REVOLT IN INDIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1921, Page 5

REVOLT IN INDIA.

SITUATION QUIETER.

FAILURE TO BOYCOTT. GANDHI REVERENCED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, August 30. The Australian Presa Association states that authoritative news from India shows the situation, except in Malabar, is generally quiet. Gandhi's foreign clothes boycott has everywhere failed, but the Madras Government, in order to allay improters’ apprehesnion, has promised full protection against boycotters. The frontier province and the Punjab do not display interest in non-co-opera-tion or the agitation against the Prince’s visit. The Governor of the Punjab received a most cordial welcome during his tour. Gandhi is still reverenced everywhere, and receives triumphal welcomes wherever he goes. Dangerous complications may arise if the Government takes action against the Ali brothers should Gandhi fee] called on to engineer a demonstration on behalf of his inseparable companions and require to be dealt with himself. Provison. has been made for this eventuality.

A FIVE HOURS’ FIGHT. FANATICS ATTACK BRITISH FORCE. | Delhi, August 30. It is reported that a company of the Dorset Regiment was attacked by Moplahs on the railway at Pottambi. They used Lewis guns with deadly effect, killing 500 rebels. The Moplahs threatened to attack Ponnani. but were apparently deterred by the fact that a warship was ready to bombard them. Later details of the Pukkatur action show that a detachment of the Leinster Regiment and special police en route to the relief of Molappuram was attacked a few miles from the latter place by a large body of rebels armed with carbines and sportng rifles. The Moplahs, fightng with their traditional fierceness, were beaten off after five hours’ fighting, losing four hundred killed.

In addition to the British casualties already reported. Mr. Lancaster, assist-ant-superintendent of police, was fatally shot, and three auxiliary force officers were w'ounded. The detachment afterwards proceeded to Molappuram, found all safe, and brought the garrison back to Calicut.