking him with a bottle, declared that ' he was an officer. CONNECTED WITH SINN FEIN. There is some suggestion that a third man was concerned, but there is nothing corroborative at present. The men made the most violent resistance and bear traces of violence. At first they declined to say anything, but later stated that they were soldiery but would not say to what regiment they belonged. An official copy of the I.R.A. organ was found on Connolly, also a letter tending to show that he was connected with the IR-A. Immediately the King heard of the tragedy he sent an equerry to convey to Lady Wilson the King’s and Queen’s sincere condolences and their shock at the brutal assasrination. Sir Henry Wilson was a great . -monal friend of the Royal family. Lord Carson was deeply moved. He remarked : “The facts are eloquent, all too eloquent.” Lord Birkenhead, in the House of Lords, replying to Lord Carsor., after a reference to this criminal and murderous attack, ;aid he understood the men were arrested under circumstances rendering their compbeicy certain. Lord Salisbury moved a resolution exprasing detestation at the murder and sympathy with Lady Wilson, which was adopted. Earlier in the afternoon Sir Henry Wilson unveiled a memorial at Liverpool Street Station to 1220 employees of the Great Eastern Railway who fell in the war. His last words there were the six lines of Kipling’s recessional, beginning: “The tumult and the shouting dies.” As he finished the lines many women, who were sobbing gently, burst into tears. He then left od his journey homeward, which terminated so tragically. ASSASSINS LYING IN WAIT. Ar eye-witness, describing the murder, -rid the two assassins were lying in wait •or Sir Henry Wilson, who drove to his ho'ise in a taxi-cab. The door was ‘hardly open when two men rushed forward, drew revolvers. and fired five or six shots at Sir

Henry Wilson as he stepped from the cab. Sir Henry fell on the pavement, riddled with bullets, and died before assistance

The assassins then pointed their weapons , at the cab-driver and ordered him to drive | away. The driver refused. The shots ha' j attracted many people to the scene. The i assassins bolted, pursued by policemen. In ! Ebury Street, six policemen had joined th? chase and hurled their truncheons at the assassins, who were dodging behind motorcars and taxis, firing at their pursuers. The assassins fired a number of shots and badly wounded one policeman. The mur- . derers’ ammunition was exhausted, and . one of them fell from a blow. i s Some pedestrians joined in the hunt. : Both men were overpowered and convey ad to the police station. They refused to give their names, but said: “We are Irish , and proud of it.” LLOYD GEORGE’S SYMPATHY*. ULSTER PREMIER’S TRIBUTE. Received June 23, 5.5 p.m. London, June 22. Mr. Lloyd George telegraph ed to Lady Wilson: ‘T am deeply r’i-ockcd at the ghastly crime. I can find no words to express my consternation and grief. Please accept all my sympathy in your terrible, trouble.” Sir James Orr T ~. speaking in the Ulster Parliament, said that Sir Henry Wilson had laid down his life for Ulster. Sir Henry Wilson told him months ago that he would do all he could in Ulster’s cause. Sir Henry Wilson was one more stalwart who had fought in the desperate battle Ulster was fighting. It would make no difference to them in their work, and he Imped there would be no further doubt in anyone’s mind as to what Ulster was up against.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICANS HORRIFIED. ACT STROI7GL” CONDEMNED. Received June 23, 9.45 p.m. New York, June 22. Americans are saddened and horrified at Sir Henry Wilson’s assassination. They express the deepest condemnation of the act and point out that Sir Henry Wilson was one of the fairest men in England, and one of Ireland’s best friends. It is declared that if Irish Re- , publicans committed the crime it will I be a serious set-back to the Irish State. General Pershing said: “This is an outrage that will shock civilisation. Sir 1 Henry Wilson was known as a fairminded, upstanding soldier. His death i fills me with a profound sense of perj sonal loss.” The newspapers consider the assasI si nation of Sir Henry Wilson the greati est misfortune to Ireland. i The World says the echoes of the I ! murder will be a long time dying out; ; . they will be heard in Belfast and at 1 Westminster. The curse of Ireland toi day is the gunmen and the bands of irresponsible so-called soldiers. The Times says the brutal assassination is one more illustration of the malign fate which historically has pursued Irish self-government. The Herald says the assassination is further ghastlv evidence of the | malign spirit still haunting parts of Ireland. CONSTERNATION IN PARIS. MARSHAL FOCH’S TRIBUTE. Received June 23, 8.20 p.m. Paris, June 21. The assassination caused consternation and horrified political circles. M. Poincare intends to attend the funeral. He and President Millerand sent telegrams of condolence to the widow. Marshal Foch was deeply moved. He said it was unbelievable that such a splendid soldier and noble comrade should have fallen by the assassin’s revolver. Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilson was one of the greatest British soldiers. He was born in 1864 and after leaving Marlborough School entered the army in 1884. He saw service in Burma (1885-9) and in South Africa (1899-1901). He held many important staff appointments, including those of commandant at the Staff College (1907-10) and director of military operations (191014). On the outbreak of the war he went with the Expeditionary Force to France ea assistant- chief of general staff to Lord French, and later became a corps commander and acted as liaison officer with the French high command. In 1917 he went to Versailles as British representative on the Supreme War Council and in the following year was appointed chief of the Imperial General Staff, and in 1919 was made a field-marshal. He recently retired from his official military position and entered the House of Commons and was en trusted bv the Ulster Government with the task of organising the defence of Ulster. Sir Henry Wilson was a strong supporter ©f th* right* of Ulster.