India.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 25, 16 December 1919, Page 5

India.

THE PUNJAB MUTiNY.

MANY HUNDREDS OF NATIVES SHOT DOWN.

COMMISSION DISCLOSURES.

f'rees Association —Copyright, Australian and N. 55 Cabi* Association

London, December 17

The evidence before the • Commission that is enquiring at Lahore into the risings .in April is causing a sensation among the public. It appeal's that a general rising was threatened in the Punjab, recalling the Indian Mutiny.

General Dyer, commanding the Loyalist troops,' ordered indiscriminate shooting, with the result; that five hundred natives were killed and fifteen hundred wounded.

The Punjab outrages include the cutting of the telegraph wires, burning three bank officials, the murder of a railway guard, burning ihe town hall and public offices at Aniritsar. General" Dyer, in his evidence, stated that when he found his orders disobeyed, he had to do something strong. "I shot well and strongly 1650 rounds,, lasting ten. minutes. The crowd had defied the law. No middle course was possible, so we fired until we ran out of ammunition." Aked if the idea was to strike terror, General Dyer said: "I did not- intend frigbtfulriess, but had to give them a lessen." He thought, from a military' poihfc of view, the shooting would make the widest impression in the Punjab. The Lieuten-ant-Governor wired approving of his action. Miss Sherwood, a missionary, whilst cycling, had been beaten with sticks and stones, and .left for dead. General. Dyer said: "We look upon women as sacred. Therefore I ordered the street to be picketed from six in the morning until eight in the evening. No Indian was allowed to pass in except by crawling on his hands and knees." He merely wanted to keep,the place, sacred.