Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-21
HTNDUS REpEL INSPECTORS
Men Interned on Ship at Vancouver
Forcibly Prevent It's Sailing.
SEVERAL OFFICERS INJURED
warahip VIII Convoy Vessel Loaded
with Undesirable Aliens out
side the Thrcc-Mnc
Limit.

VANCOUVER, y. c.. July 2O-No move
will he made FOR a couple OF days to take
the KomagatA Maru and Its Hindu pas
sengers out Of the harbor Such was the
decision reached today. The likelihood
than that the Canadian cruiser Rainbow
will be ready to cross from Esduimault,
where It has been repairing, for the pur-
pose Of conveying the Japanese vessel
beyond the three-mile limit. II not fur
| ther.
The Hindus on the ship are In iuhi-
liant mood today, though relaxing none of
their watchfulness. The tug Sea Lion Ia
| clrollng around the big vessel and relays
OF men are standing guard to give the
alarm for repelling boarders. On shore
there is a division In the ranks OF local
Hindus and I'm the Fikh temple last night
there was the nearest approach to gum
play there has been seen In Hindu town
for some time, when one accused an
other OF treachery.
| OF the men wounded in sunday morn
| ing's battle only two OF the police remain
in the hospital suffering from their in
juries, and these, It Is expected will be
out In the course of few days.
The orders of the Dominion government
TO get the Komagata out of the harbor
as quickly as possible will result In the
vessel being sent away within forty-eight
hours, probably with the assistance of
Admiral Kingsmil and his crew on the
| Rainbow
A pitched battle between immigration
! inspectors, special police and the Hindus
took place on board the Komagata early
| Sunday morning when the ships officers
asked shore aid in handling their belliS-
erent passengers. The Hindus, It was
said, used force In preventing the officers
| from getting the ship under way.
The RomAgata has been in the harboT
three months, during which the Hindul
have displayed ugliness. and this has beer
intensified since the Dominion govern
ment decided that they are undesirable
aliens and not enttled to enter
The expense oil the trip to Vancouver
was borne by Gurdit Singh wealthy
Hindu, who chartered the vessel In port
during the long stay while their status
was being determined the Hindus have
been provisioned both by their country,
men ashore and the British Columbian
authorities. Food sufficient for the triT
back to the orient WAS stored In the ves
sci last week.
Ottawa Hears News.
OTTAWA, Ont, July IA report OF
the battle In Vancouver harbor early to-
day between Canadian officials backed
by police ana a body of Hindus on the
Japanese steamship Komagata Maru was
received by government officials tonight
The steamer arrived three months ago
with $50 Hindus, who claimed as British
subjects the right to land in Canada.
The Canadian immigration officials re-
fused them admission on the grounds that
they were undesirable persons. Several
times the Hindus attempted to reach
shore. but were prevented by guard boats
which the Canadian authorities placed
on watch around the ship.
Sustained by Courts.
The courts sustained the position taken
by the government and the japanese
captain OF the steamer was given unil
Is o'clock Saturday afternoon to sail for
India with his load OF Hindus.
The report as given out by the immi.
grafton department states that Shortly
, after the captain Of the steamer reported
that the passengers prevented him from
getting steam up and asked for assist
, ancs lO6 policemen and immigration OF
ficials went out to the vessel in tn,
largest tug available. but were unabl,
TO gain the deck of the steamer in the
face OF stubborn resistance offered b!
the Hindus on board, who. from all part
! OF the ship hurled down on the officer
coal, iron bars. pieces OF machinery
hatchets and clubs, injuring many mel
and smashing the windows OF the tug.