INDIAN AGITATORS AT WORK.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1914, 24 November 1913, Page 5

INDIAN AGITATORS AT WORK.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN RIOTS. ! STORM OF INDIGNATION IN INDIA. FOMENTED. BY SENSATIONAL TELEGRAMS. By Telegraph—Prass Association— Bombay, November 21. "Sensational telegrams of alleged outrages on Indians in South Africa are fostering the agitation here. The indignation lias been unequalled for many years. Lady Petit, wife of Sir Dinshaw Manockjee Petit (chairman and member of almost all tho I'arseo charitable institutions of Bombay), presiding at a, meeting of Anglo-Indian ladies, convened by the Aga Khan, said the world was horrified. No civilised Government had previously converted the mines into gaols and the mine-owners into gaolers, witli power to flog for continuing to strike. The Bombay Presidency Association has telegraphed to tho Viceroy that such treatment of Indians as fcas occurred i-n South- Africa would be a casus belli if it happened/in a foreign country. Subscriptions in support -ot Indians in South Africa aro coming in freely. Lord Gladstone (Governor-General of South Africa), Generals Smuts and Botha (Prime Minister), and the lato Mr. Fischer (South African Minister for the Interior), wore burned in effigy during a mass meeting at Allahabad. Tho Calcutta newspaper "Statesman" says that a dignified course would, bo for the Indians to withdraw from a country where they ate not wanted: The newspaper "Bengalee" , suggests that- tho Government of India should stop the purchase of South African coal, which is stained with the blood of India's, countrymen.

Calcutta, November 21. In view of the Viceroy's early visit to the city, tho police ore Searching for tho Anarchist Seasha-nkar. Ttey have arrested three Bengalis, and seiztfd several partly-finished bombs, similar to thoso used on. the occasion' of ;th-o attempted assassination of tho Yicofoy at Delhi. (Roc. November 23, 6.5 p.m.) London, November 22. Tho London ' 'Daily Telegraph's" Calcutta correspondent states that Sea" shanker rented a room, and that the threo Bengalis, w'ho wero arrested, were apparently his visitors-,, who aro alleged to bo implicated in an Anarchist plot. Tho arrosta and discovery is considered to be the most important police achievement for years. The Director of Criminal Investigation believes that the results of the raid support the theory that the plot and that the bombs were made in Bengal, but unknown outsiders were engaged to throw the missiles. The police search revealed' fpur bomb cases, fuses, implements, and materials to. finish them. Much correspondence was seized, and tho arrests aro expected to furnish a clue to tho inner circle of tho Anatchist conspiracy.

APPEAL TO THg VICEROY. : ' "MEASURES OF 3RUELTY" CITED. Calcutta, November 21. Tlie South African Committee at Bombay has sent a message to tlie Viceroy. After roferring to What is described as "measures of cruelty and oppression which 110 foreign Government daro enforce against British subjects," tho message says it is apprehended that "if bloodshed occurs in Natal the offect on Indian sentiment will prove disastrous, the turn of events being calculated to soriously imperil faith in Britain's goodwill towards the Indian people." The message beseeches tho Imperial Government to exercise its veto in regard to the South African law. OUTBREAK NEAR DURBAN. NATIVE POLICE OVERPOWERED. DISTURBANCE QUELLED, Durban, November 21. The coolies on Harrison's estate, ten miles north of tho' city, began to destroy property. The native police arrested the ringleaders, but a body of Indians overpowered the police and rescued the prisoners. ' European police were dispatched to quell tho riot and rearrested tho ringleaders. Durban is quieter, and prospects of an early resumption of work are more hopeful. Members of the Natal Legislaiiivo pouncil .aro pressing the Union Government to refrain from collecting the £3 tax. General Smuts (Finance and Defence Minister) refuses to consider the proposal. Many Indians are returning to work. Tho railways have their full complement of men. The chief trouble is now on the_ sugar estates. . Natal papers _ strongly resent comments by tho British Press, and declare that tho allegations of flogging are a libel upon the employers. DISPATCH- FROM LORD GLADSTONE. "MISCHIEVOUS STATEMENTS." (R-ec. November 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 22. Vißconnt Gladstone, Governor-General of South Africa, in a dispatch to the Imperial Government, explains that the conversion of tho mine compounds into gaols at the out-stations was essential, owing to numbers of Indians marohing about ill organised bands, courting arrest. Ho protests against tho "false, exaggerated, and mischievous statements" current in England. Tho allegations of shooting and flogging to coerce tho Indians to work wore "absolutely falso." The passive resistors at tho Newcastle mines had resumed, and orderly conditions were being restored without serious hardships. A SENSATIONAL STATEMENT. (Rcc. November 23, 5.5 p.m.) . London* November 22. Tho "Daily Mail's" Durban correspon-' dentTeports that tho colliery employers ® ro keeping tho Indian workers within barbed wiro enclosures. Tho wire is con--nected with' electrical stations, and anj 7 - cno attempting to escapc will reccivo a shock of 220 volts. • A LEGAL OPINION. (Rcc. November 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 22. • Laugh ton, K.C., considers that i ?• m( J Gn^uro< l Indian labourers aro not obliged to lcavo Natal, or to pay *llio poll tax, because their contracts are notsigned, being only thumb-smudged, and, further, are silent regarding repati-ia-tioii.