SITUATION EASIER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20862, 14 August 1942, Page 5

SITUATION EASIER

CONTROL IN INDIA WARNINGS EFFECTIVE ONLY LOCAL DISORDERS (By Telegraph —Press Assn.—Copyright.) (3 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 12, The situation in India is easier, a considerable factor being the stern warnings by the Governor of Bombay and other authorities that order would be maintained' at any cost, which is coupled -With impressive police and troop reinforcements to the tensest areas. To-day’s death roll in India is believed to be considerably below that of yesterday’s. The death roll throughout India since the outbreak of the trouble is at present not ascertainable, but at least 61 persons are dead. ■The Times correspondent in New Delhi says that accounts of disorders should not be allowed to create the impression that the whole of India is in‘an uproar. The loss of life is insignificant in comparison with the death rolls during communal riots. The railways, continue working, as does industry generally. The disorders are spontaneous local outbreaks rather than an organised national movement. Turn for the Better The Times correspondent in Bombay reports that after the Governor’s warning the situation took a definite turn for the better. Trains and trams are fairly * normal to-day. The mill area is quiet and more mills are open, Daily Telegraph’s correspondent says that the improvement is partly attributable to the greatly ifiereased military patrols. Steelhelmeted patrpls with fixed bayonets are posted in great' strength in the mill-area, r Incidents to-day included the burning of three police stations,-' a bank, and the city post office at Nagpur, where the crowd also attempted to burn the power house and stoned the administration buildings. A mob looted a Government grain shop in Bombay. The police in Delhi fired on a crowd which burst into a post office, threw stamps and postcards into the street, and attempted to set fire to them. The main shopping centre of Old Delhi was barricaded off and the banks and many shops are still closed. Troops are guarding all entrances to New Delhi with a view to preventing the spread of trouble from the old city.

The police opened, fire several times on mobs in Bombay to-day. In one instance firing' occurred when a crowd at Nasik attempted to snatch arms from -police escorting arrested persons. The rioters stabbed several constables free^^nej^pisQtjgp.— —. fired on rioters in SdtDclhi.iMorpdabfld, Karachi. Cawnre, Madmi mssetn, r&nfl . Ahmedad. Sni Madras, the police fired in When a mob pelted them with .stories. ~ fftwo post .offices were afoitedtat IGaympope. •*' Ljrhe [authorities in Cawnpore and Llfckpoiw ■ have decreed ;the death penalty' for rioting. selfrgPVreriji.ng civic bodies in Na’gpufhaye'''Bden suspended' on the ground that they are supporting the Congress Party.