Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-08-23
(By United PreSs.A

Dublin, Aug. 23.-Michael Collins,
Ireland's hope, is dead.
Collins. the fiery leader of the Free
State troops, was asSasSinated from
ambush at Bandon, County Cork,
while on a tour Of inspection of MS
army yesterday. The automobile IN
which ne was riding from Cork to
Bandon was fired upon.
The most stringent military censor
ship was set up by the government TO.
dav. There was a complete lack OF
details of Collins death Other than
the bare announcement that the COM
mander-in ?chief was shot by irregu-
lars. nothing was given out.
Coming within ten days of the death
of Arthur Griffith, who died OF heart
failure. the loss of Collins leaves Free
State Ireland in sorry plight. Cox
Iins was the most powerful and IN
fluentiql man in the newly created
state.
He wSs not only commander-in-
chief of the Free State forces, but also
provisional head of the government
and finance minister OF the Dan Ere
ann.
Unless = strong man arises quick
". II was freely predicted that the
Free State may collapse due TO ac-
tivities of the rebels under De va
lera which would again bring lnvad,
ing forces from Britain to Ireland, ana
cause n renewal Of centuries old con
fiict.
Collins. in recent months was known
rs the Lincoln of Erin. he nao
heen largely instrumental IN inducing
his people to accept the Free state
government His death came at a
time when Ireland was about 10 rest
aqsier and devote her energy 10 the
development of resources.
Michael Collins forces had been We
torinus over the rebels and were IN
mover in most pOrtious Of Ireland.
Chief of Staff Richard Mulcahy. on
whose shoulders the mantie oil Coi-
Inns fep for the time being at leGst'
;eSued the following appeal TO ms
fellow couutrymen:
"Stand calmly by your posts Leu Leu
", cruel act Of reprisal olemiSh E'"'
bright honor. n.-.
"The dark hours Michael Coii'hSS
has met since 1916 seemed 70 steer
his bright strength and to temper MS
gay bravery.
~you are left, each of YOU, an IN
horitance cf that strength ana oraE-
cry.
T.et each fiji his unfinished work.
~. .bore ne no darkness and do not
Lot the loss Of our comrade daunt you,
"SojdierS of Ireland, the army
eerves-let it be strengthened by It's
sorrow. C.u;,. ,,.oe
FREQUENT reports that Collins was
marked for death were heard IN Ire. :.
land since Harry Poland, secretary oil
De Valera. Irish irrecconchaole' was
ebot and killed by Free state troops
dn,;nor a raid. IL was reported tnat
Couins was. 10 be killed for reprlSaI'
II;s poo+or car was fired upon le"
dave 400. but Collins was not IN II.
Michael Collins. who began his ca
90. ne a brokers clerk. was pracu-
ally unknown until 1914, when ne was
=, cor6dence of Sir Roger Easement
,,.bo was executed during the war Col-
1;os occompanied Easement TO Ner-
,,,or, ON the Irish mission. He spranSg
;,,t fa,,e during the rebellion OF 1910
when he was in commahu Vi F"'
tbe army under P. H. Pearce. -,
ColliaS. from this time on " ..o
formation of the Free State oeC45lo nm
+Se most sought man in Ireland Inc
R,it;sb nut a price on his head. ~
,,.os known as the "phantom reoe''
Ue narrowly escaped death or capluIe
- ofto,. time. His exploits were
on every tongue. -, NJ ,,loo.uad
the British by his prankS' Oh one ~,
casion he inferred Dublin Castle, te tne
stronghold of the British, IN dlsg guise
and then Jumped from the WINDOW " "
freedom. He was frequently rePoi ~
i'm the garb of a woman. Another 'ii,'o
while he was attending a wake t'ie
British conducted raid for hlm' C0I-
Inns removed the body and hid IN 'ne
coffin Nth
When the truce with the British
came about over a year ago, CoLllnS
came from hiding. He journeyed 10
London and with Griffith drew up the
treaty which established the free state
of which he became head.
The hero then went back TO Ireland
and stumped the country, pleading
with her fellow countrymen TO uphold
the provisional government He was
opposed by de Valera out won, and
the Dali Eireapn accepted the treaty.
This led to the break with the de
Valera faction Of irreconcilables and
80 the civil war which broke out IN
Dublin , months ago. Two attempts
- ossassinate Collins this year proved
unsuccessful; third, yesterday, ended
his life.