The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-29
RUSH NATIVE TROOPS
TO MALABAR DISTRICT
TO QUELL UPRISINGS
Hindus Massacred
10 Men of Leinster
Regiment Missing. /

Calicut, India, Aug. 29.-CBy the
Associated Press. NEARLY seven
hundred members of the insurgent
bands, which had been creating
disorders in the district south and
southeast of this city, have been
killed in fights with British forces,
sent to quell the uprising. Several
Europeans have been killed, while
20 men of the Leinster regiment
and II native policemen are miss
ing. Many Hindus nave been
massacred.
Indian troops are being brought
from Cannanore, a military station
on the Malabar coast north of this
city, and will be thrown into tho
troubled districts to quell the up
rising of the Moplah tribes in the
neighborhood of Ponani. 1t is re-
ported that the insurgents have de-
stroyed bridges and felled trees
across roads fer the purpose of OBJ
structing troop movements.
Blue jackets and marines from
the Harship Comus have been
landed here.
Situation is Grave.
London, Aug. 29.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press. REPORTS today from
the revolutionary area of Malabar,.
British India, indicating British
troops and cavalry had arrived
there, tended to confirm the belief
in London that the uprising would
be confined to this area, although
none would deny the seriousness OF
the situation or it's potentialities for
spreading.
The revolutionary area is more
or less isolated from the other por-
tions of India, which might be ex-
pected to lend assistance in the,
movement, should occasion arise
but it would not surprise officiall
circles here If at least the fanaticaL
Mohammedans along the north
era frontier, should take this oc-
casion to write another chapter in
their almost continuous warfare
against the British.
The trouble in Malabar arises, it
is stated. primarily from religious
fanaticism, and from the intense
hatred of the Moplahs, or Moham-
medans of Arab descent for Eu-'
ropeans and Hindus OF politics
and home rule, they know nothing,
as they virtually are barbarians but
the religious torch will always stir
them to bIoodshed. IS they live
mainly for their religion and are
willing to die for it. Self-tortuTe
is not uncommon among the Mop
Iahs, in the hope that they will thus
arrive in heaven, and they believe
that death on the battlefield is the
sure road to a happy hereafter.
Close observers here of Indian al
fairs express the belief that the up
rising also is in part due to the
widespread propa ganda of the ma
tive India Nationalists. To this Sgi-
tation has been added reports Of
great wrongs done Turkey and the
CaIiphate by the treaty of SevreS.
This propaganda has been spread,
not only in the MalabaT region, but
India, especially in the
popuIous Punjab and united prov
inces, and along the northwest
frontier among the eVer-turbulent
The situation for isolated Eu-
and Hindus in the Malabar
region is grave, as the Moplahs in
the past have halted at nothing IN
the frenzieG hatred At the time Of
the projected pretentious uprising
in the Punjab, at the outbreak OF
the war, some of the most cold
blooded proclamations were issued
telling how Europeans were to be
exterminated Il the last person
The equipment of the noplahs
for fighting consists largely of two
edged swords. extremely heavy and
sharp as razors. and catapults, with
a sprinkIing of antiquated muzzle
loading rifles.
1t is reported, however, that they
obtained considerable arms and
ammunition in recent lOoting and
through the treachery of some OF
the native police and former native
soldiers in the British army. Except
in the hands of trained troops,
these arms probably would not be
particularly effective in a battle
with British regulars, since the ma
tiVes are notoriously poor shots
and unacquainted with modern
equipment