New-York tribune., 1922-08-23
CofnnaanderCa Called Victim
of Republican Plot in
Reprisal for Shooting of
BoIand by NationaIisss
De Valera Faction
His Bitter Enemies
Strong Man of Govern
ment, He Took Burden
of Winning Irish Peace

BELFAST, Aug. 20 tBy The AS
sociated Press) Michael Collins
was shot dead tonight at Bardon,
County Cork. His assailants fired
from ambush.
CORK, Aug. % (By The Associ-
ated Press) THE citizens Of Cork
saw Michael C1llins for the first
time yesterday in the uniform of
the Commander in Chief and cheered
him along the entire route through
the city. One runor, characterized
as absurd, represented him as visit
ing Eamon de Valera in dugout in
remote part of Cork.
Peace talk of this kind has been
industriously circulated by the ir-
regulars, whose latest terms Of peace
are said to stipulate that they must
be absorbed en- masse in the National
Army.
When Arthur Griffith, founder Of
Sinn Fein, died suddenly ten days ago,
the full burden of carrying on the
Irish Free State government devolved
on the shoulders Of Collins, who, with
Griffith and five other lesser leaders
in Irish life, had signed the treaty of
peace with England. Parting from
their colleagues in the movement for
an Irish republic, Collins, with Grif
fith's help, succeeded in swinging the
bulk of popular opinion in his country
to the support of the treaty. Little by
little Eamon de Valera and the other
irreconeilibles were driven into The
background as Geltins's cappaign for
the Frse Staso proceededyn
DUBLIN, Aug "a g,ns TKs associated
Press 1.--Eariy this Morning Se chief
of the Free State General StaAf issued
the following to the army:
"Stand calmly to your posts; then
bravely and undaunted-do your work.
Let no cruel act of reprisal blemish
your bright honor.
Every dark hour that Michael Col
Inns met since 1916 seemed but to steel
that brave strength OF his and temper
his gay bravery. You are left each
inheritors of that strength and of that
bravery.
"To each Of you falls his unfinished
work. No darkness in this hour, mp
loss of q comrade, will daunt you at it."
Hated by Republicans
Defeated by fair political means, the
republicans determined TO kill Collins
Reports of their plots against the only
remaining big leader in the Dublin ad-
ministration were brought to London
this week by American travellers. It
was said that the rebels, seizing upon
what they called the murder" Of
Harry ]. Boland, who was shot by Free
State troops two months age when he
refused to surrender, were deliberately
planning TO kill Collins. They hoped
by this means not only to eliminate
the chairman of the Free State gov
ernment from political life but also TO
precipitate the collapse of the entire
Free State movement which he had
fostered. Their belief was, it was said,
councils of the Free State that could
carry on the work With Griffith dead,
the murder Of Collins, they felt, would
once, more give the republican move
ment a new lease on life.
Three times the rebels tried to
.get" Collins before they succeeded.
The first time his car was held up by
group of the republican gunmen Cox
Inns was the quicker on the draw. He
shot one Of his assailants dead,
wounded another and escaped into the
bush. The second time, less than q
week ago. group of rebels fired on
him from ambush as his automobile
was proceeding down road anear Dub-
lin. The car was riddled with bullets
and one attache in it wounded, but
Collins came through unscathed.
Idol Of Irish PopuIace.
Easily tbs most popular man in Ise-
land, by reason of his long service
as chief of staff of the Irish Repub-
Iican Army--a position that he filled
from soon after the declaration of in-
dependence in 1915 until the armistice
with England was signed-he knew most
of the men In the army that had
fought British troops thrown into Ire
land. He was their acknowledged
leader and the most active OF them
all
When Collins declared in favor of
peace with England he carried the bulk
Of army sentiment with him. His own
men knew that '.Mickie" was no coward
that he wasn't quitting. In peace he
saw the Only hope for Ireiand's future.
and for that reason he negotiated with
Lloyd George the peace that Ds Valera
repudiatcd, and that Collins, with Gsif-
| fiShfs help had Is fight hard En- main
| tain.
Born la County Kerry
Michael Collins was born in County
Kerry forty years ago Of humble
! parents and was given an elementary
/ school education. After working with
his brother IN the grocery business BID
entered the postal service. At one
time be was employed as a general
isorter Of mail in the main London post
i office and it was there that his ex-
treme Irish views first came into pub
iac notice. In fact, he was said to
have astounded his colleagues by his
Iinsistence on Irish independence