A SEVERE LESSON

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 144, 16 December 1919, Page 7

A SEVERE LESSON

SUPPRESSING AN INDIAN

RISING

"I SHOT, WELL AND STRONGLY"

SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE AT

INQUIRY.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COFIRIGHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN - NEW ZEALAND CABLS .ASSOCIATION.)

LONDON, 13th December.

Tho evidence before the Commission which is inquiring at Lahore* into the Amritsar rising last April, is causing a public sensation. It appears that a general rising was threatened in the Punjab, recalling the Indian Mutiny. General Dyer, commanding the Loyalist troops, ordered indiscriminate shooting, with the result that 500 natives were killed and 1500 were wounded. The Punjab outrages included the cutting Of the telegraph wire's,- the burning of three hank officials, the mur_er of a railway guard, and the burning of tho Town Hall and public offices at Amritsar.

General Dyer, in evidence, said: "When I found that my orders wore disobeyed, I had to do something strong. I shot, well and strongly, 1660 rounds, lasting ten minutes. The crowd had defied the law, and no middle course was possible, so I fired until I ran oy.t of ammunition."

Asked if the idea were to strike terror, General Dyer said he did not intend a display of frightfulness, but he had to give them a lesson. He thought that from a military* point of vie* that would make the widest impression in the Punjab. The Lieutenant-Governor telegraphed to him approving of his action. Miss Sherwood, a missionary, whilst cycling, had been beaten with shoes and 'sticks and left for dead. General Dyesaid: "Wo 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-ss in except by crawling on his hands and knees." He merely; wanted to keep the place sacred.