SHOT BY A RUSSIAN

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18630, 7 May 1932, Page 5

SHOT BY A RUSSIAN

FRENCH PRESIDENT.

NECK, CHEST AND ABDOMEN CONSIDERED CRITICAL. LITTLE HOPE OF RECOVERY. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel, Copyright. (Received May 7, 12.9 p.m.) PARIS, May 6. A Russian fired several shots, seriously wounding President Doumer, while driving In the street. M. Doumer was taken to the hospital where it was,revealed he was wounded In the neck, ohftst and abdomen. He underwent a blood transfusion operation. There Is little chance of recovery.

The son of a navvy, President Doumer went to Paris at the age of 14, and worked his way through the University of Sorbonne. He then turned to teaching and newspaper editing, until, in 1888, he entered politics as a Deputy. He became Finance Minister in 1895 and subsequently Gov-ernor-General of Indo-Chino, where he served until 1902. Returning to the Chamber of Deputies as an ardent Nationalist, although he had started political life as a radical, M. Doumer became Its president in 1905. In 1912 be entered the senate, of which he became President in 1927. He held this position until his election as President of the Republic on May 13, 1931.

FALL ON WOULD-BE ASSASSIN. VICTIM REMOVED TO HOSPITAL. (Official Wireless.) (Received May 7, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, May 8, The outrage occurred at a house near the Elysee, where the President was attending a publio exhibition of books by ex-soldier authors. The assailant, upon whom the Infuriated crowd immediately fell, had to be protected by the police. Slight injuries were suffered by M. M. Claude Farrer and Paul Guichard (director general of the municipal police). The President was removed immediately to a neighbouring hospital.

CONDITION GRAVE.

TWO BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS. OFFICIAL BULLETIN. (ofitnial Wireless.) (Received May 7, 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, May 6. The follohvng bulletin was issued this evening signed by seven doctors: “The President received two bullet wounds, one in the base of the cranium and the other in the right shoulder, there have been no hemorrhages, but the President sustained a serious shock. There have been two blood transfusions. The patient’s condition is still' grave."

SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE.

THE REVOLVER EMPTIED. ASSAILANT OVERPOWERED. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received May 7, 12.5 p.jn.) PARIS, May 6. M. Doumer relapsed into unconsciousness. A doctor who was present hurriedly cut away his shirt to ascertain whether lie was wounded in the body, but found only wounds in the head and armpit, the worst feature being that the right -axillary artery was cut 'by a bullet. In order to make the shooting easy the assassin purchased three 'books at the exhibition and was autographing the last one when M. Doumer approached “Ato Paul Prade, French journalist" (this being the name the assassin gave).

Slipped into one book was a sheet of paper on which was written “Paul Gonguloff, chief Russian Fascist, has just killed the President of the French Republic.” As M. Doumer fell, the Minister of National Defence (M. Petre) seized Gonguloff’s wrist and he was quickly overpowered, though it was impossible to prevent him emptying the revolver. The crowd at the exhibition momentarily thought the shots were explosions' of magnesium for a Hashlight photograph, hut a woman who seemed to be a maniac dashed through the room holding high a blood-stained book crying “they killed him.” The woman rushed on to the street shreikiug. Thus the first news was given to Paris.

(Continued in next column.)

Meanwhile an ambulance was summoned, and M. Doumer was rushed to the hospital. An immediate blood transfusion appeared to strengthen the President enabling the bullet to be removed from his face but later he weakened and relapsed into a coma. The bullet at the top of the chest has still not been reached. Later he recovered consciousness, but strangely enough had no recollection of what happened and was told there had been a motor accident.

BRITAIN DEEPLY SHOCKED. KING SENDS A MESSAGE. GOVERNMENT’S REPORT. (Official Wireless.) (Received May 7, 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 6. The news of the attempted assassination of M. Doumer deeply shocked public opinion. The King immediately telegraphed expressions of grave concern and sympathy, with earnest hopes for tho victim’s recovery.

Later, tho French Ambassador, M. Fleurlnn was received by the King. Expressions of sympathy from Mr Stanley Baldwin and tie Government were formally conveyed to M. Fleurian,