THREATS TO KILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1922, Page 5

THREATS TO KILL.

PREVIOUS WARNINGS MANY THREATENING LETTERS. CAMPAIGN OF TERROR FEARED. Received June 23, 8.20 p.m. London, June EZ. The House of Commons was stunned by the news of the murder of Sir Henry Wilson, which it heard when Sir W. Sutherland hurried in and whispered to Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Chamberlain. Like a flash the tiding ran round the benches, and the House quickly filled. .Meanwhile questions were being asked and answered, but none heeded them. Mr. Asquith, speaking with obvious difficulty, addressed a question to Mr. Chamberlain, who gave the facts and paid a tribute to Sir. Henry Wilson's [ career. He then moved the adjournj ment. Mr. Asquith was in tears as he I left the House, and other close friends lof the Field-Marshal were deeply I moved. | Many members of the Commons besides Sir Henry Wilson have lately received threatening letters from Sinn Feinefs. They were particularly numerous in Sir Henry Wilson’s case, as he was military adviser to the Ulster [ Government, but he took no notice of | them. The general impression in the lobby yesterday was that this was only the first of a series of outrages in Britain by Irish extremists, and the desire is expressed for a Government ' statement regarding steps to safeguard the country from a campaign of violence. Scotland Yard’s famous flying squadron on Thursday evening, reinforced by a special branch, which until the signing of the Irish Treaty was engaged in preventing crimes by the Irish Republican army, carried on a systemI atic search of different parts of Lon- ! don with high speed motor cars. Lord Arthur Hill, who confirms the drawn sword incident, said Lady Wilj son ran out without a hat and with a cup of water to her husband, who was too far gone to drink and who died immediately. Lady Wilson did not actually witness the shooting, but she heard the shots. She rushed to the' window and saw her husband reeling with his drawn sword in his hand and stagger across the pavement and collapse in a heap on the kerb. Sir Henry Wilson had previously told Lord Hill that he had been threatened more than i once. i Dublin opinion is deeply shocked by the assassination, but it is not believed it can bear on the political situation j in South Ireland. is feared reprisals ' will occur in Belfast. Officers visited all theatres and kinemas and ordered all British troops to ret; a to barracks' immediately.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

NO SPECIAL GUARD. THE FEELING IN IRELAND. MAJORITY CONDEMN CRIME. INFINITE HARM MAY FOLLOW. Received June 23, 7.35 p.m. London, June 23. Sir Henry Wilson had no special police protection, but constables on duty in the vicinity were ordered to watch for suspicious characters near the house. They were armed and posted after the murder outside Lord Carson’s residence, which is in the same street. Major the Hon. W. R. Bailey, son of Lord Glenusk, commander of the King’s Company of Grenadiers, who lives six doors from Sir Henry Wilson’s house, says: “On June 3 my window was chipped in a peculiar way, and two days later Sir Henry Wilson’s window was cut in a similar manner.” Rory O’Connor (leader of the Republican forces), when asked at Dublin, declined to make a statement on the subject, remarking that he was too busy. The Belfast correspondent of the Daily Express states that for months past Sir Henry Wilson has been regarded as a marked man here, and was closely guarded. Sir Henry Wilson will be accorded a public military funeral. Mr. Arthur Griffith (leader of the Dail Eireann), in a statement, said: “Although Sir Henry Wilson’s political views were opposed to those of the vast majority of my countrymen, I know that the vast majority are unanimous in condemning and deploring tuts anarchic deed.”

The Irish Independent says the leaders cannot pretend to know the motive behind the horrifying deed, but it is obvious from various public references that it is attributed to the bitterness aroused by the partition and Belfast pogroms. Whatever the.cause, the tragic ending -of Sir Henry Wilson’s career is extremely regrettable, and it is in every way deplorable. This unchristian act may produce infinite harm; it certainly will tend to inflame passion and intensify the existing troubles instead of modifying a difficult situation.