THE O'DWYER CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 114, 15 May 1924, Page 5

THE O'DWYER CASE.

AMRITSAR RISING.

MARTIAL LAW IN PUNJAB.

(Received 12 noon.)

LONDON, May 14.

Giving evidence in the O'Dwyer case, General Benyon, formerly Commanding Officer at Lahore, said if General O'Dwyer had not opened fire at Amritsar his forces would have been wiped out in two minutes. No one knows ■what would have happened afterwards. General O'Dwyer saved the Punjab from being overrun by anarchy.

General O'Dwyer, reporting the Amritsar ocourrence to General Benyon, had stated that the party fired 650 rounds. It is estimated between two thousand and three thousand were killed. General Benyon added: General O'Dwyer is one of the best officers, with sound military views and long experience of India. The native troops loved him. — ("Sun.")

"The . Hunter Inquiry Commission treated mc like a criminal. I was censured for an order which I never gave," Sir 'Michael O'Dwyer (formerly Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab) declared, amid laughter, under crossexamination, at the hearing of the libel action brought by him against Sir Sankaran Nair. The latter, an Indian judge, wrote articles criticising him. Lord Chelmsford, formerly Viceroy of India, gave evidence that he accepted Sir Michael O'Dwyert recommendations for recruiting, which were drawn up at the Viceroy's suggestion after the King's special appeal for recruits.

Lord Chelmsford added that he assented to the proclamation of martial law in the Punjab. He didn't realise the full facts of the Amritsar shooting until they were disclosed months afterwards by the Hunter Committee. He admitted, tinder cross-examination, that the administration of. martial law was marred in particular instances by misuse of power and irregular and irresponsible acts.