Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-23
COLLINS, HEAD
Of IRISH ARMY,
SHOT To DEATH.
Chief of Provisional
Government Ambush
ed in County Cork.
Given Ovation a Few
Hours Before; Was
Leader in Freedom.

London, Aug. 22.-(By The Asso-
ciated Press. ss.)-Michael Collins, head
and commander n-chief of the Irish
national army, was shot and killed
from ambush at Bandon, County
Cork, Tuesday. night, few hours
after he had been given an ovation
by the people of Cork city, who for
the first time saw the free state
hero in the uniform of commander in
chief.
Thus, within 10 days, two of the
most prominent figures in the new
Irish government have been removed
by death. Just 10 days ago Mr..
cred the brains of the new administra-
ton, died in London. Tuesday night
Michael Collins, the Free States
military genius, was killed at the
moment when the dissipation of the
irregular forces in the south was con-
sidered complete.
Several attacks have been made
against the life of Michael Collins,
head of the provisional government
and commander-in-ch chief of the Irish
national army. The latest attempt
was a bombing outrage when he was
ambushed last Friday on the Dublin
side of Stillorgen.
The official communication issued
in connection with this attack did not
indicate whether Mr. Collins was in
the machine at the time. The driver
was wounded and the car wrecked, a
bomb and more than a score of shots
being fired.
Attacked BY Group
In Dublin on April II. while Mr..
Collins was on his way home after
having addressed a meeting at Mas,
County Kildare, he was attacked by
a 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 cap
tured.
Mr.. Collins was not injured.
Mr.. Collins, in addition to being
commander in chief of the national
army, was finance minister in the
Dali Eireann cabinet. He was one
of those who succeeded in obtaining a
temporary Injunction in New York on
Monday restraining Eamonn de Va
lera or his agents from withdrawing
funds collected for the Irish republi-
can cause deposited in banks in New
York city.
Collins, always an ardent Sim Feiner,
was among those leaders, who while
holding to the fundamentals Of tradi-
tion for the freedom of Ireland, still
were willing to effect peace with
Great Britain. It became necessary in
view of recent operations of the 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 government Of the
military.
Americans recently arriving in Lon
don from Dublin declared that the as
sassination of Collins was forecast in
ireland. 1t was planned to secure the
removal of the sole remaining Outstand- |
ing figure in the provisional govern
ment and it was to be also in part q |
measure of reprisal against the shoot
ing Of Harry J. Boland. the close as
sociate of De Valera by Free State SOL |
diers.
Extra Guards Used
Agitation had been going on for a |
considerable time and the walls Of |
Trinity college and other public build |
ings bore the inscription, Harry Bo- |
land murdered" Posters on telegraph |
poles insisted that Boland was shot |
by Free staters when he was unarmed. |
As measure of precaution, extra
guards were thrown around the nation
IA CHleI UcCdusc uctcEuluollou OI Tue
radical elements to rid the country Of |
strong men in the free state movement
was an accepted fact.
OF retiring disposition and known
as man who ''dodged the crowds"
Collins nevertheless was q most assidi-
Gus worker, both in the governmen
and in the field. He also was an ora
tor of great ability whose speeches gen
eraly moved his hearers.
With Arthur Griffith, Collins was
considered one of the mainstays of the
provisional government since its incep-
ton