THE RESTLESS EMPIRE

Evening Star, Issue 17226, 16 December 1919, Page 10

THE RESTLESS EMPIRE

RIOTS PAST AND PRESENT. INDIA. Press As»ociation-By Telegraph-Copyright. Auitrahan and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, December 14. ihe evidence before the commission in-quiring-at Lahore into the Amrit=ar risings in April 1919, is cau9ing a s€nsation among" the public. It appears that a general rising was threatened in the Punjab, recalling the Indian Mutiny. General Dyer, commanding the Loyalist troops, ordered an indiscriminate shooting, with the result that 600 natives were killed and 1,500 wounded. 1 lie Punjab outrages included the cutting of te egraph wires, burning three bank orncials, the murder of a railway guard the burning of the town hall and public omces in Amritsar. General Dyer in his evidence stated : When I found my orders were disobeyed I had to do something strong. I shot well and strongly—l,6so rounds in 10 minutes. The crowd had defied the law, and no middle course was possible, so I fixed until we ran out of ammunition." Asked if the idea was to strike terror, General Dyer said: " I did not intend but I had to give them a lesson. I thought from a military point of view that shooting would make the widest impression in the Punjab. The Lieutenant-Governor wired approving mv action."

"Miss Sherwood, a missionary, whilst cycling, had been beaten with sticks and left for dead," said' General Dyer. "We look upon women as sacred; therefore I ordered the street to bs picketed from 6 in the morning until 8 in the evening. No Indian was allowed to pass except by crawling on hia hands and knees. I merely wanted to keep the place sacred." EGYPT. LONDON, December 14. Lord Milner and General Allenby have conferred with the Sultan. The commission are settling down to their labors, but meanwhile the students make some slight anti-Milner demonstrations. The Egyptian soldiery peaceably dispersed the crowd near the War Office. The situation is more generallv reassuring. WEST INDIES. LONDON, December 13. Riots have taken place in the West Indies. The worst occurred at Trinidad, where black mobs incited by American negroes overran the Government offices. The police shot the ringleaders. The cruiser Calcutta landed marines, who are standing by until order has been restored. IRELAND. LONDON, December 14. Sinn Feiners fired revolver shots at the police when the latter were. returning to Dungloe barracks after participating in the prosecution of other Sinn Feiners. Five police were injured, two seriously.