PRINCE IN INDIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1921, Page 5

PRINCE IN INDIA.

VISIT TO OALCUTTA. TENSION RELAXED. GANDHI’S BOYCOTT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Delhi, Dec. 26. The only sign of political discontent among the natives was the diminished crowd that witnessed the race for the Viceroy’s Cup, run in the presence of the Prince of Wales and practically the entire European and Anglo-Indian communities, as well as notable Indians. About 7000 natives of the lower classes watched the Prince with the keenest interest, but did not join in the demonstration of loyalty. Gandhi’s emissaries failed signally in their endeavors to keep the entire native population aloof from the races. # The efforts of Saturday’s hartal seems to have exhausted itself in the bazaars, for all the shops are now open, for business as usual, and no demonstrations of any kind are being made. The political agitators faked to counteract the lure of the illuminations at r-.ght, and the Bengalis came in thousands into the European quarter. Die tension which existed in the city on the morning of the Prince’s arrival has perceptibly relaxed, although the civil guards still keep a close watch on the areas where disaffection is most acute. A SERIOUS RIOT. NEWSPAPER STAFF ARRESTED. Delhi, Dec. 27. A serious riot occurred in the Mohammedan quarter of Calcutta, between Mohammedans and Anglo-Indians. Following an altercation with a hawker, the passers-by took sides, and firearms were used till the armed police intervened and dispersed the crowd. Twenty-five were wounded, one mortally. A general at< tack by Mohammedans on the AngloIndian "quarter was frustrated. Fortyfour were arrested.

On the morning of Boxing Day a constable was found battered to death after escorting a prisoner to the lock-up. Wlhile the police were searching for thn murderers some houses and a mosqu» were set on fire. Wild reports were circulated that the police were looting and firing buildings indiscriminately. The shops were hurriedly closed. Twenty-four arrests were made, and the situation is now calm. Following a long campaign of antiBritish vituperation and seditious incitement, the authorities took action against the newspaper Independent. All the editorial and managerial staff were arrested and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. Despite this the newspaper appeared in manuscript form from the house of the imprisoned leader, thousands of copies being distributed. After the first issue the new editor was arrested and sentenced to a year’s rigorous imprisonment. Further arrests of extremists are reported in various parts of India. At the extremist conference at Ahmedabad, Gandhi declared that he intended to pursue his activities unabated. If unsuccessful he would abandon the nonviolence programme. It was now a fight to the finish with the Government.