INDIAN AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3557, 16 May 1922, Page 22

INDIAN AFFAIRS

TRUCE TILL AFTER THE HARVEST. DELHI, May 6. The Gilbertian war between the Swats and the Dirs (two of the most warlike .tribes on the north-west frontier), which was suspended for the Prince of Wales's benefit, was soon resumed ; but it has now ceased again to permit the combatants to attend to their crops. . The. truce will last until the middle of August, and watchmen have been solemnly posted to guard the. battlefield until the two armies are ready to re-oecupy their positions. KHIVANS DISTRUST BOLSHEVISTS. DELHI, May 11. The Soviet authorities have been compelled to send reinforcements to Eastern Bokhara. The rebels set fire to the Kilobaud oil wells, and are now threatening Tashkend, north of which an entire Bolshevist regiment deserted,” with a number of machine-guns. . The Bolshevists suppressed a hostile outbreak at Askhabad, after the principal city bazaar had been looted. The Bolshevists’ attempt to enforce conscription proved a failure, although a refusal to obey the call was punishable by death. The Bolshevists, with? the object of conciliating the Khivans, offered to recognise their Khan as President of the Khivan Republic, but the Khan, who is at present in refuge in Ka-bul, is, unlikely to accept the offer, in view of the experiences of the Bokharan Republic. UNRULY TRIBESMEN. DELHI, May 11. Reports from Waziristan state that a platoon of Grenadiers who were patrolling near West Saidgi were surprised by 100 tribesmen. One Indian officer and 29 of other ranks were killed. A quantity of small arms and ammunition was lost. The enemy’s losses were negligible. MRS ANNIE BESAXT'S VIEWS. SYDNEY, May 9. Mrs Annie Besant has arrived. She told an interviewer that India must be a free nation along with the other nations of the British Commonwealth, and the Indian people would not be satisfied with anything less. If they got that all would be well; if not, there would probably be a revolution. (May 10. Mrs Annie Besant declares herself closely identified with the movement for tile freedom of India, though opposed to the non-co-operation movement, which would pLay into the hands of reactionary officialdom and would lead to revolution if successful. She describes Mr Gandhi as an ascetic and Tolstoyian anarchist who disbelieves in railways, telegraphs, and modern innovations of every kind, and wishes humanity to revert to a state of nature. Until his arrest he was regarded by superstitious Indians as supernatural. Tilings quietened immediately after his arrest, but there was still a large amount of unrest in India, though the outlook was brighter, intelligent Indians regarding the concessions granted as an instalment of better things to follow, but until complete self-government was accorded India she and those working with her would not be completely satisfied.