PRINCE IN INDIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1922, Page 5

PRINCE IN INDIA.

ANXIETY AT LAHORE. CENTRE OF UNREST. NO TROUBLE OCCURS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Delhi, Feb. 25. Far-reaching precautions were taken by the authorities to prevent disorder when the Prince arrived at Lahoe. The route from the station to Government House was kept by 3000 troops, while additional police were drafted into the city. Three aeroplanes kept observation over the crowds, and five motor lorries filled with armed infantry with Lewis guns, as well as three tanks and three armored cars were ready to proceed to any threatened point. Along the entire route soldiers and police were posted at intervals behind the lines of infantry with their backs to the procession and kept close watch on the spectators. Although it cannot be said that the natives gathered in large numbers to welcome the Prince, the fact that the welcome was not marred by any demonstration is reassuring. The vigilance of the troops was not relaxed for a single moment and sentries with fixed bayonets patrolled the edge of the footways.

The Ghaadist agitators may have imposed a hartal, but its influence has not extended beyond the confines of the native city. When the Prince reached Government House he held a reception of Punjaub Princes, which ended the official day. V A REMARKABLE SCENE. NO HOSTILITY SHOWN. Received Feb. 26, 1.10 a.m. Delhi, Feb. 27. The sight of the Prince of Wales ridI ing slowly through thousands of Punjabis on the fair ground adjoining the ; rebellious city of Lahore, followed by 250 horsemen, made many pessimistic observers of his tour stare in amazement. He rode slowly and easily across a packed amphitheatre, with curious and not unfriendly Indians pressing closely on all sides. He remained for an hour in the heart of the great throng watching native sports and there was not a single hostile sign or cry raised, or during his passage before and after through the streets.

This is a really wonderful visit, considering all that has been said and written of the evil intentions of this capital of the Punjab. The Prince mingled more freely with the common people than in many less dangerous towns infected with political unrest. The fair, which the natives call mela, was organised by the Indians with the object of bringing the Prince and the Punjabis together and it was really a welcome from the western Punjab rather than from Lahore. Local chiefs came from various points within a hundred miles with mounted retainers and thousands of the humblast people, who received no more from the Government than bare transportation. The fair was a combination of Hamstead Heath and Earl’s Court. There were at least twenty thousand Indians present, and curiosity rather than surrender of political principles accounted for the presence of most of them. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRINCE’S PARTY FIRED ON. Delhi. Feb. 25. Several members of the Prince’s Party were fired on while motoring from Delhi to Patiala. No one was hit and the assailants escaped.