Indian Situation Well In Hand

Northern Advocate, 14 August 1942, Page 3

Indian Situation Well In Hand

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 13. A Chungking message reports that the Korean Independence Party asked President Roosevelt, Mr. Churchill, M. Stalin and Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, to mediate in the Anglo-Indian conflicts.

They have requested Mr. Roosevelt to recommend rational methods of settlement and implored Mr. Churchill to release the Indian leaders.

They have sent identical messages to the other two, asking them to use their influence for the release of the leaders.

The party believed that a settlement of the Indian problem would bring an earlier victory for the United Nations. The State Department has revealed that it has warned the American troops in India that they were sent there solely to prosecute the war against the Axis and primarily to aid China, and that they should scrupulously avoid participation in India’s internal struggle. In the event of disturbances where Americans are stationed, they are authorised to resort to defensive measures only should their own safety or that of • other American citizens be endangered.

Situation Well in Hand

The Indian situation is well in hand. There were no incidents in Delhi, and only minor incidents in Bombay today.

A mob at Dacca raided the local Indian Magistrate’s Court, broke windows and set fire to records. .The district judge attempted to save the records, but was attacked with lathis and brickbats. A guard was forced to fire his revolver to save his life. A crowd in Central Madras set fire to railway stations at Tenali and Chirala. Police fired, killing four and injuring 10. Sporadic disturbances at Poona included setting fire to a police post. Trouble flared up in the business area of Ngpur. Hooligans broke into a railway gcodshed and looted grain, damaged railway installations, smashed the water mains and cut telephone wires.

Crowds made a bonfire of the contents of a suburban post office. Police opened fire in three places.

Police at Secunderabad used teargas to disperse crowds throwing stones. Three police officers were beaten up and the District Magistrate and Police Superintendent were injured by stones. Hooligans raided three post offices in Lucknow, destroyed some property and took some cash. A Partial Strike

A partial strike is being observed, but nearly all Moslem shops in predominantly Moslem localities are open. Some shops in Old Delhi have reopened and the authorities are taking steps to open other shops retailing essential supplies. The curfew at Delhi has been extended to two more days and the prohibition on processions and meetings has been extended three days. Nehru’s sister has been arrested at Aeslahabad.

Middle East Condemns Congress Policy Public opinion in the Middle East unreservedly condemns the Indian Congress Party’s policy. A Turkish deputy comments on the incongruous demands that the British leave India and at the same time defend India. The comment was also made that in a country under Japanese control Gandhi and Nehru would not have been allowed to remain alive. An Iraqi newspaper states that Axis rule, as demonstrated in occupied countries, should have been a lesson to India, but Gandhi and his colleagues evidently have not considered what has happened, and have continued to prevent the solution of the Indian problem for their own selfish purposes. A Race Against Time Prominence is given here to an article by a Washington columnist, Drew Pearson, who says the Allied offensive in the Solomons is a race against time to prevent the Japanese fortifying captured South Pacific islands. “The Japanese have been fortifying the Solomons at break-neck speed,” Mr. Pearson says. “They have been building aeroplane runways, fuel depots and anti-aircraft emplacements. The navy had to move before the Japanese got too deeply entrenched.

“Some strategists figure that if the Japanese are given, a year to fortify the South Pacific Islands, it will take from three to four years to dislodge them.”

American military strategists believe that if the .Solomons offensive takes its expected course, it will lead to gigantic Allied landing operations in the six months. First Step on Long Road

Hanson Baldwin, “New York Times” military commentator, says: “United States marines and other United States and Australian forces are undertaking the first small step in what will probably be the most difficult operation in the history of amphibious warfare. This is a step-by-step, island-by-island, advance across the Pacific. It is a back-breaking task, and cannot be accomplished quickly against the Japanese.” Jap Navy in Danger Gilbert Cant, “New York Post” foreign news editor, says: “The Solomons landing suggests not only that the Japanese navy is spread dangerously thin, but that the Allies are in'a position to take full advantage of the enemy’s difficulties.” Several commentators eihphasise the importance of land-based aircraft in the Pacific warfare and declare that the Allied advances in the area where the Japanese possess this great advantage, must prove very costly.