I wonder if the British felt they had to recover their soldiers before they where lynched. The rumor had surfaced in the area that these guys had been caught planting bombs. Riots and mobs seem to have been growing in the area even before the British moved.

On the other hand, if they where planting bombs it could be that British felt they had to be recovered and any evidence destroyed before the press could get their hands on it.

Of course, something else entirly could be happening here. It's very likely that we won't get any credible story out of this.

Jay