Logo

Logo

100 Years Ago | 9 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 | 9 February 1919

OCCASIONAL NOTE

A curious illustration of the increasing – one might almost say excessive – sensitiveness of what may be called extremist Indian opinion is to be found in the angry references of a Madras contemporary of that persuasion to the sufficiently innocuous remarks of His Excellency the Viceroy on the occasion of last week’s presentation of colours to the 5th Calcutta Battalion. Lord Chelmsford, it may be remembered, observed that “it is the bounden duty of everyone of British birth in this country to bear arms in its defence.” Our contemporary’s comment is that “it is a most objectionable doctrine which His Excellency has laid down in these words, a flagrant violation of the solemn pledges of equality of treatment made to India.” The Hindu goes on to explain that “the proposal is capable of being interpreted as an insult to those who are not of British birth, the sons of the soil, and as an unwarranted suspicion cast on their loyalty or on their capacity of undertaking the defence of the country.” In view of the completeness with which voluntary recruitment has been thrown open to Indians of all classes and races, and of the reluctance of some at least of these to come forward for military service, these comments provide an unusually interesting example of the well-known process by which the stage Irishman seeks to provoke a disturbance when there is no earthly occasion for it.

THE INFLUENZA IN NEW ZEALAND

Advertisement

A resident in Calcutta sends us the following extract from a letter which she has received from a friend in Christchurch, New Zealand:- We have had the influenza here very badly and it has been a terrible time these last three weeks. Whole families been stricken down, and no one to wait on them. Tradesmen calling at their customer’s doors would find whole households helpless, and report it to the Red Cross Depots or hospitals. A family of 11 just round the corner from us were all down at once and had to get help. My mother and I consider ourselves very fortunate indeed that we escaped it. Five friends in our neighbourhood have died of it. Motor ambulances were flying past every hour of the day. All business premises closed at 1 p.m. and from then the assistants gave relief in private houses wherever they could, as three parts of the doctors and nursing staff at the hospital were down with it and several deaths occurred. Soup and medicine kitchens were started in every borough and voluntary helpers delivered goods.

FOOD RESTRICTIONS IN FRANCE

The Havas Agency states that the French Minister of Food Supplies has signed a decree cancelling many of the food restrictions imposed during the war. The decree orders the fixing of maximum prices for condensed milk, eggs, tapioca, rice, dried peas and beans. It also alleviates the rules concerning the hours at which meals can be obtained at hotels and restaurants. These measures are the first step towards a return to the pre-war regime. The growing shortage of meat in France will be greatly felt during the coming spring. The meatless days last year were very successful, but a supply of frozen meat is required.

TWO JOCKEYS SERIOUSLY INJURED

The Rangoon Turf Club’s second day without bookmakers was remarkable for a further falling off in the attendance, while the totalisator’s takings fell from Rs 90,000 to Rs 70,000. In the course of one race a leading pony crossed its legs and fell, bringing down two others. H. Vincent, an Australian jockey, and San Kyee, a Burman jockey, were removed to hospital. The former has apparently sustained serious injuries to his spine as his lower limbs are paralysed. The Burman suffered from concussion, being badly injured on the head, but he has improved. Vincent’s condition is serious and permanent disablement is feared.

RUSSIAN STATE BANK

The Russian State Bank reopened today under British control and, public confidence being gained, more money was being presented this morning than the bank could accept. Temporary issues of hundreds of millions of roubles have been made by the local Government to meet financial and commercial needs. It is now hoped to arrange affairs on a sound financial basis. Local Government expenditure amounts to 130 million roubles monthly, of which 60 millions go in wages to workers in the oil industry. Following upon the disorganisation caused by the Bolsheviks, the oil production is only a sixth of what it was in normal times. The non-payment of wages has caused a great deal of unrest. Now that the industry is being financed by the local Government under British direction all arrears are being paid and the people are hopeful that the normal business of the town will be resumed at an early date.

Advertisement