The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-08-24
MICHAEL C()LltIyo,
SHOT AND KILLED
Irish Leader ASSaSsindted on
Way to Brandon.
"fORGIvE THEM," LAST WORDS
Free State Army Staff Was Anbushed
by Large Force of Hidden Foes, VINO
Were Routed After Fierce Battle.

Cork, Aug. 24.-Michael Collins,
head Of the Irish provisional govern
| ment and the Irish national army, was
| shot and killed from ambush near
Bandun, County Cork.
His assassination came Il few hours
! after he had received an ovation from
the people of Cork city, who for the
first time saw the Free State hero i'll
the uniform of communicating chief.
Thus in few days two Of the most
prominent figures in the new Irish
government have been removed by
! death. Just ten days ago, Arthur tfrif-
fith. president of the dali cireann. con-
sidprrd the brains Of the new admin
iStration. died in Dublin.
''Forgive them"
These were the last words of The
commander of The Free State army
a. he lay dying from assassin :
bullet. They We're addressed L" Major
General Dalton. commander of HE
Free State troops in Cork.
The ambush occurred NJ 30 % clock
in IL wild mountain road between Ma
Groom and Bandun. about twenty miles
from Cork Collins WAS III an open
touring car with General Dalton. Com
mHmdAnt Dolan. governor of he Mount
JOY prison and Captain Monl gomery.
an office" of the general staff. They
We're -viS;1;n" various military posi-
lions in, the South of Ireland.
\ parry Of national army troops
e>curtin@ the officers, had Just passed
the lille village of Hralianhllck When
a Nullty OF shots ran ollt from the
group of Republican irregularS who
We're concealed along both sides of the
road.
The first fu>ilarp from the irregu-
lars caused no casualties. Collins and
the members of his party Immediately
jumped from their vehicles, took To
cover and engaged the attackers in
q heavy fight which lasted half an
hour.
Shortly before a>>AilantS were beat
en- off Collins was hit by Il bullet
back of The ear and fell. He lived
only Il few minutes His comrades
continued the fight and General Dalton
was wounded. The driver of the car
III which Collins and his companions
We're riding also WAS hurt. and motor
cyci>I accompanying the party was
critically wounded in the neck.
Collins body was brought To Cork
and transferred to the steamship
Classic for conveyance to Dublin. The
journey requires about twelve hours.
The citizens Of Cork SAW Collins for
the first time Monday in the uniform
of the commander in chief and cheered
him along the entire route through
the city.
one rumor. characterized rs absurd
represented him ;S visiting EamOnn
de Valera in Il dugout in a remote part
of Cork. Peace talk of this kind has
been indu$rriouSly circulated by the
irregularS. who 81 latest terms of
peace are said to Stipulate that they
must be absorbed en- masSe in the
national army.
\ national funeral with full mill
tary honors will be accorded The Irish
hero. Hi >body will lie in state prior
to inlerment in the Gla>nevin Gene
terry. where Arthur Griffith Wa buried
few days ago.
Next To Collins in military iupnr-
tanrp i; Richard Nulcahy. chief Of
STAFF of The Free State army, who
holds HE entire confidence of the rank
and Tile. III tire Irish military stab
Ii~hinenr: His effective record in the
conflict for Irish freedom also marks
him a> a strong candidate to succeed
his departed chief.
On the civil side is William T. Gus
grove. now The acting head of the
Irish provisional! government. He was
always entirely in accord with Griffith |
and Collins and is noted for his te-
narity in pursuing a policy once de
cided upon.
George Guvan Duffy WHO was Irish
representative in Rome and Later for
eign min; lister Of the provisional GOV
ernment;- also is regarded as "A man
Of great promise. He had been eN-
tremely dTtive in The formation Of the
Free State government and was one
of the negotiatOrs in the conference
With Premier Lloyd George.
Gent:r;t1 O'Connell. assistant chief
of >tulf of the national forces. and
General Gerald O'Sullivan. are consid- |
cred rs giving promise to assume the !
leadership of Ireland Another leader, |
.Whn is often spoken of us the new
head of the Irish Free State, is Kelvin |
O'lIigginS. minister of economic affairs |
in the dali eireann cabinet.
Collins was engaged TO he married |
to Miss Kitty Herman, pretty daugh- !
ter Of Il prominent business man of |
Granafd. County Longford. The we'd
ding WaS.to have taken place as soon |
as Collins had cOmDletPd tb,. military |