Evening star., 1922-04-17
ATTEMPT TO KILL
MICHAEL COLLINS
Gunmen Fire on Free State
Leader After He Denounces
De valera's "Anarchy."
by the Associated Press.

DUBLIN. April 17.-An attempt on
the life of Michael Collins, head Of
the provisional Free State govern
ment, was made here shortly after
midnight this morning. coming almost
simultaneously with an assault on
the Beggars' 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
Mas. County Kildare, when the, at
tack occurred. A group of men, some
armed with rifles. rushed at the Col
Inns party's car and opened fire, the
Free State. leader apparently being
the especial target The Collins
party quickly returned the fire and
one Of the attackers was captured.
A revolver and a live bomb were
found on him.
Assaulting Party Checked.
During the fighting general
headquarters car from the Besgars'
Bush barracks was disabled by rife
fire and captured.
The headquarters barracks was at
tackled by rifiemen from all sides at
midnight. about twenty shots being
discharged. Commandant Gen. Ennis
was fired at outside the gate. The
garrison raked the Surrounding ter
ritory with bullets and the assaulting
party withdrew.
An army transport also was at
lacked. out without results, the be-
IN
change of shots.
SHOTS were fired on the premises
occupied by the civic guard at Balls
bridge. No damage and no casual
ties were reported.
Collins Comments ON Shooting,
In his speech at Mas, County Kill
dare, yesterday, Mr.. Collins charged
the opponents of the provisional Free
State government with setting bar
riers against the onward march of
the nation. He declared that canon
De Valera had adopted methods OF
anarchy" because the people of Ire
land were not willing to allow him
to decide the treaty question for
them. De Valera regarded this at
titude OF the people as an ''unfor-
giVable sin." and for it they were to
be deprived of their right to choose
a government.
In describing the attack on him,
Mr.. Collins today said when the auto
mobile pulled up in front Of vaughn,s
Hotel he and two friends alighted.
One of them entered the hotel and
along the square. "A number Of
men," Mr.. Collins said. rushed out
of a house and encircled us. Shots
were fired. 1 pulled out my auto
matte and fired. believe l wounded
one. and 1 caught another by the
hand and took his revolver from him.
He was taken to Mountjoy jail, where
a big bomb was found in his pocket"
Grimth Demands Voters Rights.
Dublin got its first reports today of
the address delivered at Sligo yes
terday by Arthur Griffith, president
of the dail eireann. Communications
with Sligo were cut of during the
meeting.
According to accounts Of the ad-
dress brought back to Dublin today.
Mr.. Griffith said those who opposed
issue as to whether the Irish people
had a right to decide for themselves
their own destiny.
Those who Fought for liberty
against the British black and tans
were not going to yield to the Irish
black and tans, he declared.
Mr.. Griffith was reported as saying
the Irish people had a perfect right
to reject the treaty. but that nobody
had a right to say that the people
should not decide for themselves
whether they would or would not
have the treaty. He was not going
to- surrender that right to junta
which said to the Irish people that
they had to submit because the junta
had revoIvers in their hands.
Gen. McKeown, who has charge of
Free State forces in Sligo, was largely
instrumental in enabling the meeting
to be held.