New-York tribune., 1919-12-29
Unknown Agitator Is Said
To Be Responsible for
Series of Murderous
Attacks on Officials
Drastic Reprisals
By Britain Feared
Lawless Element in Ire
land No Longer Under
Control of Old Chiefs.
Who Oppose Violence
NetC York Tribune
Europedn Buredn

Nec York Tribune
Europedn Bureau
Copyright. 1919. New YcrR Tribune Inc,
LONDON, Dec. 28-The latest
and most fanatical demonstration on
the part of a certain element of the
Sim Fein movement, which is rap
idly getting beyond the control of
both its recognized leaders ard of
the government, occurred in Dublin
before dawn this morning, when
party Of armed men made an attack
on the guards at the residence of
Viscount French, Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland, at Phoenix Park.
A party, believed to have num-
bered eight men, approached the
residence and began the attack
without warning. SO we'll guarded
was the vice-regal lodge, however,
as a consequence of the fears felt
for the safety Of Lord French be-
cause of the attack on him from am
bush at Dublin last week, the at
tempt broke down under the defense
put up by soldiers guarding the
house. After an exchange of shots.
in which the leader Of the guards
and one Of the attacking party fell
dead, the assailants dispersed and
fled from the park
Four Suspects Arrested
In the roundup which immediate-
ly followed the clash four men
were arrested on suspicion of COM
plicity in the plot and for possible
participation in the attack.
To-day's outrage was the third of
q series which, besides the attempted
assassination of Lord French or
December 19, included the demol-
ishing of the Office of "The Irish
Independent" of Dublin, for its
denunciation of the first affair.
All of these disorders are now
believed to have been promulgated
and directed by new and mys-
terious leader, whose identity is
not known, but who has risen
from the Sim Fem ranks to the
position of dictator of the most
lawless element among the "Repub-
licans." This leader-man or woman,
whichever it may be-is believed to
have great influence in what is de
scribed as the extreme left" of the
Sim Fem movement, and is rapidly
winning over to deeds of violence
and desperation those Irishmen who
are tired Of waiting for the day
when, as they anticipate and as
they have been assured by their
leaders, Ireland is to become an in
dependent republic.
Leaders Losing Control
Arthur Gritfiths, the acting pres
ident of the SinA Feiners, has be-
come almost a moderate in contrast
with this new radical leader. AL
though it is generally conceded that
Griffiths never would have counte-
nanced the two attacks on Viscount
French and toe other moves of the
lawless wings Of the party, he and
the other duly elected leaders are
practically powerless to condemn
the murderous attempts for fear
they will lose their grip entirely
on the bulk Of their followers. They
have appealed to the British gov
ernment to recognize their position,
and are now urging that as many
of the moderate leaders are in iail
and others are in hiding they are
unable to keep the wild and reck-
less element in hand because of
their inability to bring full influ-
ence to bear to keep the extremists
in line.
Lawless Element Defiant
IL Gri1ilths dared, it is believed he
would appeal to the cleft" to cease
attempting murder and pillage, as
ne realizes these acts will only
bring down the severest reprisals
from the British government in the
form OF suppression and coercion.
But there is a lawless element run
ring all through the Sim Fein
ranks which regards murder only as
gallant demonstration on behalf
of lreland's woes and as an areu-
ment IN favor of independence.
To-day's outrage, hopeless and in
completely organized as it was.
again recalls the murder of Lord
oh