ASIA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 5, 29 July 1908, Page 8

ASIA.

The Shah has ordered three brigand tribes to reinforce Rakhim Khan, who is in charge of the operations for the suppression of the revolt at Tabriz, where fierce fighting took place on Monday, two hundred casualties being reported. Strifes Riots at Bombay, The mill hands at Bombay struck in order to hasten *he granting of autonomy, and pelted Europeans with stones and brickbats. 'flic Riot Act was rend, and the police fired, dispersing the crowd. No lives were lost. The strike riots continued throughout theday. Four thousand riotous millhands of Bombay stoned the police, who were attempting to disperse them. The police then drew their revolvers and, firing on the mob, quickly dispersed them, but not before several casualties had resulted from the shooting. Disastrous Floods in China. Eastern news states that the heaviest floods for thirty years inundated the valleys of South China. Thousands were drowned, an’. many more thousands are homeless and starving. Hundreds are pillaging the country, and it is feared that many will join the regular brigands. The Government and th e public are contributing large sums for relief. Commerce in South China has received a severe check, and the harvest is totally destroyed. Suppressing Sedition in India. The jury, by a majority of seven to two, found Tilak, the Bengali editor, charged with publishing seditious matter, guiltv. lie was sentenced to six years' transporuit’on anc * fh ie d a thousand rupees. Hie trial lasted eight days, Tilak’s address occupying six. Judge Devar stated that the articles seethed with sedition, preached violence, approved murders, and approved the employment of bombs. The printer of tiie paper, Jugantar was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at Calcutta in addition to a previous sentence of two and a-half years for inciting to rebellion 2 nd murder. Mr. f. R. Buchanan (Under-Secretary for India), in submitting to the House of Commons the Indian Budget, admitted a general spread in certain districts of unrest, suspicion,, distrust, and in some cases of violent outrages. The Government was convinced that such methods were utterly repugnant to Indians and Europeans alike, and assurances were constantly being received of the support of all sections in stamping out this hateful form of political disease. The cloth and copper bazaars, the markets, and the majority of Hindoo shops in Bombay Lave closed, out of sympathy with Tilak, the seditiunist who wa» on July 23nd sentenced to transportation for publishing inflammatory ar-

tides after an eight days’ trial. In addition, twenty thousand hands employed at the cotton and jute mills, and further riots occurred.

The military were called out, and they suppressed the riots, killing one and wounding several. A mob at Bombay attempted to wreck Curry-road station. They held up a train, stoned a magistrate, and the police, whereupon the volunteers fired a volley, killtag five and wounding 53. Ram Chandra, a Brahmin, has been arrested at Poona on suspicion of conductin- a school in Portuguese territory, where pupils are trained in the manufacture of bombs.