DEATH-ROLL IN INDIA LOWER

Southland Times, Issue 24822, 14 August 1942, Page 5

DEATH-ROLL IN INDIA LOWER

Situation Improves (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 12. The situation in India is easier, a considerable factor in achieving this result being a stem warning by the Governor of Bombay, Sir Roger Lumley, and other authorities that order will be maintained at any cost, which are coupled with impressive police and troop reinforcements to the worst ox eas - Today’s death-roll in India is believed to be considerably below that of yesterday. The death-roll throughout Infiia since the outbreak of the trouble is at present not ascertainable, but at least 61 are dead. The correspondent of The Times ,at New Delhi says accounts of the disorders should not be allowed to create the impression that the whole of India is in uproar. The loss of. life is insignificant in comparison with the death rolls during communal riots. The railways continue working, as does industry generally. The disorders are spontaneous local outbreaks, rather than an organized national movement. The Bombay correspondent of The Times reports that after the Governor s warning the situation took a definite turn for the better. Trains and trams are fairly normal today and the mill area is quiet. More mills are open. The correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says the improvement is partly attributable to the greatly increased military patrols. Steel-helmeted patrols with fixed bayonets are posted m great strength in the mill area. Incidents today included the burning of three police stations, a bank and the city Post Office at Nagpur, where the crowd also attempted to bum. a. powerhouse and stoned the administration buildings. The mob looted a Government grain shop in Bombay. SHIPPING CENTRE BARRICADED

The police at Delhi fired on a crowd which burst into the Post Office, threw stamps and postcards into the street and attempted to set fire to them, pie main shopping centre of old Delhi is barricaded off and the banks and many shops are still closed. Troops are guarding all entrances to New Delhi to prevent a spread of the trouble from the old city. British armoured cars and troop lorries are now patrolling the streets of Bombay and Delhi. In these and other cities riots led by Congress supporters have so far caused 53 deaths. The police opened fire several times on mobs in Bombay today. In one instance firing occurred when a crowd at Nasik attempted to snatch their arms from the police and freed one prisoner. The police also fired on rioters in old Delhi, Moradabad, Karachi, Cawnpore, Madras, Bassein and Ahmedabad. In Madras the police fired in self-defence when a mob pelted them with stones. Two Post Offices were looted at Cawnpore. The authorities in Cawnpore and Lucknow have decreed the death penalty for rioting. Six self-governing civic bodies in Nagpur have been suspended, on the ground that they are supporting Congress. RESPONSIBLE INDIAN OPINION The fact that the distinguished Indians who form the majority of the Viceroy’s Executive Council have readily shares the responsibility for the action taken is regarded as a valuable sign of the sense of responsibility of the Indians themselves and of their recognition of the necessity for' solidarity. Responsible opinion in London continues to welcome constructive Indian aspiration for a more active participation in the war. The attainment of such co-operation was an essential object of the Cripps Plan, which the British Government just declared remains the basis of its policy. The folly of the Congress Party leaders is indeed regarded as making even more urgent the need to associate representative leaders of India with the defence, of their country in its hour of danger.

BRITISH LABOUR OPPOSES CONGRESS ACTION (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 12. The British Labour Party and the Trades Union Congress have issued a joint declaration expressing confidence in the establishment of a free India after the war and disapproving of the attempt to organize a civil disobedience movement. The statement expressed the opinion that the. Government of India’s action in detaining the Congress leaders was timely and unavoidable.