SENSATION IN INDIA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 70, 16 December 1919, Page 9

SENSATION IN INDIA

EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY INTO RECENT RIOTS BRITISH GENERAL TAKES STRONG STAND Br Tolngreph-Preis Asioelfttlon-Copyrlrtt London, Decqm'bcr 13. 'l'lie evidence before the Commission which is inquiring at Lahore into tho Amritsnr rising in April last., is oauqing a public sensation. It appears that a general rising was threatened in the Punjab, recalling the Indian Mutiny. General Dyer, commanding tho Loyalist troops, ordered indiscriminate shooting, with the result that 500 natives were killed anxl >1500 wm wounded. Tho Punjab outrages included the cutting of the teleflraph wire:, the burning of three bank officials, tho murder of a railway guard, and tho burning of tho Town Hall and public offices at Amritsar. General Dyer, in evidence, said: "When I found that my orders were disobeyed, I had to do something 'strong. I snot, well ami stronely, IGSO rounds, lasting ten minutes. Tho crowd had defied the law, and no middle course was possible, so I fired until I ran out of ammunition." Asked if the idea were to striko terror, General Dyer said ho did not intend a display of frightfulness-. but ho had to give them a lesson. He thought that from a military point of view that would make the widest impression in tho Pun-' jnb. The Lieutenant-Governor wired, approving of hi? action. , Miss Sherwood, a missionary, whilst cycling, bad been ben ten with shoes and st'-eks and left for dead. General.Dyer said: "We look upon our women as sacred. Therefore I ordered the street to be picketed. From six in the morning till eight in the evening no Indian was allowed to pa.?.? in oxcept by crawling on Irs hands and knees. He'merely wanted to keep the place sacred."—United Service.