Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-01

Patel, known as the Congress 81
policies, frequently clashed wi
buffer between them.
directly on his fathers chest above
the heart.
More ghee was poured from earth
en- and brass vessels, and the flames
leaped brightly. More logs were
heaped over the body, which from
then on was hidden from view.
The crowd pressed to within two
feet of the flames, seeking to grab
bits of ash and charred wood as
souvenirs. This was stopped by
the military who feared the nearest
would be pushed into the flames.
After the fire had burned down,
Devadas and q brother, Ramadas,
a business man at Nagpur. bathed
In the river as required by their
religion. They had tasted since the
hour of death but now could eat.
At the cremation were the entire
cabinet and Governor General Earl
Mountbatten and Lady Mountbatten
who once helped direct the rescue
of a woman from trampling.
1t was 1880 am. when the BODY
was BONE out of the mansion OF
G.. D, Birla, millionaire businessman
where Gandhi died, and the process
sion began its slow march along the
fiye-mile circuitous route to the
burning grounds.
A large force of gurkha infantry
marched at the head with eight OF
the governor generals armoreo
fighting vehicles. Premier Java
harlal Nehru and Deputy Premier
Sardar Vallabhai Patel rode at the
side as honorary bodyguards. Lines
of strong soldiers, their arms locked,
moved alongside, pushing and show
ing to keep open a lane Tor the
procession which stopped every hun
bred yards or so.
Flag Covers Body.
The people filled the streets ana
crowded onto roofs and every van
tage point to get view OF Gandhls
body, all but the face covered by the
Indian flag. They shouted victory
to Gandhi' and threw flowers.
In Karachi, capital of Moslem
Pakistan, midas high commits
sioner led q procession to the sea
side to bathe as a last tribute to 4
Gandhi. The Moslem government
ordered all government Offices to
close out Of respect. Business houses
in Lahore, Peshawar and other i'm
portant towns in Pakistan closed
In Madras there was q total ces-
sation of all business.
Three hundred thousand paid
silent homage at the beach outside
Bombay, dipping themselves in the
sea as the. radio announced Gandl'S
funeral pyre had been lighted.
Investigation of the assassination
continued in secret. Dispatches
from Poona, home of Gadse, said
he had been threatening for three
months to kill Gandhi.
Five Persons Arrested.
Newspapers there said he recently
had broken away from the National
Volunteer Corps, Fascist like
group. and founded the Rashtriya
Dial (Hindu National Corps. Crowds
In Poona stoned the office Of his
paper, the Hindu Rastra Hindu
Nation>, formerly called Agrani.
Bombay police reports said five
persons suspected of q connection
with the assassination had been ar
rested. Press reports said a Poona
police official had gone to Bombay
to investigate an alleged pilot to
kill all congress leaders"
Early reports from the Com
munist Party in Bombay said Gadse
belonged to the Hindu Maha sabha
Party. Police declared curfew
along Girgaum road in central
Bombay when Hindus began attack
ing Mahasabha supporters. The cur
few later was removed.
The Maha Sabha headquarters IN
Bombay was smashed, and the resi-
dence OF v. D. Savarkar, former
president of Maha Sabha was at
tackled. His brother was injured.
Police Fire Into Crowds.
1.G. Thatte, leader Of the Hindu
anti-Pakistan front party, was re-
ported missing.
Police fired in North Bombay to
disperse crowds angered by reports
Maha Sabhites were distributing
sweets to express Joy over Gandhi's
death. g..
The Tilak memorial hall In Poona
was burned, and police there were
reported searching out all persons
who might have a connection with
Gadse.
Confused communications through
out India prevented full reports of
the reaction to Gandhi's death.