PREPARATIONS TO CELEBRATE

Chronicle (Levin), 14 August 1947, Page 5

PREPARATIONS TO CELEBRATE

llei'eived Thursdav, 12.40 a.m. LONDON., August 13. Tndians, rich and poor alike, are taxiug their ingeiiuity to devi.se som-ething vondtM-ful eiiough to celebrate the begnming of indepeiideni*e in Pakistan 1 omori o\v and of India on Fridav, rejiorts the Associated Press correspondent at New Delhi. Seenes of poinp and oriental splendour vvitli sacrifices to the gods, magniJicent lireworks and speeclies will oeeur in Karaehi and New Delhi. The poor will reeeive sweets anu criminals in several provinces have been promised a remission of death or gaoi sentenees. Not all the people, however, will have imich to celebrate. Terrorists stalk the emmtrvside iii sertions of the Punjab, JJengal and elsewhere, killing as a protest over certain pliases of the eountry's division. Refugees who fled for their lives, liuddle miserably in camps. The last stroke of midnight tomorrow will linil the tlonstituent Assembly in session in New Delhi. lt will observe a two niinutes' silenee for those vvtio died in the light for freedom. The Assembly will (le'dare willingness to aeeept Visi'ount Mountbatten, the last ot the Vi-emys, as . (iovernor-Denerai. Viscount Mount batten, ai'ter taking the oatli of ofliee on Friday at (Joverninent. llouse, will drive in state vvitli the Mmislers to the Assembly to read his M ajesty 's proelaniation of -Dominion stalus. A 31-gun salute will be fired and Viscount .Mountbatten will then lead a State parade th rough rows ot troops to the lndia arch where, as tne guns tire, he will hau] dovvn the L'nion .Jack and niu up india 's trieolour. The troops will march past and a spectaeular lireworks display will ond Ihe ceremonies. The l'nion .Taek will also be Joweretl at the Pritish Residency in Lucknow where it has llown 24 hours daily — tne only place in the world where this is perniitted — in recognition of the garrison's stand against the mutineers. The Tinies Caicutta correspondent says nationalist nevvspapers vesterdav featured Gandhi's tour of Caicutta and reiated how the Moslems as weiJ as Ilindus greeled "The Apostle ot Peace", hui in adjoining cohnnns tne.v pu'olished accounts of further savage disorders in the city in which twelve were killed and more than 40 were injured. The city remains f'ull of fear. In three days last week 27 persons were killed and more than 140 injured in communal ciashes, sliootings and bomo attncks. Added to this visible warfare is the froquent discovery of bodies in tacks, boxes and sewers.