THE BOMBAY RIOTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1921, Page 5

THE BOMBAY RIOTS.

SITUATION QUIETER. ANTI-EUROPEAN FEELING. By Telegraph.—-Press Assn —Copyr'ght. Delhi, Nov. 20. The native quarter of Bombay, where the rioting occurred, comprises roughly li square miles, including the chief bazaar. It is a veritable warren of tortuous narrow streets. Under the conditions the police and military had great difficulty in dealing with the elusive gangs of rioters, who disappeared into side streets the moment the former appeared. So far as is known, twenty rioters were killed and over seventy seriously wounded during the skirmishes. The forces engaged' were too small to cope with the mass of the native population, numbering nearly half a million, including forty thousand Parsees. No European dare walk abroad unguarded. A number of isolated police posts were attacked, and two burned down. Bonfire* of European goods were made in the streets. Grog shops were also looted and burned. Tn retaliation for the Gandhist attacks, the Parsees organised a volunteer force to guard their shops and homes. Pathans joined forces with -the Mohammedans in the factional troubles. No doubt the youthful hooligan element was strong in the rioting, but there are indications of serious and determined anti-European sentiments which can only be countered by the firmest measures.

The latest reports state that the situation in the native quarter is quieter though isolated affrays are reported. A conference at Mr. Gandhi’s residence considered means of controlling the rowdy elements and of opposing tne Gandhist and other factions. QUESTION OF GANDHI’S ARREST. Delhi, Nov. 21. The Bombay newspapers say that it is fully time Mr. Gandhi was arrested. His tearful protestations are possibly sincere, but he is the root of the trouble. He is self-condemned as unable to control his violent followers. The Bengal Government has declared the extremist volunteer corps unlawful at Calcutta. As the result of numerous raids by the police lorries on the offices of the extremists documents, books and flags have been seized and many arrests made. The Bengal Government has issued a communique that the limits of permissible agitation have been passed. Citizens have been intimidated, the police terrorised, and loyalty tampered with. It is officially announced that in view of the existing disorder, the gathering of school children, arranged to be held in the park on Tuesday, has been cancelled, for fear of mob violence, and the Prince’s visit to the Prince of Wales’ Museum abandoned. The review and rally of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides on Tuesday has been altered.