The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-04-17
TRY To SLAY
COLLINS, FREE
STATE LEADER
Attempt Comes Almost Simul-
taneously With Assault on
Beggars Bush Headquarters
of Republican Army.
HAVE RIFLESA AND BOMBS
tBy Associated Press }

tbJ ASSoCldteu fTeSSJ
DUBLIN, April 17.-An attempt on
| the life of Michael Collins, head of
| the provisional free state government,
| was made here shortly after midnight
this morning, coming almost simult-
| aneously with an assault on the Beg
gars' Bush headquarters of the Irish
| Republican army, says an official army
statement
Mr.. Collins was on his way home
after having addressed a meeting at
Naca, county Kilders, when the attack
occurred. A group of men, some arm
ed with rifles, rushed at the Collins
party's car and opened fire, the free
state leader apparently being the es-
pecial target. The Collins party
quickly returned the fire and one of
the attackers was captured. A re-
volver and live bomb were found on
him.
Capture Car
During the fighting a general head
quarters car from the Beggars' Bush
barracks was disabled by rifle fire
and captured
The headquarters barracks was at
tackled by riflemen from all sides at
midnight, about 20 shots being dis
| charged. Commandant General Ennis
was fired at outside of the gate. The
garrison raked the surrounding terri
| tory with bullets, and the assaulting
| party withdrew.
| An army transport also was attack
! ed, but without results, the besiegers
| fleeing after sharp exchange of
! shots.
Shots were fired on the premises
occupied by the civic guard at Balls
bridge. No damage and no casualties
were reported.
Flags Opponents.
In his speech at Mais, county Kill
| dare. yesterday, Mr.. Collins charged
the opponents of the privisional free
| state government with setting bar
| riers against the onward march of the
| nation.
He declared that cannon DevaIera
had adapted methods of anarchy" be-
| cause the people of Ireland were no.
willing to allow him to decide the
treaty question for them. DeValera
| regarded this attitude of the people
as an "unforgivable sin," and for it
| they were to be deprived of their right
to choose a government
! LONDON, April 17.-Easter Monday
was looked forward to with little
trepidation by the citizens of Dublin
! Reports to the morning newspapers
|
an assumption that the day would
bring such an explosion as the rebel
lion of 1916.
| The Daily Mails correspondent
says:
Anything or nothing may occur in
the next few days." and notwithstand-
/ ing the existence of a menace to or
der, many reports suggest that the
lieve it will be nothing
! The Times Dublin correspondent
says the statement by Rory O'Connor,
! head of the troops which seized the
| Four Courts, that his forces did not
contemplate a coup bears the stamp
of sincerity, and the city has become
quite hopeful.
Situation Dangerous
|
course, well understood that, with two
! Irish armies watching each other
| through the sandbagged windows of
| different public buildings. the situa-
| tion is dangerous. The country's i'm
mediate hope rests on the resumed
meeting of the peace conference on
| Wednesday (between representatives
of the free states and Republicans).
| Powerful pressure of many sorts is
being put to the rival leaders to reach
an agreement which will eliminate the
military peril, guarantee freedom. OF
the elections and allow public opinion
to express itself during the coming
weeks"
De Valera Hostile
The correspondent remarks that an
obscure feature of the situation is the
connection, if any, between Eamon De
Valera and the acceding section of
the Irish Republican army, and he ad-
mits he is unable to cast any light
upon II.
1t was noteworthy, however, that
Mr. De Valera, speaking last night in
Dublin at the celebration of the Eas-
ter rebellion, reiterated his hostility to
the treaty and told his hearers they
could have unity and stable govern
ment behind volunteers who stood for
the republic.
| These were the spearpoints of the
| Irish movement for freedom, he said.
| 1t was not apparent whether this al
lusion was to O'Connor's troops.
GFTe earn REARING