OCCASIONAL NOTE

The announcement that in 1918 the vital statistics of the United Kingdom exhibited a net loss to the population of England and Wales of 150,000 instead of the customary pre-war gain of some three or four hundred thousand is eloquent of the cumulative effect of the sufferings which have been so silently endured. During the previous five years, four of which were wholly or in part war years, the average excess of births over deaths had been maintained at the respectable total of a quarter of a million yearly but it is clear that, slowly but surely, war conditions were affecting the vitality of the population. The situation is now similar to that in the case of the French people after the Franco-German war and their experience suggests that many years must elapse before a complete recover can be made. An improvement may be expected earliest under the heading of deaths. In England and Wales alone the civil deaths appear last year to have numbered 812,000, which compares with a total in 1913 for England, Scotland and Wales of 653,000. Better feeding, the demobilisation of the doctors, and the work of the Health Ministry will soon result, it may be hoped, in a marked improvement in this respect. An improvement in the birthrate from 17.7 per thousand – the lowest figure on record – to the 1913 figure of 24 per thousand will come slowly and can only result from the restoration of the normal conditions of social and industrial life.

DISTURBANCE IN BOMBAY

BOMBAY, APR 11

Some disturbance is reported to have occurred about noon today at Abdul Rahman Street, near the Crawford Market, where a mob attempted to hold up tramway traffic by throwing stones and placing boulders on the line. The military were called out and on their appearance the mob dispersed. Some of the Satyagraha leaders appeared and asked the crowd to bear in mind Mr. Gandhi’s message, translations of which are being widely distributed. It is notified that in view of an emergency which has arisen in Bombay all Indian Defence Force exemptions are cancelled until further notice. Many shops in the Indian quarters of the town remain closed, and stock exchanges, the Javeri bazar, where transactions in bullion take place, and the Grain Mart have not opened for business. The cotton markets also remain closed.

SERIOUS RIOTS

The situation is most complicated and obscure. Dissensions are reported among the Communists with only the Munich group favouring a Soviet Republic. Moreover, the southern Bavarian Majority Socialists are in conflict with those in northern Bavaria, while Peasants’ Councils in Middle Franconia have rejected the proposal for a Soviet Republic and are supporting the Hoffmann Ministry. Serious riots and plundering occurred at Magdeburg after the Independent and Majority Socialists had proclaimed a general strike. A large portion of the garrison joined the insurgents. Government troops are marching to Magdeburg. The insurgents made a determined attack with rifles and grenades upon the police station, but were repulsed.

GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF SHIPPING

In order to maintain adequate supplies of foodstuffs in India during the coming months the Government of India find it necessary to continue to exercise a certain degree of control over shipping in Indian waters. Hitherto this control has been exercised in respect of British vessels by arrangement with the Ministry of Shipping, and in respect of foreign vessels by virtue of the powers conferred on the Government of India by Rule 14-A of the Defence of India Rules. On the termination of the liner requisition scheme the Ministry of Shipping are retaining power of licensing and direction of vessels registered at ports in the United Kingdom, and it is necessary that similar powers should be exercised in respect of vessels registered in Indian ports.

BURMA LABOUR CORPS RETURN

The 78th Burma Labour Corps Company arrived today by the Arankola and were welcomed by Major-General Young, Commanding the Rangoon Brigade, and Colonel Aplin, Financial Commissioner, the latter representing the Lieutenant- Governor, who was unable to attend. The company, which was under the command of Captain Heald of the Burma Police, was given a reception and entertained to breakfast and amusements. They were kept back when other labour corps left France because of their excellent health and of their fine reputation for hard and willing work, especially railway construction and equipment. There have been singularly few casualties in this company, though for several months they were quite close to the firing line and exposed to constant aeroplane attack.