South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-29
BRITISH KILL 800
NPUTTING DOWN
INDIAN REBELLION
Troops Fire Into Throng Fol
lowing Murderous Attacks
on Europeans.

LONDON. Feb. 29-An Official re-
port regarding the seditious riots
last April in Amritsar. Lahore and
other districts in the Punjab
British India, has Just been issued
here by the India office. The dis
turbances at Amritsar were put
down by Brig. Gen. r. =. Over. the
British officer in command. with
IN iron hand. 290 persons being
kiIled by rifle fire.
II is stated I'm the report .hat tho
shooting followed murderou- at
iacks on Europeans and that GEN.
Dyer had not ordered the crowd
which had gathered in public
meeting place in Amritsar. 20 dis
perse but that $50 rounds were
fired upon the thickest parts OF the
throng. 10 states that after natives
had nearly beaten TO death am
English woman doctor. the general
officer commanding the British
troops in Amritsar ordered that the
street be closed where this attack
occurred and that persons who pass
ID through Il Sad TO do so on their
hands and knees
Report ArOuses Storm.
News OF these occurrence did
not reach this country until the
end Of the year, and then created
"a big sensation and not little con
troversy, which has not yet died
down. The report now given ont
comes from the Punjab government
After describing the growth OF
anti-British feeling at Amritsar. Gull
minating In murderOus attacks on
Europeans. the report tells how
Cen. Dyer was at length given auth
oritv % take whatever steps We're
necessary to reesta blish civil con-
rrol This was on April 12-Geu.
Dyer accordingly considered il his
duty TO disperse prohibited and UNI
awful meetings. such us had been
held by the natives for some time
m the Jappewalian BaEh. an open
space. regularly used for public
meetings. with houses on all four
sides and three or four passages
leading into IL.
Finds Crowd Swollen.
The report continues i'm substance:
Cen Dyer was not able imme-
diately 10 provide for the purpose
a larger force than so Indian troops
together with 40 Gurkhas armed
only with kukris or knives. Accom-
panied by the European superinteu-
dent OF police. he took these TO the
TappewaTan BaEh. lie had with him
two armored cars I'm reserve. hut
Inc lane through which no entered
was too narrow TO admit them and
they were left in the streer outside.
He took no machine guns with him.
When he arrived, at about
O'Clock. he found that toe crowd had
swollen 20 several thousands. and IT.
was being addressed by a speaker
on FL raised platform. His troops de
ployed on either side of the on
trance. the ground ON which they
stood being some feet higher than
the general level Of the enclosure.
He did not order the crowd TO dis
Derse. but proceeded TO take action
90 dispense il at once by FIRE There
we're $50 rounds fired. fire being
directed or crowds not on individ-
uals. and redirected from time 90
time where the crowds We're thick
est The ammunition used was the
ordinary 20S army cartridge. on
,he conclusion Of the firing the
troops retired. the number of casu-
a1ties were net counted
Nearly 500 Killed.
4 subsequent inquiry indicated
hat +aCuf 300 uprsOuS were killed
Ir was asserted that these included
many small children. bat Inquiries
nave only been able 20 esta Dish the
death OF one boy under fO and four
under Z 3 years old.
Martial law was proclaimed az
Amritsar on April Il and it's admin
stratlon seems 20 have provoked
series OF complaints. against which