The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-08-26

ton OF the irregular lOiceS liz tiiC
south was considered complete.
Several attacks have been made
against the life Of Michael Collins,
head of the provisional government
and commander-in-ch Of the
Irish national army. The latest at
tempt was bombing outrage
when his car was ambushed last
Friday afternoon on the Dublin
side Of stillorgen. The official
communication issued with this at
tack did not Indicate whether Mr..
Collins was in the machine at the
time. The. driver was wounded
and the car was wrecked, a bomb
and more than score of shots
being fired.
In Dublin on April II, while Mr..
Collins was on his way home after
having addressed a meeting at
Mass. County Kildare, he was at
tackled by group Of men, some
with rifles. who rushed his car and
opened fire.
The Collins party returned the
fire and one OF the assailants was
captured. Collins was not injured.
Mr.. Collins, in, addition to being
comn,ander-in-chi of the national
army, was finance minister in the
dial eireann cabinet. He was one
of those who succeeded in obtain
ing a temporary injunction in New
York on Monday, restraining
Eamon De Valera or his agents
from withdrawing funds collected
for the Irish Republican cause de-
posted in banks in New York City.
Collins, always an ardent Sim
Feiner; was among those leaders
while holding to the Fundamental Is
OF tradition for the freedom of Ire
land. still were willing to effect j
peace with Great Britain. It be-
came necessary IN view of the re-
cent operations of the irregular
forces for Collins to assume active
charge of the national army in the
field and for some time past he had
abandoned the civil part OF the gov
ernment for the military.
Americans recently arriving n
London from Dublin declaed that
the assassination OF Collins was
forecast in Ireland. It was plan
ned to secure the removal Of the
sole remaining outstanding fg1re
in the provisional government, and
it was said to be also in part 8
measure of reprisal against z1h ne
shooting of Harry ]. Boland. the
close. associate Of Eamon De Valera
! by Free, State soldiers.
Agitation had been going on for
considerable time, and the walls OF
Trinity college and other public
buildings bore the inscription, "Har-
ry Boland murdered Posters or
telegraph poles insisted that Bo-
land was shot by Free Staters when
he was unarmed.
AS a measure Of precaution, eX-
ira guards were thrown around
the national chief because the de-
termination OF the radical elements
to rid the country Of the strong
man in the Free State movemen.
was an accepted fact.
With Arthur Griffith, Collins vas
considered one of the mainstays OF
the provisional government since
its inception:
Collins, prior to entering the
factions in ireland favora bic to
peace. had fought with the Sim
Feiners against the Black and
Tans aud the Royal Irish constab-
ulary, and was one Of the many
Irishmen who for long time were
ION the run" from the British. Du"-
ing the conferences in London in
the treaty and various other sub
jects connected with Ireland. David
Lloyd George, the prime minister.
Winston Spencer Churchill secre-
tary of the colonies. and Lord
Birkenhead. the lord high chan
cellor. were said to have held COL
lins in the highest esteem.
Collins still was in his sos. Last
May it was announced that Miss
Kitty kiernam, who belongs to
one os the leading families in
Langford, was engaged to marry
him.
Little is known of the early life
Of Collins, except that he is said
to have been born OF humble par
ents in County Kerry. He sprang
into prominence in October. 1914.
in connection with the Sim Fem
movement. In 1916 he command
ed a section OF the rebel army in
ireland of which Patrick H. Pearce.
who later was executed, was COM