AMRITSAR.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16885, 13 July 1920, Page 7

AMRITSAR.

GENERAL DYER'S DEFENCE. (B7 Cabic—Prces Association—Copyright.) ■ (Keuter's Telegrams.) J LONDON. July 9. | A White Paner has been usued giv- | inrr the defence of Brigadier-General I ■'-'yer. ±ic points out that he knew the military Gangers of the position, and the eloiid m Afghanistan,"and also realised that the gathering of natives in the Jallianwahah Bagh in Amritsar, was not fortuitous, but had been assembled with the express intent of challenging I the Government authority and defying him to fire noon it. It was. in fact, a rebel army." He was conscious that a great offensive movement was gathering, and that to sit still and await complete, mobilisation would be fatal. He could not* regard the assembly as a mere political gathering. He looked on Amritsar as a storm centre of rebo;l : on. Ho also«kifow that attempts were being made to seduce his troops'. If he had shirked the challenge there would have infallib'y followed a general mob movement iaside and outside Amritsar, which would hare destroyed the European population and involved in its ruin the. lawahirlino- In-linn nonulntion. lending to similar"rpsu't,! throughout the Punjnb. Brirrndior-Go'ier?! Dyer ™ntem 7 s that bis object was right. " The force used was not excessive, ■and achieved the dosired effect No loss force would have achieved that effect. A "MONSTROUS EVENT." IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY ME CHURCHILL. (Eeuter'3 Telegrams.) (Received Julv 12th, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 10. Continuing the debate in the House of Commons on the India Office vote, Sir Edward Carson entered a passicnata plea for Brigadier-General Dyer, urging tuat a man ought not to be pum&iied for dealing to the best cf Ins ability With a situation for which he was not in the slightest, degree responsible. Mr Winston Churchill, Secretary or State for War, explained at length the Army regulations with reference to General Dyer's retirement, adding that the Army Council's decision -was reached unanimously. Mr Churchill said that while assenting to the Council's decision, he held himself free, in the event of Cabinet deciding otherwise, to make further submissions to the Crown for the retirement of General Dyer from the Army. Cabinet, however, accepted the conclusions of the Army Council. Mr Churchill described the Jallianwallah Bagh incident as "a monstrous event, standing out in sinister isolation," and proceeded to lay down four broad lines for the guidance of officers — firstly, is a crowd attacking anything or anybody? secondly, is a crowd armed? thirdly, no more force could be used than is necessary to secure compliance tvu_ the law;; fourthly, an officer should confine himself to a limited, definite objective. Mr Churchill also laid down one general prohibition, namely, against frightfulness, -which could not be admitted in any form. Personally, he was of opinion tihat General Dyer should have been placed compulsorily on the retired list. Mr Asquith pointed out that the judgment passed on General Dyer was supported by the Government of India, confirmed by the British Cabinet, andi independently by the Army Council. Therefore he contended tfliat General. Dyer had had a full and fair hearing.