INDIAN RIOTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1920, Page 3

INDIAN RIOTS.

MORE REVELATIONS

AEROPLANES TO DROP BOMBS

Further details of the peril of British people in India during the Punjaub disturbances last April are contained in the latest Indian newspapers received in London, which publish extensive reports of the evidence heard by Lord Hunter’s Commission inquiring into the trouble at Lahore and Amritsar. At both places large numbers of Indians were killed and wounded. Part of the story has been already told. At Amritsar a mob of 5,000 was fired on, 400 to 500 being killed and 1,500 wounded. So serious was the position that the women and children in the city were evacuated. The trouble, stated one,witness, arose out of the opposition to,the Rowlatt Act introduced to combat revolutionary .-,j;d anarchical crime, political agitation, war weariness, and high p;ices, Mahon) medan trouble, and income-tax forms. Martial law was essential to prevent the serious spread of the disturbances. Mr Kitchin, joint commissioner, La-

hore and Amritsar, said when .l?e arrived at Amritsar he met Captain iUassrr, officer commanding tho garrison, and Mr Miles Irving, who was evacuating the women and children. It was mani-

fest the situation was serious, :.nd that" the military and police avai' ole v. ere not sufficient. About eleven at night reinforcements arrived from Lahore iff command of Major McDonald. During the night the lines were cut and telegraphs destroyed. He returned to Lahore but was back in Amritsar two davs

hater. General Dyer had in the meantime arrived, taken over command, and removed the headquarters to Rambngh. With the help of a strong military escort, about a dozen people were arrested inside the city. It was his opinion that no European should go into the •city then without strong military escort. WEDDING PARTY FLOGGED. A description of of the disorders at Lahore was given by Lieut.-Col. Frank Johnson ,in charge of the Lahore Civil Area, which included a population of 240,000. Referring to a diagram he had prepared showing the rise and fall of the disturbance, Col. Johnson explained that the fall occurred after the shooting at Amritsar. The crowd of Lahore emerged from the Annrkali Bazaar between six and seven o’clock, and was estimated by the officer at the telegraph office to he about 6,000 strong According to this officer the crowd then advanced upon the office. The police had to evacuate it, and it was given over to the mob.

On April 12th it became necessary to obtain control of tho city at all costs, and he was told to enter it. He was supported by four aeroplanes. He made arrangements that two of the machines should fly as low as possible and instructions were given to the pilots to watch for a prearranged signal. If they received the signal they were to drop bombs a hundred yards away from the head of his column. The temper of the mob he described as sullen and decidedly savage in places. Martial law, he thought, undoubtedly saved Lahore from the worse trophic that, occurred at Amritsar. Its effects bad been instantaneous, It was true that a priest and a wedding party were flagged for h.cipg a gathering of more than ten. If was the one incident under martial hAv which lie regretted and the magistrate responsible was at once removed and prevented 'from acting again.

Among other orders he issued was one prohibiting the circulation of false

rumours. Extraordinary rumours were going about the city, including 9UP to the effect that tho King was dead. The whole rising in China, and the Puß_ jab was prearranged. There was so in p power behind it all. GEN. DYER UPHELD.

General Sir Wm. Dyer Beynon, who at the time of the disturbances was General Officer Commanding the 16th. Division, which includes most of the dis_ triets where the serious outbreaks occurred, in evidence defended General Dyer’s action in ordering fire to he opened on 5,000 disloyalists at Amritsar. ‘‘l fully approved of what General Dyei did. I informed the Lieut.-Governor of my opinion,” he ndded. Mr J. E. Keough, a Lahore magistrate, said six to eight stripes were given in twelve cases for offences such as disobedience to the curfew and tearing down orders. The victims were tied band and foot on a triangle, naked. He had to see martial law was obeyed, and mere fines would not have been sufficient. They would have led to moie breaches of the peace.