Ghastly Murders

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 984, 29 May 1930, Page 11

Ghastly Murders

VICTIMS CUT TO PIECES Faction Fights at Rangoon WOMEN KILLED FLEEING FROM FLAMES UNIALAGINED savagery is reported from Rangoon, where the Indian and Burmese factions warred, wantonly killing and chopping to pieces their victims, most of whom were women and children. Setting fire to their enemies’ homes, the Burmese attackers caught and killed the occupants as they fled from the flames.

United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 10.40 a.m. DELHI, Wed. Although the situation has improved in Rangoon, isolated assaults continue. Four thousand Indians and their families were removed for safety from the Burmese quarter of the city. A gang of Burmans threatening to attack Indians yesterday, refused to lay down arms when challenged by the police, who fired, killing ten. Some time later Indians combined against Burmans. The latter thereupon started looting Indian shops and massacring women and- children.

The Indians retaliated, massacring Burmese families in other parts of the city. Ghastly murders were enacted, members of both communities being disembowled. Limbs were hacked off with daggers and hatchets. The Burmans then set fire to the Indian quarters, killing the occupants as they ran from the blazing buildings. CYCLONE DERAILS TRAIN Seven persons were killed and several injured when a cyclone struck and completely derailed an entire passenger train near Monghyr. Two carriages were blown over an embankment. CALL FOR ACTION LORDS URGE DRASTIC CURE ORGANISED DISTURBANCES Reed. 11.45 a.m. RUGBI, Wed. lii the House of Lords, Lord Peel called for a statement on the situation In India. The fullest support should.

lie said, be given to the Government of to crush and end the disorders which seemed to be organised from a common centre.

He suggested that instead of arresting the leader in particular disturbances, it was time to strike at the centres of the disturbances, the Congress Committee itself, and that greater effort should be made to counter the flood of misrepresentation of British policy in the vernacular press. Lord Reading said what was new and serious about the present disturbances was the evidence that an organisation of the g”"""—" — ll ——— civil disturbance i had been set up. 1 Civil disobedi ence could not be tolerated, and the; Government must put forth all weapons at its command to break it. Earl Russell, Un-der-Secretary for India, having surveyed the situation in its various centres, saiu mere was no question of loyalty of the Indian Army, and he paid a tribute to the work of the Indian police, who frequently were pelted by brickbats arid insulted, and not allowed to protect themselves except as a last resort. The Government had shown tho utmost limits of patience and forbearance in quelling disorders, and had resorted to firearms only when conditions made it absolutely necessary.

Earl Russell paid a tribute to tlie Viceroy, Lord Irwin, who had shown immense patience and had done

nothing that could be regarded as provocative.

The Government had assured him he had their full and unstinted support.