§ 2. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for India whether aeroplanes were employed to drop bombs on Indian rioters; if so, where, and by whose orders; and whether, in view of the difficulty of hitting any target with such bombs, he will issue directions that such, weapons are not to be used in future against civilian populations?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)Aeroplanes were used at Gujranwala in the Punjab as a measure of military necessity. They were dispatched from Lahore by the military authorities, and one plane dropped a few bombs on a mob which had since early morning been occupied in destroying houses in the civil station, the railway station and church, while women and children had taken refuge in the Treasury, protected only by a small force of police.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHave instructions been given that aeroplanes are not to be used in future against the civilian population
§ Mr. MONTAGUNo, Sir; the responsibility for carrying out martial law must rest with those who have to administer it. And if this is a question of dispersing a mob which is threatening the lives of 1184 women and children who are insufficiently guarded I refuse to interfere with the discretion of the military authorities.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIn view of the fact that these aeroplanes cannot drop bombs accurately, and that therefore in large towns bombs are about certain to hit the wrong people, would it not be more humane to employ the other efficient means of defence in our power?
§ Mr. MONTAGUCertainly in this case the aeroplane was successful in dispersing the mob. I am not sufficient of an expert to endorse the hon. and gallant Gentleman's remarks about aeroplanes, but I would observe that there is all the difference in the world between aeroplanes flying at a low altitude and those flying at a high altitude in order to avoid guns.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHow many people were killed?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI am always in order. How many people were killed, and how many of these were non-rioters?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI hope eventually to have the information necessary to inform, the House about all these occurrences.