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100 Years Ago | 19 February 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 | 19 February 1919

OCCASIONAL NOTE

For some reason which has not yet been satisfactorily explained, Calcutta as a centre seems less inclined to wax enthusiastic over returning local troops than most other centres. Bombay, Karachi, Rangoon and now Madras have all had their celebrations to welcome back the “returning brave,” and at a tea party held last week at the headquarters of the Madras Guards, in honour of the Anglo-Indian battery, R.F.A., it is estimated that at least a thousand people participated. The speeches, from that of the Governor downwards, were all brief and to the point, and not the least effective was delivered by Major Howard, the officer in command. Major Howard addressed himself mainly to correct a miss-statement which had been put into his mouth by an officious Bombay reporter, viz., that “his was the best battery in the division.” “His battery,” remarked Major Howard, “hardly wanted a reputation which was not based on something more solid than paper reputation. When they knew how much those other batteries helped who had the advantage of far more training and far more experience they would realise how such comparisons were rather unhappy among their own units.” The fact that the battery went into action after only two weeks’ training, and with new guns, and acquitted itself creditably speaks far more for its quality than any amount of journalistic cock-crowing.

Station master’s daughter kidnapped

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A few days ago a Bengali girl named Binapani Debi, daughter of the Stationmaster at Jalalsi, on the Howrah-Amta Railway, was carried away by a gang of Mahomedans from the station quarters and concealed in the house of a Mahomedan named Jahir Ali Sheik at Kagachi. The police having been informed, Head Constable Tarapado Banerji of the Panchla thana went to Kagachi with a number of constables to execute a search warrant with a view to rescuing the girl. While the police were in front of Jahir Ali’s house, Abdul Sattar and several other Mahomedans are alleged to have attacked them and injured the Head Constable, who had to be removed to hospital. Abdul Sattar and two other Mahomedans were, however, arrested and were charged on Tuesday before Mr. B.D. Hazra, Sub-divisional Officer of Howrah, with rioting and assaulting a police officer on duty. Court Inspector U.C. Roy informed the Court that the girl had been rescued, but Jahir Ali Sheik succeeded in escaping and was still at large. The Magistrate issued fresh warrant.

CHARGE AGAINST AN OFFICER

BOMBAY, FEB 18

In the case in which Peshtan C. Chinoy applied for a warrant against Capt. C.H. Jackson, of the 21st Punjabis, on a charge of assault and wrongful restraint in a moving train, Capt. Armour of the Bombay Brigade Office, appeared before the Fourth Presidency Magistrate yesterday and explained that the military authorities had done everything possible to serve the summons on Capt. Jackson. The Magistrate was satisfied with the explanation and remarked that the military authorities were in no way to blame. In the afternoon Mr. Davar, barrister, appeared for the complainant and said that it was clear that the accused was evading the service of the summons. The complainant’s money would be wasted if the accused could not be brought back from Aden. That would serve to establish a precedent. Offences of endangering human life were cognisable and the accused was liable to be arrested without any process. The Magistrate issued a warrant for arrest, bailable for Rs 100, and adjourned the case sine die.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA

Liang Chi Chao, Chinese ex-Minister of Finance, has arrived in London en route to Paris to attend the Peace Conference. In an unofficial interview he said China needed much capital in order to develop her resources, railways and waterways. The Chinese preferred a system of co-operation, and between the Chinese and the foreign investor he suggested a method of private enterprise and direct approach to the Chinese Government. There was every hope of the early re-establishment of complete tranquility in China, but commercial exploitation was safe and profitable even at present in most parts of China. If the Peace Conference could secure disarmament, the money could be employed more profitably on education and commercial development.

STANDARD CLOTH

DELHI, FEB 18

In view of certain misapprehensions which appear to be entertained as to the exact effect of the recent action taken in regard to the manufacture of standard cloth, the Government of India consider it desirable again to draw attention to the fact that standard cloth is meant for sale to the poorest classes for the relief of distress, and that they have no intention of interfering with legitimate trade or of attempting to supply cloth for general consumption.

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