THE TIGER'S ESCAPE

Evening Star, Issue 16991, 13 March 1919, Page 6

THE TIGER'S ESCAPE

ATTEMPT ON CI>EMENCEAU'S LIFE.

SOME FURTHER DETAILS

[Sydney ‘ Sun ’ Cables.]

PARIS, February 20. The shot -which -wounded M. Clemenceau passed through the cushions of his car. Two others also penetrated the car without wounding the Premier, and two bullets remained in his overcoat. A bulletin issued yesterday stated that the wound below the shoulder-blade was in excellent condition. Neither the lungs nor the spinal column had been touched, though the bullet was very close. I saw Cottin at the Prefecture. A great mop of dirty-colored hair hung over his face, which was 'badly battered, and blood still streamed from bis unrepentant eyes. He said that he had studied Glemonccau’s methods, and had assiduously practised revolver shooting. The police found a quantity of anarchist literature at Gottin’s house, though there was nothing connecting him with Germany or Russia. He is a well-known anarchist, a carpenter by trade, and has 'been three times in gaol for inciting soldiers to disobedience. He was recently arrested for shouting “Death to Clemenceau !’’ but was released. Cottin said that during the morning of the crime be practised shooting into a mirror. He told the police that all peoples were brothers, but Clemenceau was a tyrant, and be hoped be had killed him. ‘The Times’ staff reports: M. Clcmenceau had the narrowest possible escape from death. A French anarchist giving the name of Fmile Cottin emptied a Browning automatic pistol into the Premier’s car shortly before 9 o’clock. One bullet hit M. Clemenceau in the right shoulder, entering high in the front of the body and emerging obliquely at the back. The attempt was evidently well studied. The assassin hid behind an iron urinal, where a motor necessarily slows down ns it turns the narrow corner. M. Clemenceau had secret service cyclists in front of the car. The first shot struck him. and the chauffeur put on full speed, but iho assassin run after the Premier, tearing along behind tho car until his revolver whs enmty. Then he turned and fled, but was grabbed by a barber's assistant, who kicked him heartily. The police rescued Cottin from the angry crowd, who tried to lynch the Bolshevik. One of the shots, ricochetting oil tho. shattered wind screen, wounded a policeman in the eye. Another shot wounded the chauffeur, who made a detour at full speed and re-entered Clomcnceau’s courtyard. The old man, who had attempted to leave the car in order to chase his assailant, stepped from the car, said ; ‘'lt’s nothing 1“ and walked into ins house on his orderly’s arm. Meanwhile Cottin, who described himself as an anarchist from Montrouge. an anarchist part of Paris, was saying that ho intended to kill Clemenceau because lie was an enemy of the workers. Clemenceau’s escape was miraculous. There wet's nine neatly-punctured holes in tho car, and the tenth shot destroyed tho wind screen. It is too early to assign responsibility for the crime. A section of the Press has been publishing incendiary Bolshevik articles, but the people detest every manifestation of Bolshevik anarchy, and nothing is more likely to enhance Clemenceau’s hold over the country than the event. President Poincare, Mr Balfour, Colonel House, diplomats, members of the Cabinet, and masses of people visited the street and sent in messages of congratulation on his escape. Reuter’s correspondent at Paris states that fuller details of the shooting of M. Clemenceau show that the Premier was driving through the streets, when Cottin, the would-be assassin, suddenly sprang from a public convenience, in which ho had been waiting, and fired five times. The shots pierced the hood of tho car, but only one hit the aged Premier. Tho police seized the assailant, but not before he had fired two shots at them, wounding two. The crowd would have given him a bad time had not the police gob him off quickly. The Premier's chauffeur was slightly wounded. Cottin is a native of Ootnpiesne. M. Pichon (Foreign Minister}, describing the attack, said : “ After tho first shot M. Clemenceau exclaimed, ‘He’s missed me!’ But he knew that-other shots might bo tired. It was, indeed, a later shot which struck him. Several bullets lodged in tho Premier’s overcoat.” The scene of tho outrage is only 50 yards from M. Clemenceau’s house, whither he walked. It appears that Cottin is a studious youth, a teetotaller, and a non-smoker, and belonged to a group-of anarchists supposedly of a harmless and oratorical order. Apparently he had no accomplices, though a man was arrested for protesting to the crowds which attempted to lynch Cottin.

CLEMENCEAU AGAIN THREATENED, Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PAMS, March 9. Vemet, a mentally deficient, has been arrested for accosting and threatening M. Clemoncoau outside the Quai d Oi'say. Ho was unarmed, but lie confided in several people that he, intended to assassinate M. Clernenceau,