The Washington times., 1922-02-12
PLAGUE-LADEN
CLOTHES GIVEN
INDIAN REBELS
British Officers Accused OF
Atrocities to BreaksNon-Co-
operation Revolution Move.

STARVATION or. as its alterna-
tive, canine food; no covering to
protect one against the severity
of the Delhi winter except mi
crobe-infested, lice-laden, blood
stained tatters, the worn off relics
of common felons. and finally the
awful climax-preferential treat
ment or release constantly ,sug-
gested and enforced in favor of
the very rare civil resister whose
frailty succumbs to the tempta-
ton"
The foregoing, quoted from let
ter sent by Lala Shankar Lal, OF
Delhi. a distinguished Indian Ma
tionaiist, who is undergoing a long
sentence Of rigorous imprison.
ment" for advocating the boycott Of
British goods, Is a picture OF condi-
tons in the Delhi Jail, where, &C,
cordine to information just received
by Sailendra N. Chose. director OF
the American commission to pro-
mote self-governmeft In India.
more than 1000 political prisoners
are held.
Brutal Flogging Charged.
|. Another paragraph from the same
letter says: u
"woeful tales off nonco-operators
being flogged till the hand that
flogs them tires of the process, OF
civil resisters being stripped OF all
vestige OF human covering and sub
jected to a slow and gradual death
through toxicity and infection, have
filled my ears"
Treatment Of the political prison
ers in India" Mr.. Chose said in a
statement issued yesterday, has
been unspeakably brutal. Unable to
kill the spirit of the nonco-opera-
tors, and fearing the protest Of
civilization. IL prisoners were killed
outright by hanging or shooting.
the British have adopted methods
of achieving their end that are
infinitely more revolving.
Leaders Deprived Of Trousers.
For some of the most distin.
guished OF our leaders, grossly
humiliatipg penalties have been pre-
scribed. For instance, the Ali
brothers, two of the greatest Mo-
hammedan leaders in India, men of
great learning and culture and who
few years ago numbered among
their friends some of the highest
British officials in India. on being
sent to prison were deprived OF
their trousers and shoes. Consider
ing the severity Of the winter
was not only great physical
hardship but ii was intended TO
lower them in the eyes of their
people. They were thrown into
cells with criminals OF the lowest
types and for the first few days
OF their Imprisonment were offered
food that was not fit for dog TO
eat. That last act OF brutality was
ameliorated to some extent by
their going on hunger-strike. Since
then they have been given the
same fare that is given to the
lowest grades OF criminals-soup
made OF turnip leaves. and bread in
which sand is mixed with the
grain.
Most shocking OF the British
methods, however, Is the giving to
political prisoners OF clothing and
blankets taken from felons who
had died Of infectious or contagious
diseases. That Information may
come as a shock to those Ameri-
cans who have 50 enthusiastically
welcomed the alliance with Britain
and JapS, whereby this country
would become a partner in the i'm
perialistic atrocities of those EN-.
pires without gaining any Of the
benefits. However. to those
Englishmen and Americans as well
as lndians-who have studied Brit.
ish methods OF rule In Asia and
Africa, the information comes not
as surprise, but as one more
count gainst that ruthless system
OF repression"