AMRITSAR SHOOTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 17365, 29 May 1920, Page 6

AMRITSAR SHOOTINGS

REPORT CENSURES DYER, BROTHER GENERALS UPHOLD HIM. I Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. i Australian and N.Z. Cible Association. -SIMLA,"May 26. The report of tho committee which inquired into the Punjab rebellion has been published. The publication has been withheld till now, owing to the tension existing over the Turkish peace terms. The document contains majority and minority report*. The former states that General Dver committed a grave error in ordering the troops to-fire on the crowd at Amntsar. This is practically the only serious censure in the majority report, which is signed by tho European members of the committee. The minority report, siirned bv the three Indian members, condemns martial law as a system o| terror inflicted on the people. Tho majority report justifies martial law. though there was no evidence of organised conspiracy to overthrow the British Government. The majority of the members of the committee consider that General Dyer honestly believed that he was doing right in difficult circumstances. LONDON, May 27. General Dyfer declines to comment on General Hunter's report beyond saying that events will justifv him." The military view strongly '.supports General •Dyer. Sir George Younghusband declares th=>t General Dyer took'the onlv possible step to stop a native rising, and the white population in India, especially tho women must thank him. ' ' General Sir O'Moore Creagh, Com-mander-in-Chief of the Indian Ai-mv. eavs : bodition in india-will be encouraged" bv this damnable report. General Overs action was absolutely essential." ' (Received May 29, at 8.50 a.m.) _ General Sir O'Moore Crcagh, commenting- on tne_ committee's Amritear report, .eared that it would further alienate India, winch was seetnmg with sedition and Bolshevism. /'Every rascal," he said, "will consider himself justified in assassination. The committee are farmed of estimable gentlemen but they do not know India. It General Dyer committed a breach of military aw he should have been courtruartialled. General Crcagh is convinced that the fihootinp was essential. "The committees eontentton that General Dve>- should have read the Riot.Act is ridiculous." ho * i ■ i ,' l V , ' lwt la:! S 1 v.-ou!d he have read it? \\as tne brigade commander to summon a professor and have the law translated? There are hundreds of religions in India, all advocating forgiveness is next to non-existent" No «oi;bt_ the rebels will be fold that the biutisn are afraid to shoot them. Peon!m England are unaware of goinre on m India, _ but they will so-ou learn. The authorities, who were informed on'this matter, ought to be left alone. Conciliation was out of the question, and drastic action was essential."*