Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-17
ATTEMPT TO KILL
MICHAEL COLLINS
Armed Men Fire on Car Con-
tanning Irish Leader and
His Party
SHARP BATTLE IN DUBLIN
By the Associated Press

Dublin, April 11.-An attempt on
the life of Michael Collins, head Of the
Provisional Free State Government,
was made here shortly after midnight
this morning, coming almost siinulta.
neousIy with an assault OH the BegSats
Bush headquarters of the Irish Re-
publican Army, snys an official army
statement.
Mr.. Collins was on his way home
after having addressed meeting ut
Mas, County Kildare. when the attack
occurred. a group Of men, some armed
with rifles, rushed at the Collins party's 3
car. and opened fire, the Free state
leader apparently being the especial tar.
get. The Collins party quickly returned
the fire. and one Of the attackers was
captured A revolver and live bomb
were found Or him.
During the fighting a general head
quarters car from the BegSars' Bush
barracks was disabled by rife fire and
captured. The headquarters barracks
was attacked by riHemen from all sides
at midnight. about twenty shots being
discharged. Commandant General Ennis
was fired at outside Of the gate. The
garrison raked the surrounding territory
with bullets, and the assaulting party
withdrew.
An army transport also was attacked,
but without results, the besiegers fleeing
after sharp exchange Of shots.
Shots were fired on the premises oc-
cupied by. the civic guard at Balls.
bridge. No damage and no casualties
were reported.
Arthur Griffith. in his address at
Sligo yesterday, said those who opposed
the Free State Treaty had raised the
issue as to whether the Irish people had
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 dec 'arcd.
Mr.. Griffith said 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
the treaty. He was not going to sur
render that right to Il junta which said
to the Irish people that they had to
submit because the junta had revOlvcrs
in their hands.
London, April 17.-tBy A. PD-
Easter Monday was looked forward to
with little trepidation by the citizens
Of Dublin. Reports to the morning
newspapers indicated there was nothing
to- justify an assumption that the day
would bring such an explosion as the
rebellion Of 1910.
The Daily Nails correspondent says
Anything, or nothing. may occur
in the next few days." and, notwith
standing the existing menace to order
many reports suggest that the ma
jority OF citizens are inclined to believe
1t will be nothing.
"The statement by Rory O'Connor
head Of the troops which seized tho
four courts, that his forces did not con
template coup bears the stamp o
sincerity. and the city has become quite
hopeful.
Nevertheless" he adds. ''it is. O
course, we'll understood that. with TIVE
Irish armies watching each othe
through the sandbagged windows o
different public buildings. the situation
Is dangerous. The country's immediat,
| hope rests on the resumed meeting O.
the peace conference on Wednesday.
Powerful pressure of many sorts ].
| being put to the rival leaders to rcacl
an agreement which will eliminate th'
military peril, guarantee freedom 0
the elections and allow public opinio,
to express itself during the comini
weeks
The correspondent remarks that IL,
obscure feature of the situation is TIN
connection. il any, between Eamon d
Valera and the seeding section of tn
Irish Republican Army, and he admit
he Is unable to cast any light upon 1t
1t was noteworthy. however, that Mr.
de Valera. speaking last night II
Dublin ut the celebration of the Easte
rebellion, reiterated his hostility to tn
treaty and told his hearers they coul
have unity and stable government be
hind volunteers who stood for tho re
public. These were the spearpoints O
the Irish movement for freedom, II
said. 1t was not apparent whether thi
allusiOn was to O'Connor's troops.
Belfast. April 17.-(By A. P.)-I
bomb was thrown into the yard of 81
Matthews Chapel here today. No on
was injured.
At Clough. County Antrim, an un
identified man. who had taken refug
In the school building from pursuit b
police patrol. was killed by his pur
suers as he was escaping.
Gunmcn entered the home of an ex
soldier named Collins. at Rameltor
County Donegal. Saturday night. too
him outside and shot and seriousl
wounded him.