The Washington herald., 1922-08-23
LIFE LONG IN PERIL
Bomb Thrown at His Car
Sunday First Attempt
At Assassination.
HIS DEATH COMES
AT CRITICAL TIME
Murder Believed to Be
Reprisal for Shooting
of Harry Boland.

Michael Collins, commander OF the
Irish Free State army. and the
most outstanding figure in the en-
tire Irish situation, has been assas-
sinated.
II was officially announced early
this morning that Collins had been
shot and killed from ambush near
Bsndon. County Cork. while on a
tour of inspection.
Threats have been made for the
past week by the Irish irregulars
to assassinate Collins because of
the shooting and killing recently
Of Harry Boland, secretary to
Eamorln de Valera and for a time
Sim Fein representative in the
United States Boland was shot
and killed when he refused to sur
render to Free State forces :
Collins life had long been in
danger and his assassination fol-
lows what was regarded as an at
tempt on his life last Sunday. On
this occasion a bomb was thrown.
and exploded under the automobile
in which Collins was in the habit
Of riding. The Irish leader was
not in the car. however.
Commanded sInn Fein Army.
Michael Collins was one of the
dominant militant factors in the
Sim Fein when this element was
giving England the greatest trouble
both during and Immediately after
the world war. Collins was the
commander Of the Sim Fein army.
A price was on his head. Yet il
was said that he had repeatedly
walked down :. line of British
troops whose bSNness 1t was to
capture him without having a hand
put on him
Time after time he was appar-
emily within grasp Of the British
troops in hot chases along the road
But Collins would disappear over
stone wall. or hedge and that
was the last seen of him. SO far as
the immediate pursuers were con-
eerned.
Leader I'm Conferences.
Collins came more prominently
to the front in an administrative
and executive sense during 1921
and 1922. following the series of
conferences between Premier LLOYD
George. Eamonn de Valera and the
late Arthur Griffith which resulted
in the supposed settlement of the
Irish question through establish
ment of the Irish Free State.
Then, however, came the break
between Collins and DE Valera. The
latter. with the extreme element
in the Sim Fein supporting him.
refused to accept the Free State
plan Collins held out as firmly
for its acceptance and stood as
firmly for the program made pos
eli r. ~ NigA
sions as he had stood out against
England IN the early days.
Fought to Establish Peace.
When the Sim Fein resorted to
arms against the Free State faction
among the Irish with the same de-
termination that they had shown
against England. Collins placed
himself at the head of the Free
State forces. 1t was to Collins and
Griffith that Lloyd George looked
for the maintenance of peace with
IN ireland. IL peace was OF be main
tanned by the Irish themselves.
Collins accepted the issue. realiz-
ing that only establishment of peace
by the Free Staters would avoid the
appearance of British troops.
During the past few months the
have waged constant guerilla war
fare.
Captured Four Courts.
Collins most dramatic step. and
the one best emphasizing his de-
termination to make the Free State
dominant was the recent battle Of
the Four Courts in Dublin.
The Sim Fein forces seized the
e nr0s1I
were holding IL. Collins demanded
not Forthcoming opened a bonn
I"rdment on the historic buildings
The Four Courts and other build
ings in the vicinity were practical
ly destroyed by artillery fire before
the Sim Fein troops were routed.
Since then the warfare on the
Seinn Fein has been pushed relent-
lessly throughout Ireland
Collins death comes at q criti-
cal time. Arthur Griffith, active
administrative and executive head
of the Free State. died within the
past fortnight Griffith was presi-
dent of the Dali Eireann. He had
been for years the moderatlng fac
tor in the Sim Fein. and stood
staunchly by Collins in establish
ment of the Free State.
Became Famous I'm 1915.
Collins career was meteoric. He
was practically unheard of until
1914. Then he was described as "a
priest named Michael Collins" who
accompanied Sir Roger Easement on
the Sim Fein's mission to Germany
to visit Irish prisoners Of war.
He became famous In the rebellion
Of 1915. where he helped organize
and commanded part of the rebel
army of p. II. Pearcs. II was dur
ing his connection with this insurS
gent army that Collins became the
most sought man In Iceland.
Collins was born s2 years ago In
County Kerry. He had an ordinary
elementary school education and
after working with his brother in
the grocery business. entered the
postal service. At one time he was
employed In a general postofice in
-