HYDERABAD RESISTS AT BIG ODDS IN HOPE OF U.S.A. INDUCING U.N.O. TO HALT INDIANS

Grey River Argus, 18 September 1948, Page 5

HYDERABAD RESISTS AT BIG ODDS IN HOPE OF U.S.A. INDUCING U.N.O. TO HALT INDIANS

(Rec. 11.40) LONDON, Sept. 17. A secondary Indian column of brigade strength, supported by armour, advancing from the southeast, has pushed to within 48 miles' of Hyderabad City. This is stated by the New Delhi correspondent of thq British Associated Press. There is no sign of an internal Hindu rising in Hyderabad, on which the Indian Government had counted when their troops invaded Hyderabad, and not one act of sabotage has so far been reported. This is stated by a special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph in Hyderabad City- Talks with the Hindus in streets and in fields convince one;, 1 he adds that any burning desire for union with India .is confined to a handful of agitators and interested parties. The masses are frankly indifferent to the political issue. Worldwide moral support shown for their cause has heartened the Hyderabad leaders, but without giving them any false sense of dependence on outside aid. A big question, the correspondent says, is still Pakistan's attitude. Respect for the British Government has gone. But there is a faint hope" that the U.N.O. Council, under American leadership, may, at the last minute, influence the Indian Government on the side of peace.

Hyderabad’s Premier, Mir Laik Ali, last night broadcast an appeal to Pandit Nehru (Indian Premier) to “immediately order the cessation of hostilities and to arrive at a generous understanding. This is reported by Reuter’s correspondent at Karachi. He admitted that the Indian troops had superiority in numbers, arms and equipment, which would enable them sooner or later to overwhelm Hyderabad, but their victory would leave bitterness and hatred in the hearts of millions for generations. He said: “Even to-day, we bear no ill-will towards India, and remain anxious to be friends.” '

Hyderabad Forces Show Resistance

LONDON, Sept. 16. The Indian newspaper Dawn said that the Hyderabad forces are now on the offensive for the first time in the campaign. The Bombay correspondent of the newspaper Sind Observer said that the Hyderabad forces recaptured Khamman while 180 tanks were locked in bloody battle at Jalna and Raichur.

The Hyderabad Agent-General in Karachi, Mustag Ahmed Khan, claim; ed that 25-pounders destroyed seven Indian tanks at point-blank range in fierce fighting at Taljapur, 160 miles north-west of Hyderabad city. He said the Nizam’s troops recaptured Hingali and repulsed advances at Nalgonda.

Razakars Left. in the Lurch ?

(Rec. 11.15) LONDON, Sept. 17 Reuter’s correspondent at Poona says: Authoritative Indian military quarters suggest that a serious rift has taken place between the Razakars in Hyderabad and the Hyderabad State forces, following the Hyderabad regular troops making a rapid withdrawal towards Hyderabad leaving the Razakars to face the Indian troops alone.

Indian Cail for Hyderabad Forces to Surrender

(Rec. 11.40) LONDON, Sept. 17 Reuter’s correspondent at New Delhi says: The Commander of the Indian forces in Hyderabad has called on'the Hyderabad State forces to lay down their arms because he said: "Further resistance can only result in heavy and unnecessary loss of life.” The commander said that the Indian forces could now enter Hyderabad at will from several directions. INDIAN ESTIMATE LONDON, Sept. 16. The commander of the Indian Army stated to-day that operations were going very well indeed. However, informed sources at Poona, the Indian Army headquarters, said the Indian Army, which aims at victory within a week, realises that the hardest fighting is yet to come, because the Hyderabad forces, although retreating, are still intact. . An official communique said Indian troops, fanning out from the Sholapur sector, ’ are - 63 miles from Secunderabad and have reached a point 72 miles from the other Indian forces in the Bezwada sector.

U.N.O. Council to Give Hyderabad a Hearing

PARIS, Sept. 16. The Security Council voted by 8 to nil to consider the Hyderabad situation. Russia, the Ukraine and China abstained from voting. Sir Alexander Cadogan (Britain), presided. Dr Tsiang (China) asked that the Hyderabad debate be adjourned until September 20, because j.he Chinese Foreign Minister, with instructions had no yet reached Paris. Sir Alexander Cadogan* said he thought the Hyderabad matter urgent. The Chinese delegate agreed ihat the other delegates go ahead with the Hyderabad debate while he awaited instructions from Nanking. M. Malin (Russia) asked Sir A. Cadogan whether there were any Brtiish officials advisers attached to the Hyderabad Government. Sir A. Cadogan replied that there were not. *'*

The Council agreed to invite the Ihdian and Hyderabad representatives to the Council table. Hyderabad’s Foreign Minister, Nawab Moi Nawaz Jung, said India had committed an act of aggression by invading the Nizam’s State. This premediated act of war had emanated from a State which had based the claim to its own independence on the high spiritual ideals of non-violence.

“Our case,” he said, “is that the United Nations is confronted with the most determined and serious onslaught on its principles since the organisation was set up, and swift, determined action must be taken to prevent the arrest of this threat to international peace and justice.” India’s representative, Sir A. Ramaswami Mudaliar, Prime Minister of Mysore State, neighbouring Hyderabad, declared Hyderabad was not a State, was not independent and did not have power even to be independent. There never had been a declaration by the British Parliament granting Hyderabad independence. “Death, looting and pillage in Hyderabad compelled the Indian forces to move in to restore order.”

Turning to Sir Alexander Cadogan, Sir Ramaswami said: “You, Mr President, as head of the British delegation, are in a better position than any other member of the Council to say how Hyderabad came into the possession of tanks, 25-pounders and other weapons of destruction.” The Council adjourned until Monday to give the other members time to study the statements. INDIAN NAVY BOMBAY, Sept. 16. Admiral Parry, commander-in-chief, Roval Indian Navy, announced that the Navy will be reinforced by three modern British destroyers, Rotheram, Redoubt and Raider.