Censure of Dyer.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 141, 29 May 1920, Page 5

Censure of Dyer.

REPORT ON PUNJAB REBELLION.

GENERAL’S FATAL DECISION

FACED DIFFICULTY HONESTLY

I By Cable.—Press Association. —Cops right.)

Simla, -May 26. The report of the committee which inquired into the Punjab Rebellion is published. Publication was withheld till now owing to tension existing over the Turkish peace terms. The document contains majority and minority reports. The former statesthat General Dyer committed a grave error in ordering troops to fire on the crowd at Amritsar. This is practically the only serious censure in the majo rity report, which is signed by the European members of the committee Three Indian members condemn mif. tial law as a system of terror inflicted on the people. The majority reports justify marti il law though there was no evidence of an organised conspiracy to overthrow the British Government. The majority of the members of tlv_ committee consider that (.eneral Dyer honestlv believed that Ire was doing right in difficult circumstances.—(A. and N.Z.)

DYER'S ACTION ESSENTIAL. "A DAMNABLE REPORT.” London, May 27. General Dyer declines to comment on the Hunter reJKirt beyond saying tli.it events will justify him The nu itary view strongly supported General D.vei. Sir George Younghusband dertares that Dver took the only possible step to stop a native rising, and the w bites in . India, especially women, thank 1U Sir O’Moore Creagh., former Com-mandcr-in-Chiei in India says. >* 1 tion in India will be encouraged by tins damnable reqiort. Dyer’s action was absolutely essential. —(A. and N.Z. ) CHANCE FOR RASCALS. DANGEROUS EFFECT OF REPORT. "GOINGS ON” IN INDIA. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF’S WARNING. (Received 29, 8.50 a. in.) London, May 2r. General Sir Omoore Creagh, Com-mander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, commenting on the Committee s Arantsar report found that it would further alienate India, which was seething with sedition and Bolshevism. Every rascal will consider himself justified in assassination. The Committee was formed of estimable gentlemen but they do not know India. If General Dyer committed a breach of military law he should have been court-martialled. General Creagh is convinced that the shooting was essential. . The Committee's contention is that General Dyer should have read the Act, which was ridiculous“In what language would he have read it? Was the Brigade Commander to summon professors and have the law translated? There are hundreds of religions in India all advocating vengeance. Forgiveness is next to non-existent. No doubt rebels will be told that the British are afraid to shoot them. People in England are unaware of the ‘goingson’ in India, but they will soon learn. The authorities, who were well informed ought to be left alone. Conciliation was out of the question and drastic action was essential.”— . (United Service). Evidence given before the commission which inquired into Amritsar risings shewed that a general rising was threatened in the Punjab recalling the Indian Mutiny. Outrages ...... been committed, including the cutting of telegraph wires, the ourning of three bank officials, the murder of a railwayguard, the burning of the Town Hall and public offices of Amritsar. Attacks were made on military pickets guarding railway bridges at Amritsar, and before loin' the city was practically in the hands of a wild mob sacking, burning, and killing. Brigadier-General Dyer, who was then in command of a brigade at Juflundur. near Amritsar, sent 100 British and 200 Indian soldiers to Amritsar, and next day arrived to take command of the situation. Rumours got into the villages that any amount ol loot was to lie obtained at Amritsar, that there was no Government and that the sooner they got at the scene the better. STRUGGLING CROWD.

General Dyer and the Deputy -»mniissioner went through the streets with an escort, proclaiming that no meetings would be allowed. I’pople shouted insolently, would not disfter.se when asked to do so. and spat on the ground as the troops passed. There was. however, no act of violence. In the afternoon the general heard that a meeting was to be held at the .lallmuwala Bagii, just outside the citv. He marched there with 25 British and 26 Indian rifles, and two armoured cars, and there the tragedy occurred. When General Dyer arnveu on the scene he proceeded through a narrow entrance, and deployed his men on a piece of raised ground at the northern extremity. The crowd facing him v.as estimated at more than five thousand and a man was addressing it. Within thirty seconds lie had ordered fire to be opened. A roar went up from the crowd, and tney struggled to get out of the Bagh. The firing was not in volleys, but each man took his own time. The firing continued until the men ran short ot ammunition. Altogether 1650 rounds were fired', in about ten minutes. Five hundred natives were killed and 1500 wounded. NOT FRIGHTFULNESS.

At the inquiry, Mr. Justice Rankin (a member of the committee), addressing General Dyer, said: Excuse me putting it in this way, general, but was it not a form of frightfulness? General Dyer: No. it was not. it was a horrible duty I had to perform. I think it was a merciful thing. I thought that I should shoot well and strong, so that 1 or anybody else should not have to shoot again. There was no medium course. The one thing was force.

Asked what reason he had to suppose that the crowd would not liav» dispersed without firing, he said: I think it is quite possible I could have dispersed the crowd without firing, but they would have come back again and laughed, and I should have made what I consider to be a fool of myself. I considered it was my duty to fire, and fire well. Lord Hunter: Was there any other course ?

General Dyer: No. sir. I lookin u|sin it as a duty, a very horrible duty. After this drastic act the rebellion collapsed. The Lieutenant-Governor telegraphed his approval of the action. .Miss Sherwood, a missionary, wlii’st cycling, had been beaten with shoes and sticks, and left for dead. < “AVe look upon women as sacred,” General Dver said, “and I therefore ordered that the street should be picketed from 6 a.m. till 8 p.rn.. and that no Indian should be allowed to pass in except by crawling on his hands and knees. I merely wanted to keep the place sacred.”