Logo

Logo

100 Years Ago | 15 April 1919

On this day a century ago, these were some of the news items The Statesman readers got to read about India and the world.

100 Years Ago | 15 April 1919

OCCASIONAL NOTE

The Havas Agency, which is usually well-informed, announces that, as a result of the deliberations of the Council of Four, it is improbable that any action will be taken to bring to judgment the authors of the war. This sounds ominous at first, but when we are assured that “the crimes committed during the war will be made the subject of judicial proceedings before an international tribunal” the air is cleared, for what everybody wants is to see the criminals punished, and whether they are convicted under one count or another matters little so long as they are convicted and receive a sufficiently heavy punishment. The reference to military crimes committed during the war suggests the propriety of instituting an international court martial, for the proceedings of such a body would be much more expeditious than those of an extraordinary legal body, such, for instance, as the Parnell Commission. Is it, one wonders, with a view to this very consideration that it is proposed to abandon the trial of merely ethical questions and come down to the plain, everyday facts of the constant and diabolical defiance offered by the German army and nation to all the restraints imposed upon civilised belligerents by military international law? When we are informed of the further probability that the Dutch Government will be asked to arrange for the ex- Kaiser’s extradition, it is to be hoped that the request will be couched in terms which will not admit of any refusal or bargain driving on the part of Holland.

THE AMRITSAR TRAGEDY

Advertisement

A representative of the Civil and Military Gazette who visited Amritsar on Friday afternoon says: From all accounts five Europeans have been murdered, Acting Sergeant Rowlands (Military Works) and the ex-soldier Robinson, being two of the victims since buried with full military honours. Drs. Kitchlew and Satyapal to whose arrests the disturbances are said to be due, have been sent to Dharmsala. The rioters after looting the banks poured oil and petrol on everything and set fire to them. The bodies of the European victims in the National Bank had been burnt beyond recognition. Mr. Thomson of the Alliance Bank killed several rioters with a revolver before he was overpowered. Messrs. J. Thompson and Rose of the Chartered Bank were rescued by the police. Everything of value in the Town Hall, including official papers and records have been destroyed and the Mission Church and Punjab Religious Depot were also destroyed. Constant shouts of Gandhi ki jai were heard during the riots. Telephonic communication with Amritsar has been restored and everything is reported quiet.

ATTACK ON A STATION

A report has been received that Kasur Railway station between Ferozepore and Lahore has been attacked and raided by a mob. Two British soldiers who were in a train fired on the mob and one of the soldiers was killed and the other wounded. Troops have been despatched to the spot. The Badshahi Mosque in the city of Lahore which had been the centre of excitement, is now guarded by British Infantry and Indian Cavalry.

BOMBAY CHIEF JUSTICE

Sir Basil Scott, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, after eleven years’ service retired yesterday with the closing of the High Court for the summer vacation, though his retirement officially takes place at the end of the vacation in June. Members of all branches of the legal profession yesterday united in paying a fitting tribute to the retiring Chief Justice, who in reply said: I was chosen eleven years ago to be one of lamp-bearers of justice to keep the lamp in this presidency burning bright and clear and to hand it undimmed to my successor. If I may accept what has been said of me during the last few days in friendly gatherings of lawyers that flame is still burning and undimmed. That this is so is due chiefly to members of the legal profession and this city is fortunate in having bodies of advocates, solicitors and pleaders who appreciate their duties and responsibilities and who render to the bench the wholehearted support that is expected of them.

DEATH OF MR. KINGDON

On Sunday at about 1 P.M., Mr. Kingdon, Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Bengal, died at the Medical College Hospital, from injuries caused by a gun at his residence, Kyd Street, on Wednesday last. It appears that at about 6-30 P.M. on the day in question the deceased was examining a .22 bore rifle which had just been returned from a gunsmith, where it had been sent for repairs, when the trigger went off and the shot struck Mr. Kingdon on the forehead, the bullet lodging in the head. After the accident the gun was examined and it was found that the ejector would not work and the cartridge went off, thus shewing that the rifle was still defective, as on the breech being closed it automatically fired. The deceased gentleman up to the time of his death was in the best of health and spirits. He leaves a widow and children who are at Home.

Advertisement