ATTACK ON LORD FRENCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19830, 22 December 1919, Page 7

ATTACK ON LORD FRENCH.

DETAILS OF THE OUTRAGE.

STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

By JWegrap],—Prws A»*ociE.tion—Copyright A««treH»n end N.2. C»bl» Asmxdatioa. (Received December 22, 9.40 a.m.)

, r r LONDON, December 19. Mr J. 1. Macpherson, Chief Secretary ‘9 r announced in the House of Commons th« four bombs were thrown at Lord French from behind a in Phpem* Park. The military €scoit lired ou the murderers, killing one who was in the road. Ho had two revolvers in his possession, A bullet wounded a detective in the hand while he was attempting to lire his revolver, (run fire also wounded a constable on Duty at the cross roads in the vicinity, the assailants, after rapid shooting escaped into the country. They would be _ glad to learn that Lord French was uninjured (cheers), and they would ©x-u-i f 'Y m P at V to the men wounded while discharging their duty. (Cheers.) (Received December 22, 9.30 a.m.)

_ j _ LONDON, December 19. . i ix) ™ French had just -returned from tne West of Ireland and was driving irmp Ash town station to Dublin Castle when the assassin fired. It is officially announced that Lord brench is uninjured.

(Received December 22, 10.10 a.m.)

.LONDON, December 19. Ashtown is a suburban village on the northern outskirts of Phoenix Park, in a desolate district, A gang of fifteen to twenty assassins were hiding in tin' fields beside the road when Lord French's motor-car appeared. Tho mounted exhort was some distance behind, but was summoned by tho woman who was driving tho vehicle conveying Lord French's luggage. Hearing shots she quickly drove back to 1 the escort, who galloped up and found the assassins decamping across the fields in the direction of Dublin city. None wc.ro arrested. Lord French had a. miraculous escape, three bullets penetrating his motor-car. ; Pullets also penetrated tho Car following Lord French’s, wounding the driver. The fire of the escort only brought down unci killed one of the running men, upon whom a bomb and two loaded revolvers were found.