Extent And Nature Of Damage

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23745, 17 September 1942, Page 5

Extent And Nature Of Damage

DISCLOSURES TO ASSEMBLY (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) NEW DELHI, Sept. 15. Sir Reginald Maxwell, Hone Member ot the Viceroy’s Executive Council, addressing the Indian Legislative Assembly, said: “What is not generally known and appreciated is the extreme damage caused in the recent disturbances and the extreme seriousness at one time of the position practically throughout Bihar and in the eastern part of United Provinces. “The trouble in these areas soon spread from the big towns to outlying areas. Thousands of rioters gave themselves up to an orgy of destruction of communications and other Government property. Whole districts, with small defending forces of Government officials, were isolated for days. The mobs perpetrated brutal atrocities and there were many deeds of heroism. “A large part of the railway was put out of action in this area, and for a considerable period Bengal was almost cut off from the north of India. “The attacks against municipal and private property included the destruction of a tuberculosis clinic and a Roman Catholic church. "It is significant that the attacks against communications started simultaneously in widely separated places. The saboteurs’ technical knowledge is also significant. These facts are inconsistent with the theory that the disturbances were a spontaneous outburst arising from the arrest of the Congress leaders. “The sabotage areas were also militarily significant. The disturbances occurred mainly in areas of strategic importance, and the sabotage was earned out principally against communications which are essential for the defence of the country in the event of a Japanese attack. “It is also significant that there was little or no sabotage of industrial plant. This supplies evidence of previous organisation laving the most sinister motives, “We were fortunate on this occasion in being free to give attention to the movement when there was little fear of enemy attacks, with which the movement might have been planned to synchronise: but we might not be so fortunate another time. Such an outbreak would be a direct invitation to a Japanese attack against India.” The Labour Member of the Executive Council (Dr. B. R. Ambedkar) said that certain important industrial undertakings, including a big steelworks, had been closed for certain periods in the last five weeks as a result of strikes.