ASSASSINATION

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1922, Page 5

ASSASSINATION

IRISH LEADER SHOT. DEATH OF MB. M. COLLINS. AMBUSHED BY REBELS. BLOW TO FREE STATE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Aug. 23, 5.5 p.m. London, August 23. Mr. Michael Collins, head of the Irish Free State Government, was ambushed and killed at Bandon. Received Aug. 23, 11.30 p.m. London. August 23. The death of Mr. Collins is officially confirmed. The news created greater excitement in Belfast than that of the death of Mr. Arthur Griffith (leader of the Dail Eireann). It is recognised as the gravest blow to the Free State. The Government has issued a proclamation to the army urging the troops not to indulge in reprisals. Only last week-end Mr. Collins escaped death. A cable published on Tuesday stated that Government nrecautions frustrated the threatened rebel outbreak in Dublin, but Mr. Michael Collins’ motorcar determinedly attacked from an imbnsh between Greystones and Dublin. \ bomb was thrown and was followed 3y a fusillade of bullets. The driver sac wounded, but Mr. Colling had left die car earlier. MAD IRISH METHODS. CONDEMNED BY BERNARD SHAW. London, August 22. Mr. Bernard Shaw, who has returned from Ireland, says: “What matter if, for Ireland dear we fall? That is the rebel idiots’ battle song. Idiocy is sanctified by memories of the time when there was really nothing to be done for Irish freedom but to die for it. The time has now come for Irishmen to learn to live for their country, instead of which they have blown up bridges j and burned homesteads and factories, : gaining nothing therefrom. “The cause of Ireland has always ; been dogged by ridicule, which we have such a fatal gift of provoking and expressing. I suppose it will have to be settled by another massacre of Irishmen by Irishmen. If Mr. de Valera had any political genius he might have averted it, but 1 cannot persuade myself that he has any. Messrs, de Valera and Childers had the choice of subduing the country in the British fashion and coercing it into a republic, whether it wanted it or did not want it, or living like brigands. The leaders are now pretending that they are contending for a principle, while their followers are following brigandage.” BANK MANAGER ROBBED. London, August 22. Two armed men held up the motor car of the manager of the National Bank at Ballyshannon and robbed him of 50 pounds worth of silver. The manager notified the National Commander and soldiers were immediately despatched and captured the Irregulars in the mountains and recovered the silver. The Irregulars, who are evacuating South Tipperary towns on the advance of the Nationalists, are showing much activity in the country districts. They ambushed National troops on the Cahir Road, killed three and wounded seven. They also ambushed Nationals in a motor near Clonmel, kiling two and seriously wounding Commander-Colonel Thornton and taking prisoner two others.

Sniping into Clonmel from the hillsides continues daily.

ROMANCE OF THE WAR. London, August 21. The Limerick correspondent of the Daily Mail states that a romance of the Irish war has been disclosed. Colonel Commandant O’Neill, one of the best of the fighting Free Staters, obtained marriage leave, travelling with his fiancee to Roscrea for the ceremony. When within sight of the church the motor cars were ambushed and the party taken prisoners and conveyed to the rebel headquarters in the mountains. The women were released, but the colonel detained. A few days later his fiancee received a message, after which she was taken to a farm house in the mountains and a priest performed the ceremony. Her husband is still a captive.