The Washington times., 1922-01-22
ANLEADER,
THOUGHT SLAIN,
ODDLY APPEARS
Cundit Sengh, Who Provoked
Revolt Seven Years Ago
Surrenders to British.
MISSION FINISHED, He SAYS
Forgotten incidents or Kamag-
hata and Bulge Bulge siaugh-
ter Again to Fore.
- 90 ~ tho

Strange as KiplinG's story Of the
Man That Was-the British officer,
long forgotten as dead, who returned
TO his mess a groveling wreck after
years Of deprivation as q Russian
prisoners that Of Bhai Gurdit
Singh, who from q dim memory has
become a commanding reality, and
Is being hailed by Indians, espec-
tally the Sikhs, as a national hero.
Long given up as dead and FORGOT
ten by most Of his countrymen. Bhai
. 0urdit Singh. who seven years ago
threatened to cause complications be-
tween the Canadian and British In
dian governments, and organized
abortive rebellions against British
rule in Asia, recently appeared before,
n gathering of his fellow-Sikhs near
!, Lahore and announced that he had
( come to surrender to the British au-
thorities. Particulars of his arrest
which seem singularly in keeping
/, with the mysterious ways OF the
Orient, have just been received here
by the American commission to pro
, mote self-government In India.
Sends Offer Of Surrender.
Before appearing at the Sikh
meeting, Gurdit Singh had sent the
following letter to 8. b. Barry. district
magistrate:
with all the police and ever vigi-
liant c. I. d. (secret service force) at
its back, the government has failed to
arrest me during the last seven years
while have been freely going
about throughout India. Ny object
in evading arrest has been to bring
to light true facts about Sri Guru
Nanak steamer (Kamaghata Maru)
and the Bulge Bulge massacre. Now
that my country has decided that
we must undergo all conceivable suf-
ferings at the hands Of the bu-
reaucracy in order to gain religious
freedom and swaraj (seif-government)
j have come here to be arrested.
will you please let me know per
bearer the time and place where I
should make myself over to the brave
police?"
To that letter Magistrate Barry re-
piled: ~
IT am glad to learn from your let.
ter Of today that you are prepared to
give yourself up. As regards time
and place, l would suggest 3 p. m.
today at the residency house. trust
that you will use all the influence you
have with your supporters, with a
view to restraining them from all at
tempts at violence, as we are natural
ly anxious to avoid all risk Of blood
shed"
Arrest Dramatic.
The arrest was dramatic. Not even
the closest of his old friends suspect
ed Gurdit Singh was still in the land
Of the living when he appeared among
them. They were celebrating the
birthday anniversary of Guru Nanak.
-
calmly made his way to the speakers
stand and announced his identity. For
a moment those within earshot were
fncredulous, but only for a moment,
for quickly he was recognized and &C.
claimed as one who had been resur-
rected. How he had passed those last
seven years, he 50 far has declined to
tell In detail, but he has revealed that
by the use Of simple DISCUSSES he has
managed to move about the country
unsuspected and so undetected, even
cantonments where he IL now known
10 have won over thousands Of Indian
soldiers to the Nationalist cause.
Gurdit Singh first came into prom
anence through an attempt to test
the Canadian immigration laws. Like
many OF his countryment, he long had
maintained the right Of Indians, as
british subjects, to the right Of resi-
dence in any British territory. The
Canadian law of seven years ago,
while not barring Indians, provided
that they could not be admitted unless
thsy came directly from that country.
The fact that ship bearing such i'm
migrants stopped at any port enroute
was held sufficient cause for exclu-
sion. As there were no steamship
Lines from India to Canada which did
not mako stops at Singapore. in
China or Japan. Gurdit Singh char.
tered the ship Kamaghata Maru, re.
named II after Guru Nanak and with
1000 Indians sailed for British Co.
lumbia-
Barred BY Canada.
The voyagers were not allowed to
land, and after being detained aboard
snip Tor several weeks at Vancouver,
they were ordered away on the ground
that Gurdit Hingh had attempted an
evasion Of the law.
During their stay In Canadian
waters, the Indians had not been idle
They struggled aboard hundreds NJ
rifles and thousands Of rounds Of
ammunition, and their trip back &c
India was pilgrimage Of hato
against the British. It was in the
early days of the world war. Al
cNcry pOTt az winch tney touched
they carried on anti-British propa.
ganda, and at Singapore provoked a
inutiny among the Indian troops of the
GARRISON which was not put down
until a japanese warship shelled tie
rebels.
Arriving IN India, they fought the
British at Bulge Bulge near Cal
cutta. Many were killed, but the re-.
volt they had started famed fitfully
for several weeks, and caused the
British much concern. Because Of
the censorship and the press Of news
from the European war zones. little
Of that was heard in this country. but
for several weeks the British author.
tiles in India were apprehensive tina =
the occurrence might lead to a wide.
spread trouble, II not indeed a gen.
eral revolt.
Missing For Seven Years.
Gurdit Singh dropped out OF sight
after the slaughter Of his men at
J5udge Bulge, and 1t generally was