Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-12-20
7 TEMPT MhDE:
TO TAKE LIFE
OF GEN, French
British Governor of Ireland is
Mysteriously Fired
Upon

Dublin, Dec. 19.-An attempt
was made at 1 o'clock this after
noon to assassinate Viscount
French, the lord lieutenant of Ire
land.
Lord French, however, escaped
the fate evidently intended for
him.
Lord French was driving be
tween the Ashton gate of Phoenix
Park and the vice regal lodge
when a shot was fired. A civilian
nearby was struck and instantly
killed by the bullet.
A policeman was wounded at
the same time.
Several shots are said to have
been fired by Lord French's as
sailant. The military present
promptly returned the fire and one
of the assailants was shot dead
His body lay by the roadside.
Ambulances were Immediately
rushed to the spot.
Information gathered indicated
that the assassins fired from a
field while the vice regal party
was passing along the road.
The most intense excitement
prevailed when two tanks passed
thru the streets at about 2:30 p. m
A number of men were hiding
in field beside the road when
Lord French motored past. The
first shot fell in front of the vice
regal car, but the second entered
the side Of the car and another
pierced it's back.
A cyclist policeman, acting as
escort, was hit in the foot.
The military escort, which met
Lord French at the Ashtown sta.
ton, was some distance behint
when the attack occurred, but
quickly galloped to the scene, being
summoned by a woman who was
driving car containing Lore
French's baggage. She turned
back Immediately on hearing the
firing.
Policeman Lachinlin was killed
during the shooting. The civilian
with whom he had been talking
fired at Lord French and an
other policeman killed him. The
attacking party fled in the direc-
ticn of Dublin. None of Lord
French's assailants was caught.
The civilian who was killed is
declared to have had bombs in his
possession. Two loaded revolvers
also were found on him.
One bomb exploded and dug a
big hole in the road near the Ash
town corner. Portions of anoth-
err bomb were found.
The attacking party is believed
to have numbered five or six per-
sons.
An automobile which was fol-
lowing that containing Lord
French, bearing other members of
the party was shattered by the
firing and it's driver was injured.
The attempt upon the life of
Viscount French in Dublin comes
in the midst of che most serious
and threatening political upheavel
that Ireland has experienced in
MANY years. The development of
the Sim Fein movement in Ireland
has been rapid within the last
year, resulting in an overwhelm-
ing triumph for that organization
of separatist government head
ed by Eamonn de Valera, with an
Irish republican parliament claim
ing the authority to legislate for
Ireland but put under the strictest
of bans by the British authorities
Meanwhile thruout large sections
of the island there have been dis
orders, attacks on constables and
minor officials coming with great
frequency, together with counter
action by the authorities in the
way of repressive measures, such
AS the suppression of the Sim
Fem and kindred Irish organiza
lions by proclamation, arrests of
nuremous Sim Feiners and many
raids for the seizure of docu-
naents and suspects. and searches
for hidden arms. In dealing with
the situation the government has
been EMPLOYING large military for
ces, an official statement in Oc-
tober announcing that $4,000
troops were in Ireland.