IRISH CRIMES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18286, 23 December 1919, Page 7

IRISH CRIMES.

ATTACK ON LORD FRENCH. DETAILS OF THE OUTRAGE. By Telegraph—Pres# Association —Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 22, 7.50 p.m.) * LONDON, December 19. •The detailed account of the attempt to assassinate Lord French states that the Viceroy was returning to Dublin from. Drumdoe Castle, Roscommon. He left Ashtown station in a motor-car, which happily was fitted with armoured sides. He was accompanied by an aide-de-camp and a lady. Two motor-cars followed and, lastly, a military guard, which had barely left tho station when shooting commenced. An empty, horseless farm cart was drawn partly across tho road in an attempt to stop the viceregal car, behind which a young man was seen throwing bombs- Other Sinn Feinors were shooting from high walls and hedges on either side, giving excellent cover. Tho motor-car swerved to avoid tho cart and half pulled up. It was immediately a mark for a number of bombs, flung from both sides of the road, five bursting near it. Many bullets glanced off the armoured sides of the. car, and bombs made deep holes in tho roadway and wrecked, the second car.

The occupants of the motor-cars opened fire in every direction, nnd promptly brought down a man who was throwing bombs from the farm cart. .As he lay on tho ground two Sinn Feiners dashed out and endeavoured to drag his body away, but were driven off by shots from the escort, who meanwhile pushed up and commenced firing. Tho dead man had been drinking at a neighbouring publichouse, and had arranged to lie called when Lord Fkench’s motor-car approached. He ran from the publichouse, leaving a glass of port untouched, and at once commenced throwing bombs. A few moments later he was dead, with bullets in his neck and head. When picked up he was still clenching a grenade in his right hand and had automatic pistols in his pockets. Meanwhile tne Viceroy’s motor-car passed the obstacle and went on at full speed and reached the Vice-Regal* lodge. An ominous fact is that the men were loitering on the spot for a considerable time without attracting attention. Shortly before the shooting they warned Constnble Loughlin, who was on duty at tho cross roads, to keep clear, as his life was endangered. Constable _Loughlin disregarded tho warning anu was tripped up. He was still lymg on the ground when he was wounued by a bullet. Detective Halley, who was sitting in front of Lord French’s motor-car, was twice wounded. Four of the bombs used in the attack were of a military pattern, including the familiar Mills type, together with several crudely home-mado ones. A number of undischarged bombs were found behind a farm cart and in the fields-

The attackers were apparently armed with revolvers, the sound of rifle shorts coming only from the military. All the attackers escaped across the fields in the direction of Dublin. They were chased by the escort, but no arrests were made. The searchers were augmented by many soldiers and members of the constabulary, who were hurriedly summoned. The thoroughness of the attackers’ preparations is shown by the fact that the arrival of Viscount French was signalled from an observation post up a tree. Tho torn walls and the miniature shell-holes in the roadway recalled scenes in France. The police promptly barricaded the street from sightseers and souvenir hunters. TTie impunity with which outrages are planned and carried out gives a sinister indication of the temper of the Irish people. LONDON, December 19. Mr J. I. Macpherson, Chief Secretary for Ireland, announced in the House of Commons that four bombs were thrown at Lord French from behind a hedge in Phoenix Park. The military escort fired on the murderers, killing ono who was in tho road. He had two revolvers in his possession. A bullet wounded a detective in the hand while he was attempting to Ifire his revolver. Gunfire also wounded a constable on duty at the cross roads in the vicinity. The assailants, after rapid shooting, escaped into tho country. They would be glad to learn that Lord French was uninjured (cheers), and they would extend sympathy to the men wounded while discharging their duty. (Cheers.) Lord French had just returned from the West of«lreland and was driving from Ashtown station to Dublin Oastlo when tho assassin fired. > Ashtown is a suburban yillago on tho northern outskirts of Phoenix Park, in a desolate district. A gang of fifteen to twenty assassins wero hiding in tho fields beside the road when Lord French’s motor-car appeared. The mounted escort was somo distance be*, hind, bdt was summoned by tho woman who was driving tho vehicle convoying Lord French’s luggage'. Hearing shots sho quickly drove back to the escort, who galloped up and found tho assassins decampin'* across the fields in the direction of Dublin city. Non© was arrested. Lord French had a miraculous escape, three bullota penetrating his motor-car. Bullets also penetrated the car following Lord French’s, wounding tho driver. Tho fi.ro of tho escort only brought down and killed one of the running men, upon whom a bomb and two loaded revolvers were found. ’Archbishop Walsh, in a letter which was read in the Dublin churches, severely condemns the attempted assassination. He recalls tho Phoenix Park murders of 1882, which brought a system of coercive government, tho like of which nil must hope and pray nlay never recur.

The " Irish Times,” discussing the prevailin'! lawlessness, comments on the tragic silence of the Church. Tho paper claims that hundreds bf thousands of Catholics require guidance. The country's religious fervour is remarkable, and probably was never greater, yet the personal power of tho clergy was never lotver. Tho Dublin correspondent of "Tho Times"’' reporfs that many citizens are responding to the appeal to serve as special constables. It is understood that the enrolments satisfy tho Government. SCHOOL TEACHER MURDERED. MielmeT Blanchficld, a school teacher, was found murdered at Nohaval, County Cork, with two bullet wounds in his back. NEWSPAPER OFFICE RAIDED. 9 (Received December 22, midnight.) LONDON, December 22. Forty Sinn Feinors raided the office of the newspaper “ Irish Independent ” and broke up the machinery. TTielr action was a protest against an article published, calling the Sinn Feiners “savage assassins-”